A Melbourne truck driver responsible for spreading coronavirus from a suburban cluster to two country Victorian towns has been fined $1652.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton has confirmed the fine, saying detectives had investigated after a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services.
While the driver was fined for dining at a Kilmore cafe, he was not penalised for initially failing to tell investigators he had also driven to Shepparton.
Mr Patton told Melbourne radio 3AW police had decided a fine was the "most appropriate" penalty for breaching health directions.
"He was interviewed, he was remorseful I'm told," Mr Patton said.
The driver had a work permit to travel outside Melbourne in late September.
He became infected after picking up the virus from The Butcher Club cluster at Chadstone shopping centre, but it was not picked up before his trip.
The man breached guidelines by dining in the Kilmore cafe, rather than ordering takeaway.
He then failed to tell health authorities he had also driven on to Shepparton after visiting Kilmore and Benalla.
Three people were infected in Shepparton, sparking a community testing blitz, but there have been no more infections since.
