ACT Policing Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis says two more fines have been issued in relation to COVID-19 infringements. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Two men have been fined $1000 each for breaching quarantine directions in Canberra on Saturday (15 August), ACT Policing confirmed today.
The first man – who had previously been given a caution for leaving quarantine – returned home while police were conducting the check at around 1:45 pm.
Police arrived at the second man’s house at around 7:30 pm after he failed to respond to the ACT Health quarantine survey for two days. The man was not home and then refused to provide details about why he left his quarantine when he returned home after police called him.
“The majority of people are doing the right thing,” Detective Superintendent Mick Calatzis from the ACT Policing COVID-19 Taskforce said.
“They are doing their part to keep the community safe. Our priority as police is also to keep the community safe, and anyone found flouting the ACT’s public health directions will not be tolerated.”
ACT Policing has conducted 440 compliance checks in the past week, and almost 3000 checks since the pandemic began. Almost 400 people have been checked more than three times, ACT Policing said.
Prior to these two cases, police had only issued two COVID-19 related infringements, one to an individual and one to a Canberra business owner who defied repeated warnings about having too many customers.
“It is extremely concerning that a very small number of people believe their needs are more important than the health of the community,” Detective Superintendent Calatzis said.
“Everyone in quarantine is in the same situation, we are not asking any of them to do anything differently.”
Yesterday, another 35 ACT residents returned from Victoria by car, travelling in 25 vehicles. In total, 97 people have arrived in the ACT in 71 vehicles from Victoria over the last four days.
For general enquiries about COVID-19, including making a report of non-compliance of public health directions, contact the COVID-19 Helpline on 6207 7244 between 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week, or via the online form at Access Canberra.
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