Ferntree Gully pair arrested, fined at 1000 Steps after police question over no mask
A Ferntree Gully man and woman have been arrested at the 1000 Steps as part of the state’s crackdown on coronavirus restrictions. This comes as cases in Knox and Yarra Ranges rise again.
Outer East
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A mask-free Ferntree Gully pair — who were with children — were arrested at the 1000 Steps after they refused to give police their details.
Officers were patrolling the closed Upper Ferntree Gully walking track and approached the pair, who were with two children, and asked why they were not wearing face coverings about 2pm on Saturday, July 25.
This comes as Victoria continues to see huge increases in coronavirus cases with the state total rising by 459 cases overnight – bringing the overall number to 4233.
Victoria Police media unit Sergeant Anita Brens said the pair refused to give police their details after multiple requests by the officers.
Sgt Brens said the pair were arrested and will both be issued $200 fines for failing to wear face coverings.
The pair will receive two of 126 fines police handed out in the last 24 hours for breaching the chief health officer Brett Sutton’s directions — including failing to wear a face covering when leaving home for one of the four approved reasons.
In Knox cases have risen to 33, Yarra Ranges to 37, and neighbouring municipalities Maroondah at 24, Manningham at 38, Whitehorse at 53, and Monash at 53.
Kilsyth nursing home Kirkbrae Presbytarian Homes has been locked down after a coronavirus outbreak has affected 19 people.
Mooroolbark College has also been closed for 24-hours from Sunday, while it has a deep clean, and all staff and students have been told to stay home until further notice.
Sgt Brens said while police were using discretion in the first seven days following the announcement that masks would be compulsory, officers would not hesitate to issue fines to those blatantly showing a disregard for community safety by failing to wear a mask.
She said police were working incredibly hard to keep the community safe and this type of behaviour is unacceptable and unnecessary.
Eastern Health Clinical Ambulatory Care director Dr Margaret Bird previously said coronavirus was a threat to all members of the community if the virus was to spread rapidly.
“It is very true that a number of people with COVID may have only mild symptoms and recover quickly,” Dr Bird said.
But, she said, there was an increasing risk of severe respiratory failure in those vulnerable people who might be older, have medical issues including diabetes or lung disease, or have an Indigenous background.
“Even in young people who are healthy where only a very small percentage will get severe disease, this small percentage may turn into a large number of sick young people if the total amount of infections rises uncontrollably in the community,” Dr Bird said.
She encouraged people with symptoms – even if they were mild, to get tested and self-isolate.
“COVID-19 is highly infectious and may have an infectious period even before symptoms appear,” Dr Bird warned.
“If you have been tested, you might have COVID-19.
“It is important to act as if you do have COVID-19 until you know for sure that you don’t have it.
“This is the only way we can stop the spread and protect our communities and our economies.”
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