Coronavirus: 5 people fined for breach of public health order
A total of five people in NSW – including a woman who breached quarantine regulations after returning from Bali – have been handed infringement notices for breaking public health guidelines.
The NSW Police from Thursday had the power to hand out fines of $1,000 to individuals and $5,000 to corporations for breaches of coronavirus public health orders or ministerial directions.
The 65-year-old woman returned to Sydney from Bali on Saturday but breached the 14-day self-isolation order when she visited her home in Redhead, south of Newcastle on Monday.
She also left her home on Thursday morning, officers said.
The woman was issued with a $1,000 penalty infringement notice on Thursday afternoon.
A businessowner was fined $5,000 after her massage parlour on Sussex St in Sydney’s CBD was identified as still operating on Thursday, in contravention of government restrictions.
Three employees were also given $1,000 notices.
“The fact that people are still not complying is the reason why we have police out in full force enforcing these directions,” Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said in a statement on Thursday.
“This behaviour is not only reckless and stupid, but potentially deadly.”
NSW Police previously announced that up to 70,000 officers would be performing random checks based on tipoffs through the Crime Stoppers hotline.
Commissioner Mick Fuller said while most people were following the guidelines, dozens of breaches had been reported. “This is astounding, and incredibly disappointing, as these people are putting themselves and the wider community at an unacceptable risk,” he said.