A reality TV makeup artist who spread Covid-19 to northern NSW is in isolation in Sydney while more crew members of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! test positive to the virus.
Kelly Bowman, 31, has been charged with failing to follow public health orders and not using QR check in codes after she travelled from Sydney to Byron Bay at the weekend to work on the filming of the reality TV show.
Ms Bowman had a permit to travel to the region for work, but was supposed to head straight to her hotel in Kingscliff and only leave to attend the filming set, under statewide stay at home orders.
However, police said she allegedly visited seven cafes, pubs and clothing stores in the region before testing positive to coronavirus on Monday, sparking a seven-day lockdown for Byron Bay and Tweed LGAs.
Katie Shanahan-Chohilli, who owns talent agency Reload, confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Ms Bowman was at the reality tv shoot over the weekend of September 18 and 19, but wasn’t aware that she was at the centre of the Covid scandal.
Kelly Bowman (pictured) allegedly visited cafes, pubs and clothing stores during a trip to the Byron Bay region for work
Kelly Bowman (pictured) is signed with talent agency Reload. The owner was no aware Ms Bowman was at the centre of the scaldal
‘Kelly was up there,’ she said. ‘The whole crew is in isolation.’
Ms Bowman – who was fully vaccinated and had received negative Covid tests prior to her flight – was granted a travel exemption to work on the reality TV show, but she was required her to follow Sydney’s stay-home orders on her work trip.
She is a big name in the makeup and hair industry and has worked on Australia’s Next Top Model, The Voice, and a slew of high-fashion editorial shoots with Elle UK and Russh.
While Ms Bowman started visiting venues in the region within about 60 minutes of jumping off Virgin flight 1141 at 8.45am, police said it was an almost two-hour dinner at Salt Bar and Bistro in Kingscliff – about 50 minutes north of Byron Bay – was the biggest concern.
Anyone who was at the restaurant, which can cater to about 280 guests at any one time, between 6.40pm and 8pm on Saturday night is close contact and ordered by NSW Health to get a test and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
Ms Bowman (pictured) has worked for a number of high-profile clients in Australia and the UK
Ms Bowman, 31, lives in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and flew to Byron Bay for work
Kelly Bowman went to Salt Bar and Bistro (pictured) for almost two hours on Saturday night
A source told online entertainment tabloid So Dramatic that Ms Bowman was meant to be working on Love Island on Sunday, but met up with the production crew from I’m A Celebrity to celebrate the end of filming.
‘Some production crew were moving from one set to the other. They were also flying additional crew up from Sydney,’ they said.
‘They finished filming in Murwillambuh and were making their way to Byron Bay and met up with the Sydney woman who was unknowingly infected at the time.’
Ms Bowman spent a whole day on set on Sunday, before she returned a positive test on Monday during routine testing.
‘This has now created huge delays for the Love Island production and the show may have to be pushed back or even cancelled given how many of the crew have tested positive and potentially even more,’ the publication reported.
Ms Bowman has been charged for allegedly failing to check in to venues using QR codes
Pictured: Dr Chris Brown on the NSW north coast during the filming of I’m A Celebrity
Pictured: A map showing the seven locations visited by the makeup artist over the weekend
The source said production crews at ITV were ‘freaking out’ because all close contacts have had to isolate for two weeks – bringing filming schedules to a grinding halt.
Daily Mail Australia tried to contact Ms Bowman multiple times for comment on Thursday, but she did not respond.
A spokeswoman for ITV previously said there was no wrap party in a statement to Daily Mail Australia.
About an hour after jumping off the plane in Ballina, Ms Bowman allegedly exposed everyone at local vegan eatery Combi to the virus between 9.45 and 10.15.
She then browsed the racks at Assembly Label – a clothing store with a sizable linen range – for about 20 minutes at 10.40, before popping into Orgasmic Food Byron Bay about an hour and a half later for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch.
The makeup artist travelled to Byron Bay and Kingscliff to work on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. Pictured: Hosts Chris Brown and Julia Morris
Pictured: The crew of I’m A Celebrity at Peppers Report in Kingscliff on Saturday morning
Ms Bowman stayed at Peppers Salt Resort and Spa in Kingscliff during her stay. Pictured: other crew members at the hotel on Saturday
The makeup artist left the falafel joint at 1pm and started a 50-minute drive up to her hotel in Kingscliff, but stopped for 15 minutes in at Casuarina Health and Lifestyle Pharmacy on the way.
She arrived at Peppers Salt Resort and Spa in Kingscliff at about 2.30 and waited at reception for about 20 minutes.
On Sunday morning, the woman exposed patrons at Kingscliff’s Saltbean cafe to Covid twice – once between 7.40 and 8, and again between 10.15 and 10.45.
She then returned to the cafe on Monday morning between 7.40 and 8am.
Police allege she did not use QR codes to check in the venues she visited.
Ms Bowman went to Saltbean cafe (pictured) three times – twice on Sunday, and once on Monday
She also went to Orgasmic Food Byron Bay on Saturday afternoon for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch
On Wednesday, she was charged with five counts of fail to comply with electronic registration directive and is due to appear before Tweed Heads Local Court on November 8.
Hours later she was charged with an additional offence – person relying on permit not comply with permit conditions.
ITV Studios told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday the woman worked on a satellite shoot with a reduced crew of ten.
‘As per the NSW Health requirements, they will still complete 14 day isolation and will be retested on day 12,’ a spokeswoman said.
The makeup artist had a rapid antigen test and a PCR test before she tested positive, and was wearing PPE while at work.