Hefty fines for breaking stay-at-home orders

SYDNEY: Australia’s second-most populous state Victoria said yesterday that anyone breaking Covid-19 isolation orders will face hefty fines, as high as A$20,000 (RM60,000), and that more military personnel will be deployed to fight the spread of the virus.

Australia is desperately trying to slow the spread of the virus in Victoria to prevent a national second wave of infections.

Victoria earlier this week imposed a night curfew, tightened restrictions on people’s daily movements and ordered large parts of the local economy to close to slow the spread of coronavirus.

But nearly a third of those who contracted Covid-19 were not home isolating when checked on by officials, requiring tough new penalties, Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday.

Fines of nearly A$5,000 will be issued to anyone breaching stay at home orders. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to A$20,000.

“There is literally no reason for you to leave your home and if you were to leave your home and not be found there, you will have a difficult time convincing police that you have a lawful reason,” Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

The only exemption will be for urgent medical care, said Andrews, adding that anyone under a selfisolation order will no longer be allowed to leave their homes for outdoor exercise.

“Fresh air at the front door. Fresh air in your front yard or backyard or open a window.”

Andrews said an additional 500 military personnel will be deployed this week to Victoria to assist police in ensuring compliance of self-isolation orders.

The latest military deployment will join about 1,500 troops already in Victoria and engaged in contact tracing, testing and assisting police at check points. Australia has deployed almost 3,000 troops to help in virus logistical operations. – Reuters