By Sarah McPhee and Jenny Noyes
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A Sydney TikTok personality charged after an anti-lockdown protest in July is in hospital with COVID-19.
TikTok comedian Jon-Bernard Kairouz (left) predicting NSW case numbers.
Jon-Bernard Kairouz rose to fame on the social media platform after a streak of correct predictions of NSW COVID-19 daily case numbers before they were announced at the 11am press conference.
Speaking at the march in the CBD in July, the 24-year-old told the crowd: “For everyone that’s here – small businesses, people that are doing it tough – all we want is freedom.”
He was charged with two counts of not complying with COVID-19 directions and one count of encouraging the commission of crimes.
Mr Kairouz’s solicitor Eiden Havas entered pleas of not guilty to all sequences when the case came before Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday.
Mr Havas confirmed to the Herald on Wednesday that his client had given instructions from the intensive care unit at St George Hospital, where he was admitted with COVID-19.
“This should highlight to everyone in NSW how serious COVID-19 is and everyone should be getting vaccinated and staying home in order to stop the transmission of this terrible virus,” Mr Havas said.
By Wednesday afternoon, Mr Kairouz was no longer in ICU.
The case was adjourned to Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on October 26.
In July, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard denied suggestions NSW Health had set up a “sting” to catch the insider thought to be leaking the daily case numbers to Mr Kairouz.
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