Man charged, three fined over Shortland house parties that spread Covid through the Hunter

A man who allegedly hosted the Shortland house parties attended by two Sydney women who spread Covid across the Hunter will face court next month.

The man who allegedly hosted dozens of revellers, including two infected Sydney women, at a series of house parties that became Covid-19 transmission events has been charged with breaching public health orders.

The man, who himself contracted the virus, has been issued a future court attendance notice and ordered to appear in Newcastle Local Court next month.

Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys provides a Covid-19 update in Sydney. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Police allege the 22-year-old hosted the gatherings at his Sandgate Rd, Shortland property on three consecutive nights from July 28-30.

They will also allege that there were more than 40 partygoers at at least one of the gatherings, with authorities still unclear of many of the revellers’ identities.

The first impromptu get-together occurred after a birthday party was held for another man at the Corset Bar at Hamilton on July 28.

Several of the parties were attended by two women, aged 20 and 21, who allegedly repeatedly defied police orders to leave the Hunter.

The younger woman arrived in Newcastle by train on July 27.

Police allege the older woman was first told to return to Sydney when stopped by police at Cardiff railway station on July 29.

The house parties become a Covid transmission event. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Peter Lorimer.

It’s further alleged both women gave false details to police when stopped outside the July 30 party, where they were again told to return to Sydney.

Police allege the women did not use QR codes when they entered a large number of businesses across shopping centres including Westfield Kotara, Charlestown Square and numerous licensed premises.

The women, who allegedly initially refused to cooperate with contact tracers, are now recovering from Covid at their Sydney homes.

They were last week handed their own future court attendance notices for allegedly failing to comply with police directions under the public health order.

Police have issued three PINs and are speaking with more attendees. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Peter Lorimer.

The women, along with a University of Newcastle student and a Campsie tradie, have been identified as the source that brought Covid to the Hunter, sparking the region’s lockdown on August 5.

A further three people – two men aged 21 and 26 and a woman aged 20 – have been issued $1000 fines for attending the Shortland parties.

Police investigations are ongoing with officers still speaking with attendees.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.