Six men have been issued Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) after allegedly breaching the Public Health Orders by leaving Western Sydney and attending Lake Macquarie.
On Tuesday 20 July 2021, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a holiday rental property on Yanko Street, Toronto, following reports a group of men had allegedly travelled to the area from Western Sydney to undertake tree lopping services.
Six men – aged between 17 and 59 – told police they had been in the area prior to 'Stay at Home' orders being put in place in Greater Sydney and did not intend to return until restrictions lifted.
Further inquiries were conducted in relation to any breaches of the Public Health Order.
On Tuesday 31 August 2021, police were called to an apartment complex in Charlestown after being alerted by NSW Health that a 59-year-old man displaying COVID-19 symptoms had been taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment and a 23-year-old man had left to obtain a COVID-19 test.
It was later confirmed that the older man tested positive for COVID-19; all other men had left the Charlestown apartment prior to police arrival.
Following extensive inquiries, five men were issued with seven $1000 PINs for fail to comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
An 18-year-old man was also issued with a $200 PIN for failing to wear a fitted face covering in an indoor area-non-residential premises during an unrelated incident at a shopping centre on Thursday 29 July 2021.
Inquiries are ongoing, anyone who wishes to report an alleged breach of the Public Health Orders is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Anyone with information in relation to breaches of the Public Health Orders is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
