Western NSW Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie

Western NSW Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie said there was still a high level of non-compliance in the western region in the last 24 hours.

Police issued 150 infringements across the region, with 30 in issued in Dubbo alone to people not adhering to the public health orders.

"Its still totally unacceptable, too may people moving around when they shouldn't be, when there is absolutely no need to be," Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.

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"COVID is spreading across the region, some of our small places that can least cope with COVID in their communities are now being infected, all because people have come or gone to those locations against the orders.

"It's just crazy stuff that continues to put people at risk."

From Monday it is compulsory for people to wear masks in public, unless they are exercising. The penalty for not wearing a mandatory face mask is a fine of $500.

Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said there was no excuse for people not to be wearing them, and urged those who were exempt for medical reasons to carry their documentation on them at all times.

"The time for warnings on all this has passed, and people will be expected to have those face masks on," Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said.

"We don't want to be handing out those infringements notices, but obviously we will if we need to, to get those messages across."

Echoing health authorities, he encouraged people needed to act as if everyone around them had COVID.

"It's more than an infringement, its more than the penalty its about looking after yourself, looking after your loved ones, looking after your community," he said.

"By doing the right thing and waring that mask, and adding that extra layer of protection at this very vital time."

He said additional police resources, including officers from Sydney, were now working in the western region to support the Australian Defence Force with their compliance and wellbeing checks and deliveries to people isolation.

More police resources were also being moved, along with the ADF into the communities of Bourke and Wilcannia.

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