More than 1000 fines have been handed out to people for breaching COVID-19 public health orders in the Hunter in just under a month, new police figures show.
Officers have issued 1320 coronavirus-related fines in the four Hunter police districts since August 6 - representing about 7.6 per cent of the 17,342 given across NSW during that period.
Hunter Valley Police District, which encompasses the Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Scone areas, had the region's highest number of penalty infringement notices at 370, while Lake Macquarie had the second most with 349.
In the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, which takes in Maitland, Raymond Terrace and the Port Stephens area, 344 fines were issued.
Two-hundred and fifty-seven were handed out in Newcastle.
Monday marks one month since the beginning of Operation Stay At Home.
The operation, being run by NSW Police with the help of Australian Defence Force personnel, came amid an increasing number of COVID-19 cases across the state and the threat of spread from Greater Sydney into regional areas.
Meanwhile, Port Stephens-Hunter police on Friday afternoon released images and descriptions of several people who allegedly took part in an unauthorised protest against public health orders at Raymond Terrace on Tuesday.
A man was charged on Tuesday after he allegedly pushed a police inspector who asked him why he was not wearing a face mask.
