A man and woman have been been charged with assault for allegedly punching and biting people when they refused to check-in to a restaurant using a COVID-19 QR code at Forster.
Police said staff asked the pair to sign in at the Wharf Street eatery about 7.15pm on Monday.
But when the 34-year-old man and 27-year-old woman refused, they were told they would have to leave if they did not comply.
The man then allegedly threw a bottle of water against a wall, smashing it, before he was escorted from the premises.
As he was being taken outside, the man allegedly punched the restaurant owner - a 39-year-old man - in the face.
The woman allegedly bit a 44-year-old man who tried to intervene, leaving him bruised and bleeding on the bicep.
The restaurant owner was taken to Manning Base Hospital with a suspected broken nose.
Police arrested the 34-year-old man and 27-year-old woman soon after the incident.
The man was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, intimidation and malicious damage.
The woman was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
They were granted conditional bail and are expected to appear in Forster Local Court on July 28.
They were each also fined $1000.
Police issued 34 fines for COVID-related breaches across the state on Monday - 16 of those were to people who were not wearing a proper mask.
Police are continuing to appeal to the community to report any suspected breaches of the COVID-19 restrictions which could affect the health and safety of the community.
