The number of lockdown infringements issued by police has decreased, but Superintendent Brett Greentree is warning it's far from over.
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On Thursday, Assistant Commissioner, Superintendent Greentree said police had issued 60 infringements across the western region in the past 24-hours as part of operation Stay at Home.
He said while that was down from the days prior, it was still concerning that 29 were in the Orana region, predominantly in Dubbo.
"That tells me that people are still moving around when they shouldn't be, breaching the orders and potentially moving the virus around our community," he said.
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He said four fines were issued in the Barrier police district, eight in the Central West mainly in Orange, and four in the Central North police district.
Two people were also fined for breaching the public health orders in Walgett, as police step up their efforts in the community as COVID-19 cases rise.
Superintendent Greentree said police also pulled over a 25-year-old woman in Mudgee who had allegedly been drinking at a friends house. She was charged with drink-driving and breaching the health orders.
"Scott [McLachlan] has alluded to the fact that we are far from through this at the moment," he said,
"The policing operation will ramp up somewhat focusing on those hotspot locations right throughout our region, as we work with our health partners in particular trying to get ahead of the game."
While some local government areas will be released from the Stay at Home orders, highway patrol and local police were working hard to ensure people weren't moving between lockdown and non-lockdown zones.
Superintendent Greentree said in the last 24-hours police had stopped close to 200 vehicles within Bourke, Walgett and the Barrier police district, with "thankfully" no infringements issued.
"Our highway patrol are working very closely with our local police in ensuring we're stopping traffic and people who may think they can move from a lockdown zone to a non-lockdown zone," Supt Greentree said.
"Please again, we need to support each other. If you have friends and family that think they can breach the order, please stop them.
"If we stop the movement, we can effectively stop the virus."
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
