30 adults fined $1000 each over church service in Sydney Covid hotspot
A group of 30 people have been fined $1000 each for Covid breaches after a church gathering in a western Sydney virus hotspot just hours before parts of the city went into a tougher lockdown.
About 7.30pm on Sunday, police officers were called to Christ Embassy Sydney on Fourth Avenue at Blacktown after reports to Crime Stoppers over a gathering that breached public health orders.
Officers found about 60 adults and children in the building, participating in a sermon.
More police arrived to assist and details of those at the location were taken before the group were dispersed and told to go home.
Additionally inquiries revealed no QR code was being used and people who were in attendance were from various other local government areas, including LGAs of concern Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool.
NSW Police said in a statement 30 adults were handed $1000 fines for failing to comply with a Covid public health direction. The organisation was issued a $5000 fine.
From midnight on Monday, stricter lockdown restrictions were introduced for 12 local government areas across Sydney after two consecutive days of infections being more than 800 in NSW.
The new measures include a 9pm to 5am curfew and statewide mandatory mask-wearing when outdoors, except if exercising.
The 12 Sydney LGAs of concern with new curfew
Bayside
Blacktown
Burwood
Campbelltown
Canterbury-Bankstown
Cumberland
Fairfield
Georges River
Liverpool
Parramatta
Strathfield
Penrith
Hardware stores like Bunnings, office supply stores and other retail premises must close in these LGAs except for click-and-collect, and all exams and education activities will move online, except the HSC.
All of NSW is in lockdown and police have ramped up enforcement of restrictions as authorities battle to contain the spread of the Delta strain.
with AAP
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any public health order or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community by contacting Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
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