Canberra residents in quarantine have been kindly requested to put clothes on when police come knocking, while some restaurateurs in the inner north received some COVID counselling after a weekend of more intense police targeting across the territory.
The ACT's Territory Targeting Teams conducted more than 400 COVID-19 compliance checks from Friday, checking on more than 270 people in quarantine and businesses operating under the stage 2.2 restrictions.
Police issued no infringement notices or formal warnings to people or business premises but several restaurants in Braddon and Dickson were counselled and advised on how they could better comply with health protection measures.
Detective Superintendent Jason Kennedy, in charge of the police COVID-19 taskforce, thanked the residents in quarantine for the "warm reception" they have shown police although he said his officers did receive "a few surprises".
"Some of them [the residents] may need a reminder to put some clothes on before they open the door for a compliance check," he said.
"We did get a few surprises on the weekend."
Chief Police Officer for the ACT Neil Gaughan said there had been 100 per cent compliance of people in quarantine at hotels or at home.
"Last week, when I announced police would be taking a zero-tolerance stance to breaches of people in quarantine, I hoped we wouldn't need to issue any fines," he said.
"I'm happy to say that so far, Canberrans have done the right thing.
"What I am concerned about going forward is a small number of businesses that aren't fully complying with all health directions."
He said that police would not tolerant intentional breaches.
"We have all had many weeks to become familiar with, and fully understand, the health advice so any business not following directions can now expect stronger enforcement action," he said.
"Police will always have discretion when enforcing laws, but there is no excuse to risk the safety of the Canberra community."
As more ACT residents return to the ACT over the next few days and go into the required 14-day quarantine, the targeting teams will widen their operations.
Detective Superintendent Jason Kennedy, described the issues identified so far as "minor" and extended to just a "handful of businesses" as police patrolled Dickson and Braddon.
"Over the weekend, officers conducted compliance checks on hundreds of homes, 13 hotels and many business premises across the ACT," Detective Superintendent Kennedy said.
"We worked closely with ACT Health and Access Canberra, because this is a coordinated effort.
"We will continue to monitor business compliance, and if any business is still not following the health directions, like not having a COVID Safe plan, police will issue an infringement."
He said that people self-isolating and in need of assistance should contact the COVID-19 helpline on 6207 7244, which operates from 8am to 8pm. Police assistance can be called 24/7 on 131-444, or if it's an emergency, on triple zero.
