Canberrans are very public spirited, say authorities impressed by exceptional rates of COVID compliance. Over the last week, ACT Policing and ACT Emergency Services Agency (ESA) volunteers have rung thousands of people in isolation, pulled over hundreds of vehicles, and talked to a hundred-odd people in public – and found only two deliberate breaches of COVID protocol, both by Sydneysiders.
“This is a tribute to the civic nature of Canberrans and their compliance with the health directions at this time,” said Cameron Beresford, senior director of operations for the ACT ESA.
Since Friday 2 July, 15 ACT ESA volunteers have made more than 8,000 phone calls – a thousand calls a day – to make sure Canberrans who have been in hotspots are staying home. “But more importantly, to be a friendly voice at the end of the phone for some people who may not have had a social interaction for the last two weeks,” Mr Beresford said.
Although masks come off at midnight tomorrow, Mr Beresford said now was not the time to be compliant. An ESA volunteer will contact those Canberrans who must still remain at home to make sure they are doing OK and are complying.
The ESA has been “a force multiplier and a real surge capacity”, said Acting Deputy Chief Police Officer Hall O’Meagher, allowing the police to make more checks to keep Canberrans safe.
Police have stopped 1,500 vehicles entering the ACT to make sure their occupants are COVID-compliant. Some drivers have been ordered to turn around and return home.
“We’ve caught a number of people who have travelled from NSW, and we’re confident we’ve got it in hand at this stage,” Acting DPCO O’Meagher said.
Police have made more than 110 in-person compliance checks (doorknocks and talking to the public). The community has also reported 34 incidents of non-compliance; most breaches were minor, he said.
“As a first step, ACT Police are using an education stance and working with the community. If people follow directions, that may well be the end of it. We can use our discretion. If people continue to not follow the directions, then we’ll take action, as we have in a couple of cases.”
One Sydney woman has been fined $1,000 for blatantly breaching the public health order. She applied for exemption to enter the ACT earlier in the week, but was rejected. That didn’t deter her; she decided to travel anyway. On Monday, ACT Health asked her to leave the ACT; she agreed to go. But rather than going at once, she stood upon the order of her going. Police were surprised to find her still in the ACT this morning; they issued an infringement notice, and directed her to leave. This time, she did, tail presumably between her legs. That was the first time someone stayed after they were asked to leave, Acting DPCO O’Meagher said.
A Sydney man appeared before the Magistrates’ Court today, facing a maximum penalty of $8,000 for trespass at Parliament House and for breaching ACT health directions yesterday. Mr O’Meagher said the man was given many options to make application for an exemption to be in the ACT, to leave Parliament House, and also to wear a mask at the premises. “He declined to do so; he was quite deliberately flaunting the rules.”
Mick Gentleman, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, said police were doing a fantastic job, despite a limited amount of resources. “As one person deliberately slipped through, he was dealt with straightaway. I am pleased with the work police are doing.”
South Australia will keep its borders to the ACT closed due to the Territory’s ‘porous’ border with NSW, premier Stephen Marshall has announced. Mr Gentleman disagreed that the ACT’s border was ‘porous’.
“I don’t see there’s any evidence to show that’s the case,” he said. “It’s maintained as best as possible with the resources we have, and of course, the results are Canberrans are safe.”
Besides, he observed, state premiers were doing their best to keep their state safe.
“We, of course, are doing an even better job in the ACT.”
For the most recent information on the ACT’s COVID-19 restrictions, visit the ACT COVID-19 site.
For general enquiries – including to report non-compliance – contact the COVID-19 Helpline on 6207 7244 (8am-8pm, 7 days a week). For police assistance, call 131 444 and only contact Triple Zero (000) for emergencies.
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