BY JARROD MELMETH
Police have charged two women who are at the centre of the Hunter COVID outbreak for breaching Public Health Orders.
Police say a 21 and 20-year-old will face court next month for failing to comply with multiple directives from police to return to Sydney.
It's alleged the older woman was first told by police to return to Sydney onboard a northbound train to Newcastle on Thursday 29 July, where she allegedly told police she had fallen asleep and intended to return. Police issued the woman with a warning that she was in breach of the Public Health Order and was directed to return to Sydney.
The following night, police were called to an address on Sandgate Road at Shortland, doe an unrelated matter. Here Officers spoke to two women -aged 20 and 21. Police requested their proof of identification, which showed the two women were from Sydney's West.
Both women were issued with $1000 PINs for breaching the Public Health Order and directed to return to Sydney, indicating they would comply. However, investigations have revealed they allegedly failed to leave the area.
Further inquiries revealed the 20-year-old woman travelled to the Newcastle from Sydney on Tuesday 27 July, before both women allegedly attended several other locations whilst infectious with COVID-19 in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Since the pairs visit to the Hunter, almost 100 exposure sites across schools, shopping centres, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and aged care facilities have been announced across the region.
To date, 82 cases of COVID have been recorded in the past week, with one death in an aged care facility.
Following extensive inquiries, officers from South Sydney and Mt Druitt Police Area Commands issued Future Court Attendance Notices to two women – aged 20 and 21 – for the offence of fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 – individual.
The younger woman is due to attend Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 29 September 2021, while the older woman is due to appear at Hornsby Local Court on the same date.
Investigations are ongoing into further alleged breaches.
