'I lost friends overnight': Byron Bay locals are being abused and called 'traitors' by the tourist town's anti-vaxxers for wearing masks and getting Covid jabs

New South Wales' spiralling Covid crisis has sparked a sharp divide within Byron Bay as the tourist town's anti-vaxxers torment fellow locals for getting the vaccine. 

Residents of the popular coastal destination have reported being abused and losing friends after answering the State Government's calls to arm themselves against the virus through inoculation.  

In recent years, vocal social media influencers have made the area synonymous with misinformation by spouting a cocktail of conspiracies online, from anti-science sentiments to ill-informed beliefs the 5G network poses health hazards. 

While they form the minority, fears are growing the opposition to Covid restrictions and health measures could be a disaster for vulnerable residents unable to receive the jab. 

A division has emerged among Byron Bay locals over residents' stances on receiving the Covid vaccine. Pictured: Two women head out in Byron on August 9 - hours before the town was plunged into lockdown 

Benny Zable, 75, who has lived in Nimbin since 1973, was the first man in his town to roll up his sleeve for the Covid vaccination. 

But when he shared the news online, he lost friends overnight who 'think the pandemic is some sort of conspiracy'.  

'When I posted the picture on social media I got a lot of flak, I got all kinds of people reacting to me like I was a traitor. They said I was one of "them", whoever "them" are. They are no longer my friends. I don’t want to have anything to do with people abusing me over my right to get vaccinated,' he told the Daily Telegraph.

Nicqui Yadzi created Mullumbimby Flattening The Curve group on Facebook at the start of the pandemic to offer evidence-based science about Covid. 

She said there was a huge demand for genuine information due to an overdrive of conspiracy theories circulating online.  

'There is so much misinformation here, there is this loud, minority group who are very bloody vocal, the anti-vaxxers, the conspiracy ones that mix it all together, 5G, microchips in Covid vaccines and chemtrails and lizard people. I mean, it's like a mental illness here,' she said.

Benny Zable said he has lost friends after sharing this photo of himself getting vaccinated

Ms Yadzi said the conspiracy theorists follow the advice of medically-untrained bloggers and YouTubers and accuse pro-science advocates of being 'sheep'.

'I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been abused in the street for wearing a mask, or having a view that isn’t theirs. It’s not peace, love and lentils.'

The worrying falsehoods come after Byron Bay was plunged into a seven-day lockdown on Monday after a Covid-infected Sydney man allegedly travelled to the area in breach of regulations. 

As new restrictions were cast across businesses in the region, some venues have pushed back by placing signs in store fronts reading 'no masks, we don't asks'.

Others have barred vaccinated patrons under the baseless claim they 'shed virus particles'. 

Earlier this week, one anti-vaccine activist proudly boasted online about only buying from venues that did not force shoppers to wear masks. 

'Every place that didn't ask for a mask, we bought something even if we really didn't need it,' he wrote.  

Mullumbimby resident Kirra Pendergast, who teaches classes on how to differentiate authentic information online, said there are a lot of social media influencers in the region who exert influence over many people.  

While the majority of her community are following the rules, Ms Pendergrast said anti-vaxxers are very active on social media and give the area a bad wrap. 

The social media educator said she is scared the dissemination of misinformation and rule-flouters will impact the vulnerable who cannot protect themselves against the virus.  

Kirra Pendergast said she fears vulnerable people will bear the brunt of conspiracy theorists failing to follow health orders

It comes as all of NSW entered a seven-day lockdown on early Saturday evening, after the Sydney's highly infectious Delta outbreak seeped into regional areas. 

Under the measure, everyone must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.  

The state reported 415 new locally acquired Covid cases on Sunday and four more deaths as the contagion shows no signs of slowing down.  

Greater Sydney residents, who are entering their eighth week of lockdown, are not permitted to visit regional NSW unless for essential activity and cannot freely enter any other Australian state or territory. 

Hunter, Byron Bay, Tamworth, Armidale, Dubbo and northwest NSW residents are also barred from visiting other parts of regional NSW unless essential. 

Both federal and state governments have touted high vaccinations as the key to ending lockdowns.

Gladys Berejiklian has previously stated her goal is to reach six million jab by month's end, with more than five million vaccines administered in NSW to date. 

'Someone posted on Insta': The Aussie 'influencer' hall of shame responsible for spreading Covid conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxer nonsense on social media - and WHY their claims are so dangerous 

By MONIQUE FRIEDLANDER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

If the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything about social media, it's that having a 'blue tick' on Instagram doesn't give someone a medical degree.

While many Australian influencers have been doing the right thing by following official health orders about lockdowns, testing and even encouraging followers to get vaccinated, a select few have been using their platforms to peddle idiotic conspiracy theories.

Despite none of them being doctors, scientists or epidemiologists, these influencers use their online popularity to add legitimacy to whacko theories that are not only factually bankrupt, but potentially dangerous.

Dr Karen Price, President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, told Daily Mail Australia that when you go down the social media rabbit hole, there's plenty of information about that's 'just plain wrong'. 

'What a lot of these influencers spreading ridiculous conspiracy theories don't realise is that while everyone has a right to their own opinion - they don't have a right to their own facts,' Dr Price explained.

'So when it comes to social media platforms, just remember that some influencers are doing all they can to draw attention to themselves, but they have no medical qualifications.'

Dr Price urged those who use social media to trust the advice of doctors, not influencers, adding: 'We have your best interests at heart and know what we are talking about.' 

Sally Mustang

Sally Mustang has been a vocal advocate against lockdowns and attended anti-vax rallies 

Byron Bay influencer Sally Mustang lost thousands of followers last month after she uploaded an Instagram essay criticising the recent spate of Covid lockdowns.

Supporting the recent anti-lockdown rallies, Sally bizarrely wrote that science is just a 'theory' and encouraged fans to flout the lockdown restrictions that have been put in place for our safety.

'Our freedom is not a joke. To anyone that is handing it over blindly, please stop,' she wrote. Educate yourself, come home to your intuition. Make up your own beliefs and options and do not falter,' she wrote.

'Be ready to admit you may have been wrong or made mistakes. Be kind. Don't judge one another. Remember science is a THEORY just like magic.'

Sally, who has attended anti-vaxxer protests in the past, also encouraged her followers to 'optimise their immune system' with herbs, breathing exercises, organic foods.

Isabel Lucas

Home And Away star Isabel Lucas' acting career has been marred over the years by her belief in conspiracy theories and anti-vaxxer views.

Most recently, she came under fire for supporting the recent anti-lockdown protests, sharing a number of photos of the rallies in Sydney alongside the caption, 'Freedom over fear', on her Instagram Stories.

Further posts labelled the crowd as undertaking a 'peaceful protest', despite footage from the event showing frenzied protesters screaming and crash-tackling police officers.

Last year, Isabel hit the headlines when she shared dangerous anti-vaccination views on Instagram, while commenting on a post by fellow conspiracy theorist Pete Evans.

Home And Away star Isabel Lucas' has made headlines in recent years over her controversial beliefs

Throwing her support behind the disgraced former MKR judge, she wrote: 'Freedom of choice is every human's right. I don't trust the path of vaccination.'

Isabel later clarified her remarks on Instagram, saying she has 'concerns around 'mandatory' vaccination, not vaccination itself'.

The outspoken soap star is also known for sharing bizarre posts about the so-called 'dangers' of 5G, having recently encouraged fans to join her at an anti-5G protest in Byron Bay last month.

Isabel, who has an entire subcategory on her Instagram account dedicated to the theories, also wrote to Instagram in April last year: 'Just two weeks ago the second top trending question on Google was 'Is 5G safe''

'And now Google have announced they are censoring discussions on 5G health effects. Apparently violent pornography has not been censored for our 'protection' though. Would it not be wise to ask why?'

Isabel clarified that she would 'never suggest COVID-19 is 5G related', but wanted to 'support cohesive, clear, calm communication that welcomes healthy questioning'.

In September, Isabel controversially revealed she had 'opted out' of receiving a COVID-19 test while filming the movie Bosch & Rockit in Byron Bay.

'I gave my duty of care of what I could offer to respect everyone's health and maintain my own health, and I shared that, and I opted out of doing the COVID test,' she told alternative health podcast Alfa Vedic.

'My immune system has just become so solid from my way of life, how I live and eat and think,' she explained.