Sydney woman in court for ACT COVID-19 breach

A 24-year-old Paddington (NSW) woman will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday, 10 July 2021) after she allegedly travelled to the ACT without the necessary exemption to public health orders.

About 8pm, the woman was identified by police as a resident of the Greater Sydney region after disembarking a flight from Sydney on Friday evening (9 July 2021).

After checks with ACT Health confirmed the woman had not been granted an exemption to enter the ACT, she was escorted to a hotel at the airport and ordered to remain there at her own expense, prior to being escorted to a return flight on Saturday morning.

About 11.45pm, hotel staff notified ACT Policing that the woman had guests and was preparing to leave the hotel in contravention of the directions issued by ACT Health.

ACT Policing attended the hotel as a ride-share vehicle departed with the woman inside. The vehicle was stopped by police about 12.05am Saturday on Kings Avenue, Russell, where the woman was arrested and transported to the ACT Watch House.

The woman will face a charge of failing to comply with a direction by the Chief Health Officer this morning. ACT Policing will notify NSW Police of a breach of the NSW Health stay-at-home directions.

Media enquiries

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au