Last resort: $9000 in COVID-19 fines dished out

Seven people have been fined almost $9000 by Sunshine Coast police for “blatantly” breaching social distancing rules over the weekend.

Police will have new powers from Monday to hand out on the spot $5000 fines.

SEVEN people have been fined almost $9000 by Sunshine Coast Police for "blatantly" breaching social distancing rules.

Sunshine Coast District Acting Superintendent Jason Overland said some people were not getting the "stay at home" message.

It comes one week after the Easter long weekend where 49 people were handed out a collective $50,000 in fines.

Of those, 10 were at a single party on Eumundi-Noosa Rd, another five at a party in Mooloolaba and four were given to people four-wheel-driving on a private property.

Act Supt Overland said the seven fines were all for breaches of non-essential travel over the weekend.

"We have identified a trend in non-essential travel where there are blatant breaches of directives," Acting Supt Overland said.

"I've stressed that we are all about communication and education and that enforcement action is a last resort.

"When we talk to people about directives and we record that. So it is easy to identify someone who has clearly disregarded that.

"It doesn't leave us much option then."

Act Supt Overland said it was "pleasing" to see the majority of the community follow the directives.