Police to monitor all 'major arterial roads out of Sydney' in compliance crackdown
NSW Police will be ramping up police presence on all "major arterial roads out of Sydney" in a bid to stop Sydneysiders fleeing to regional communities during lockdown.
Speaking at a press conference this morning,NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said the police crackdown will come into effect over the next 72 hours and last until Monday at least.
Mr Worboys confirmed 164 COVID-19 infringement notices were issued in the last 24 hours.
READ MORE: Regional NSW on alert for COVID-19 as new exposure sites announced
Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said police will be ramping up their presence on arterial roads out of Sydney. 9News
Police are seeing a number of Sydneysiders attempt to disguise holidays as business trips - even with caravans and camping gear in tow, he said.
"If people want to travel outside the Greater Sydney area, they will be stopped by police," Mr Worboys said.
"If they are not stopped by police, local communities will supplement only encourage that."
Police will take "three focuses" to ensure public health measures are adhered to over the weekend.
"That is about enforcing the major arterial roads out of the Greater Sydney area, making sure they are visible at regional airports, making sure police meet buses and trains that come out of Sydney - linking up with our police transport command in and around Central and our police at the domestic terminal," Mr Worboys added.
LIVE COVERAGE: 'Party in the street' reported at Manly Beach in Sydney
Police will monitor all major roads out of Sydney in a crackdown expected to last for at least 72 hours. Getty
The warning comes after NSW recorded 97 new coronavirus cases until 8pm last night. Of these, 29 were infectious in the community.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has forecast even worse coronavirus numbers tomorrow.
"I am assuming because we had, in the last 24 hours, at least 29 of those 97 cases were infectious in the community, the numbers tomorrow will be greater than what we saw today," she said.
Authorities have urged everyone within Sydney to stay home at over the weekend unless it's absolutely necessary for them to leave.
"What we want to see people do over the next 72 hours is quite simply stay at home unless you have a very good reason to go out," Mr Worboys said.
"The message is quite simple. Do not go to work. Go and get tested and isolate.
"We encourage people to come out and be tested, not just in south-westerly, not just in Fairfield but anyone who has symptoms."
Ms Berejiklian said she would not rule out making restrictions even tougher over the coming days.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
