Coronavirus: NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller hopes bans can end in 90 days
New social distancing rules in NSW enforced under the Public Health Act are expected to remain in place for at least 90 days.
New social distancing rules in NSW enforced under the Public Health Act are expected to remain in place for at least 90 days.
NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller said on Thursday he was hopeful the new restrictions would not last past June 29.
“There was a good question yesterday about when is the turn-off period for these health orders. It is 90 days,” he said.
Mr Fuller said police powers to fine people breaching the social distancing rules would also last for three months.
“It is 90 days. People will have gotten the message by then, hopefully,” he said. “We won’t be talking about the powers, we’ll be talking about what does it look like coming out of this.”
Mr Fuller can seek to extend the restrictions if the transmission of the virus has not been contained. The order can also be lifted sooner if authorities deem it safe.
His comments come after the federal government’s announcement on Sunday of its decision to reduce the size of public gatherings. All non-essential activities and gatherings of more than two people, except for immediate family, are banned in NSW.
In a statement released by Mr Fuller, shopping for food, travel to work or school, medical treatment or exercise were cited as “reasonable excuses” for leaving home. Anyone caught without an excuse could be hit with a $11,000 fine or face six months in jail.
Mr Fuller said three tickets had been issued to people resisting isolation rules. “If you are questioning whether you should be doing something, it is best to give it a miss,” he said.
The commissioner noted that while the government wanted people to stay fit and healthy, NSW would “end up where we started’’ if the rules on exercising in public spaces were eased during the lock down.
“If I said that it’s OK to sit on a park bench, then everyone is going to go to the park,’’ he said.
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