Two Brisbane residents caught in Gympie despite South East QLD lockdown

The pair had driven from Brisbane despite the city being one of 11 council areas under strict lockdown orders following an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta strain of Covid-19.

Two people have been fined more than $1300 each after being caught by police in the Gympie region despite being under lockdown orders.

Two people have been fined more than $1300 each after being caught by police in the Gympie region despite being under lockdown orders.

A 45-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were slapped with the fines on Monday, August 2, after officers pulled over their car.

The pair had travelled into Gympie from Brisbane, one of 11 council areas under stay-at-home orders due to the South East Queensland Covid outbreak.

Each was fined $1378 for failing to comply with Covid-19 Public Health orders.

The fines come as restaurants across the region reveal they have been forced to turn away customers who had fled into Gympie from locked down areas.

A 45-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were each fined after police pulled their car over on Monday, August 2. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Police said “no specific complaints” had been received from businesses about people travelling out of the South East.

“Anyone with information regarding members of the community breaching the public health directions can report the matter on the Queensland Police Service website,” they said.

“Throughout the pandemic police have taken a communication and compassion approach to compliance.

“However, in instances where there have been blatant breaches of the chief health officer’s directions, we have taken action.”