Police issue several infringements in first 24 hours of lockdown

Orana Mid-Western Police District Commander, Superintendent Daniel Sullivan didn't confirm the exact number of infringements, but said it was predominately for people who had been trying to leave other local government areas.

"The good news, it's not many," he said.

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police are continuing high-visibility operations to support the community in ensuring compliance with the Public Health Orders and responding to reports of breaches.

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Supt Sullivan also said police were working closely with the Local Emergency Management Committee and communities to assist them adjust to the compliance requirements of these new restrictions.

"I'm pleased to say our local community has lifted and has stepped up," Supt Sullivan said.

"There is excellent compliance within our business community with check-ins, very good compliance in the broader community with mask wearing.

"This next dimension of the stay at home order is something we need to get used to."

Now with six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in western NSW, five in Dubbo, Supt Sullivan said it was important people understood why they were being asked to stay at home.

"What seems to be happening is people look for the exceptions, rather than the intent of what the orders are for," he said.

"There are some important exemptions to the stay-at-home order, and one of them is shopping, but the point is shop as best you can as close as you can.

"That comes back to that why, it's because we don't want people mixing, because this virus needs people to spread and is very easily transmitted ... that's why we need people to minimise their movement as much as they can."

"I always say it's about we not me ... we need to get our mindset into the why and use that strength to make that happen. The harder we work at this the less we will need to stay in lockdown."

Local police have also partnered with the Traffic and Highway Patrol command, to stop all west bound vehicles on the Golden Highway, to prevent those from other lockdown zones entering our region.

Police said they were patrolling vehicles through their automatic numberplate recognition system in their vehicles.

"There are still local government areas in our region that aren't in lockdown," Supt Sullivan said.

"So when you're coming west from the coast be prepared to be stopped and asked 'who are you are, where are you from and what are you doing'."

Western Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said traffic had dropped off remarkably in the last few days.

"I'm told it's down to a trickle at night, there's next to nothing moving, particularly on the Golden Highway."

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