Covid-19: Police fine two close contacts in random roadside drug test

Police have issued fines to two people from Kempsey after they breached Covid-19 isolation orders. Both were stopped during a random roadside drug test on Monday.

Two close contacts of a Covid-positive person in Kempsey have been issued $1000 fines for breaching the state’s Public Health Orders.

About 8.45pm on Monday, officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol stopped a vehicle on Hastings River Dr, Port Macquarie.

The driver of the vehicle, a 29-year-old woman, was submitted to a random roadside drug test, which returned a positive result.

NSW Police Force enforcing operation Stay-At-Home in August. Pic NSW Police

The woman, a 31-year-old male passenger and an eight-year-old girl, were all taken to Port Macquarie Police Station.

Further inquiries revealed that all three people were identified as close contacts of a positive Covid-19 case, and had been directed by NSW Health to self-isolate at a residence in South Kempsey.

Both the man and woman were issued with $1000 fines for their fail to comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19.

Police will now await the results of secondary drug test for the female driver, prior to taking any action in relation to the first positive drug test.

The fines come as Mid-North Coast Police District continue to investigate reports of possible Public Health Order compliance breaches by the Covid-positive person.

The Kempsey case, who is a household contact of another Covid-positive person, did not acquire the virus locally and is not related to previous local cases.

The person, who is now under strict observation, is due to complete their isolation in the coming days.

A NSW police spokeswoman would not comment any further on possible breaches of the Public Health Order other than to say the investigations remain ongoing.