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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Nick Bielby

COVID checks continue, man arrested in Newcastle after Sydney escape

Police say they are continuing to work with NSW Health to make sure people and businesses adhere to COVID-19 public health orders, as the global pandemic continues.

It comes after a man was arrested in Newcastle at the weekend for allegedly sneaking out of quarantine in Sydney and boarding a train to the Hunter, where he was arrested several hours later.

The 31-year-old is accused of absconding from a hotel at Sydney Airport, with police becoming aware of his disappearance about 6pm on Friday.

He was arrested at Newcastle Interchange about 3am on Saturday after boarding a service at Central Station.

Police tracked the man - who was from the Albury town of Thurgoona, near the NSW-Victoria border - to Newcastle.

He was charged with not complying with a noticed direction and failing to comply with a public health order.

Police refused his bail and it was then formally refused in Newcastle bail court on Sunday.

He will face Central Local Court on Wednesday.

The case was one of 17 instances of legal action police took for alleged breaches of the COVID-19 public health orders across the state last weekend.

The man arrested in Newcastle was one of six people charged, while 11 others were issued $1000 fines.

A Sydney CBD business received a $5000 infringement notice.

"Officers conduct regular compliance checks with persons who are required to self-isolate, as well as business inspections to ensure venues are following COVID-19 ministerial directions," a NSW Police spokesperson said in response to questions about whether police were concerned about some people continuing to ignore COVID-19 restrictions.

"High-visibility patrols throughout the community also aim to ensure social distancing guidelines are being followed.

"Officers will continue to conduct these proactive checks throughout all Hunter police districts - and across the state - as part of the ongoing statewide operation to ensure compliance with all orders under the Public Health Act.

"As always, if you have any symptoms - even mild - please do not travel and go and get tested."

According to police data, more than 28,000 compliance checks on individuals have been completed across NSW since March 17, with 58,500 inspections of businesses.

It comes as officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were last week deployed to the Murray River region to help colleagues at the state's southern border, verifying identification and checking permits of people entering NSW.

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