Two women charged over Hunter's Covid 'seeding'
13th August 2021
Police have confirmed they have now charged two young women in relation to their travel which allegedly 'seeded' the Hunter Region outbreaks, putting 600,000 people in lockdown and causing an outbreak which now stands at 82 cases and one death. Police say the women, aged 20 and 21, have a history of non-compliance with the Public Health Order. Journalist Dan Proudman revealed in today's Daily Telegraph that the women allegedly attended a house party at Shortland while infectious after catching a train up from SW Sydney. They are then alleged to have attended a party at Blacksmiths Beach. More details in NSW Police media release here:Two women have been charged with breaching the Public Health Order after allegedly travelling from Sydney to the Hunter region.
At 9.45am on Thursday 29 July 2021, officers attached to Police Transport Command – North were conducting opal card checks at Cardiff Train Station when they spoke with a 21-year-old woman on board a northbound train.
She told police she had left the Greater Sydney area; the passenger was issued with a warning that she was in breach of the Public Health Order and was directed to return to Sydney.
About 1.45am on Friday 30 July 2021, Newcastle City Police were called to an address on Sandgate Road, Shortland, for an unrelated matter.
Officers approached a vehicle parked nearby and spoke with two women – aged 20 and 21.
Police requested the women to provide proof of identification, and both women provided digital driver’s licences stating addresses from Sydney’s West.
Neither were able to provide police with a reasonable excuse for leaving the Greater Sydney area and they were issued $1000 PINs for breaching the Public Health Order.
Both women were directed to return to Sydney and left the location, indicating they would comply with that direction. However, investigations have revealed they allegedly failed to leave the area.
Further inquiries have also revealed that the 20-year-old woman travelled from Sydney to Newcastle by train on Tuesday 27 July 2021, before the women allegedly attended several other locations whilst in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas. Both women have since tested positive to COVID-19.
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.