Unmasked man charged after allegedly punching female Covid tester in the head
A man accused of punching an essential healthcare worker in the head at a Covid testing site in Sydney's northwest on Monday has been charged.
The healthcare worker was working at the Covid-19 testing site on Kissing Point Road in Dundas, when she was allegedly assaulted.
Police said the man was not wearing a face mask and he began filming the 31-year-old healthcare worker on his mobile, he then started abusing her about vaccinations before the situation turned violent.
"The man then allegedly dislodged the woman’s mask and punched her in the head," NSW Police said in a statement.
"Several people awaiting testing exited their cars and assisted the woman."
The woman was treated at the scene and did not require hospitalisation.
Police have released images of a man to social media, in the hope of speaking with him to assist with inquiries, however at the press conference on Wednesday, the deputy police commissioner confirmed the man was at the police station.
"Pleasing, as a result of information that has been received there is man right at this moment at his local police station assisting police with the inquiries," Dept Comm Gary Worboys said.
"The behaviour is totally unacceptable.
"No one would say that there is any reason to behave like that to any person, let alone someone that is out there every single day helping us to get through what is a very challenging situation with the pandemic."
Investigators from Cumberland arrested the 50-year-old man at a home on Shortland Street, Telopea, just after 10.30am today.
He was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was charged with common assault, two counts of possess prohibited drug and breach of the public health orders.
He'll face court in September.
Assaulting people on the frontline is 'beneath contempt'
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there were several healthcare workers in the state who had told him of the vile behaviour they faced amid the pandemic.
"I have had health staff tell me at various stages there have been people who have behaved absolutely abhorrently to our front-line health staff and have assaulted them," he said on Wednesday.
"My message to them is we're in the middle of a pandemic. Those people are there, well trained, very caring to look after you. Any assaults like that I'm quite sure the police will bring down the full force of the law and so they should."
Health Services Union NSW Secretary, Gerard Hayes, also condemned the horrifying attack.
“Assaulting people working on the frontline of the pandemic is beneath contempt,” Mr Hayes said.
“What sort of lowlife punches someone who is already risking their own health to help the public through an unprecedented health crisis?"
He said health and hospital workers are already battling anxiety and exhaustion and violent attacks "push them beyond breaking point".
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