Tasmanians in isolation praised for doing the right thing

Tasmania has no active coronavirus cases, but police are still urging the 920 people currently in mandatory quarantine to continue co-operating. See how many rule breakers have been charged >>

MORE than 300 people have been charged for failing to comply with coronavirus restrictions as police urge the hundreds still in quarantine to stick to the rules.

Police praised Tasmanians for their level of co-operation with social isolation laws during the pandemic but, with 920 people still in quarantine, they urged continued compliance, even though Tasmania had no active cases of COVID-19.

RELATED: Six men face court charged with flouting COVID-19 laws

Police Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said police had carried out more than 16,000 compliance checks on quarantined people since March 25, and people largely had done the right thing when asked to self-isolate.

However, 11 fines and cautions had been handed out for breaching Public Health directions and 328 people had been charged or summonsed as a result of failing to comply.

Tasmanian Police Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Higgins. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

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Early this month a Queensland tourist was charged and sent directly into quarantine in a Devonport hotel after allegedly telling police he thought coronavirus was a hoax and that he was a returning local who lived on the West Coast.

Prosecutors claim he then hired a camper van and was spotted dining at Mecca Restaurant in Burnie.

In mid-April, seven people were charged following a gathering at a house at Winnaleah in northeast Tasmania, in which the residents had invited an additional 10 people during strict gathering restrictions.

Also in April, a woman in mandatory isolation at Wrest Point Casino was charged with “repeated breaches” of coronavirus quarantine requirements.

“The vast majority of Tasmanians have been doing the right thing and complying with the restrictions to stop the spread of the virus in our community,” Assistant Commissioner Higgins said. “Our key message throughout this period has been to educate people and only initiate formal proceedings as a last resort.”

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Assistant Commissioner Higgins said police were reviewing all charges relating to the COVID-19 emergency.

“This has been an unprecedented situation as this is the first time a State of Emergency has been declared in Tasmania and, as such, the first time these powers have been enacted,” he said.

“Therefore, it’s appropriate for us to review all the charges during the period.”