Police are reminding businesses across NSW to remember their responsibilities as part of the COVID-19 public health legislation after officers were forced to close a licensed premises in the state's Snowy Mountains and began investigating several other Sydney venues in recent days.
Operation Corona Virus commander Acting Assistant Commissioner Tony Cooke said the apparent disregard for the public health orders by a small section of the community was disappointing.
"As we've seen in recent months, one of the biggest allies of COVID-19 is complacency within the community," he said.
"Police will continue to enforce all ministerial directions in order to protect our health and well-being, but we do rely on community support and compliance.
"I would again appeal to those who think the rules don't apply to them to change their attitude.
"We have worked hard as a community to get where we are, and we need to continue to work together to ensure we avoid another outbreak."
The maximum penalty for breaking a public health order is a fine of up to $11,000 and/or six months in jail.
The standard penalty is an on-the-spot fine of $1000 for individuals and $5000 for businesses.
Meanwhile, the Hunter continued its clear run as the state's Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there had been 14 new cases in NSW up to 8pm on Sunday and an extra seven across the state as of noon on Monday.
"The first line of defense is we don't want you out and about when you've got symptoms, however mild," Dr Chant said at a press briefing in Sydney on Monday.
"Now is not the time to be going to workplaces, to pubs, clubs or anywhere if you've got any symptoms.
"If you're out and about and you cant socially distance, then wearing a mask is a reasonable additional measure you can put in place but it shouldn't be at the expense of social distancing. We wouldn't want people to fall into a false sense of security in relation to the need not to socially distance.
"When you're wearing a mask, it's important that it covers your nose and mouth, that you don't continually adjust it and that you discard it safely and do not touch the front of the mask and contaminate surfaces."
The NSW-Victoria border was closed last week after a spike in cases in Melbourne led to a six week lockdown of the southern capital's greater metropolitan area.
Flights between Newcastle and Melbourne continued through the weekend, with the route set to be temporarily suspended from Thursday.
Hunter police and Hunter New England Health officials remain at the Williamtown airport screening incoming passengers.
