Casey covid cases: Rule-breakers spotted as cluster emerges in Hallam, Clyde, Narre Warren South
Angry Cranbourne residents have spotted dozens of people openly flouting restrictions including participating in large gatherings. And an anti-coronavirus conspiracy theorist says he is using COVID-19 breach notices for more personal means.
South East
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Dozens of Casey residents have been caught openly flouting restrictions including participating in large gatherings and failing to wear masks.
It comes only days after it was revealed members of five Casey households broke stage 4 lockdown restrictions by travelling beyond the 5km radius to visit one another.
They spread the virus to the suburbs of Hallam, Clyde and Narre Warren South.
The Leader was sent photos from residents living within the Hunt Club estate in Cranbourne East, who had spotted more than 20 people playing cricket on the oval on Sunday about 4pm.
The neighbour, who asked not to be named, told Leader she was left “furious” by the rule-breakers.
“We clearly have a problem in Casey and then you see this, it’s absolutely disgusting,” she said.
“We saw several of them failing to social distance or wear masks, it’s just wrong and a huge slap in the face for those of us that are doing the right thing.”
Another resident also sent footage to Leader, saying she spotted “mass gatherings” daily at Hampton Park Secondary College.
“There are mass gatherings everyday at the park, football oval and netball courts behind the school,” she said.
The Leader also visited River Gum Creek Reserve in Hampton Park on Friday and saw almost 20 people failing to wear masks or social distancing.
Anti-masker Nick Patterson, who is believed to be behind organising large gatherings in Melbourne’s southeast including one attended by Eve Black at a Cranbourne gym in July, posted a photo to his Facebook page on Sunday showing a Victoria Police infringement notice being used as a toilet roll.
“I found a use for my covid fines. Came in handy when the toilet paper had run out,” he wrote.
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton on Monday confirmed a new coronavirus cluster in Casey would not be fined for allegedly breaching stay-at-home directions and spreading the virus.
Speaking on 3AW, Mr Patton said the decision was made by the Department of Health and Human Services, who deemed it “not appropriate” to issue infringements.
“They are the ones who do the contact tracing and engage with those individuals … and they’ve made the decision that it’s not appropriate under the circumstances,” Mr Patton said.
No new cases have been discovered in the municipality of Casey, with the Hallam outbreak now sitting at 43.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police continued to conduct proactive patrols throughout the community to ensure members of the public and businesses were complying with the directions.
“Police will continue to issue fines for deliberate, obvious and blatant breaches of the CHO directions,” the spokeswoman said.
“If people are concerned about breaches of the CHO directions, they should report it to the Police Assistance Line.
“Individuals found not to be wearing a face covering or breaching curfew will be enforced as part of the proactive patrols police are regularly doing through Operation Sentinel and are not required to be reported through the PAL.”
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