‘Looking into it”: Authorities reveal Victorian Covid-19 couple could face further interviews and fines

The couple who fled Melbourne lockdown and tested positive to Covid-19 on the Sunshine Coast could face further punishment, authorities have revealed.

Members of the public getting a Covid-19 test at a drive through testing site Caloundra. Picture Lachie Millard

The Melbourne couple who tested positive to Covid-19 in Caloundra and exposed more than 1000 people on the Sunshine Coast to the virus could face further punishment, authorities have revealed.

It comes after Queensland Police fined the husband and wife $4003 each for allegedly providing false information on border declarations.

A NSW Police Service spokeswoman said authorities were “looking into it” when asked by the Daily whether the Melbourne couple had been interviewed or fined.

Victorian Police declined to comment, instead directing the Daily’s inquiry to Victorian Health Department.

The Victorian Health Department has interviewed the couple to establish their “infectious period, exposures sites and acquisition source”.

However, a department spokesman said it was found that the couple did not breach the chief health officer’s directions because they were “relocating to Queensland”.

Queensland Police interviewed the woman, 44, and man, 48, on Friday, June 18 and issued the pair with infringement notices.

Police will allege the duo travelled into Queensland on June 5, via Goondiwindi after having been in Victoria and deliberately providing false information to obtain a Queensland Border Declaration ‘G’ pass.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said the couple would not be required to appear in court.

The couple, who visited prominent shopping centres and cafes across the region exposed more than 1000 people to the virus, according to Queensland Health.

Health authorities said the pair were detected “by chance”.

The couple were discharged from Sunshine Coast University Hospital last week.

It comes as the Sunshine Coast’s vaccination numbers surpassed 48,000 with more than 12,000 had been handed out at the Caloundra Indoor Stadium since it was opened on June 12.