The COVID-19 case that sparked the lockdown on NSW's North Coast was a member of a film crew attached to reality show I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!
The state government announced on Tuesday that the local government areas (LGAs) of Byron and Tweed would enter a snap seven-day lockdown after a woman tested positive for the virus.
The woman was an authorised worker but it is understood she did not follow stay-at-home orders while in the area.
The production company behind I'm A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! confirmed one of its crew had contracted the virus.
The series is being filmed in the Northern Rivers.
"This discovery was made through the rigorous testing regime implemented by our COVID-safe plan," an ITV Studios Australia spokesperson said in a statement.
Crew in isolation
The production spokesperson said all close contacts of the crew member had been identified and were isolating while they awaited their test results.
"We are working with NSW Health to ensure all necessary steps are taken in relation to contact tracing, testing and further communication to anyone that needs to isolate," they said.
NSW Police said contact tracing was underway and authorities would investigate any alleged breaches of the Public Health Order.
The infected woman arrived in Ballina on Saturday morning at 8.45am on Virgin flight 1141.
Health authorities said the person was infectious over the weekend and on Monday in the Byron, Ballina and Tweed areas.
Northern NSW Local Health District (LHD) acting chief executive Lynne Weir said the Kingscliff Beach Hotel on Marine Parade was the only close contact venue identified so far, but health authorities expected to list more.
Ms Weir said Ballina airport was the only location in the shire known to have been visited by the infectious person visited.
It has been deemed low-risk due to the airport's safety measures.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the worker had returned a negative rapid antigen test before leaving Sydney, but a later PCR test came back positive.
Two Northern Rivers residents had previously tested positive for COVID and a third person was infectious in the community earlier this month.
That person has since left the region.
