Look out: there are Covidiots about

 

Some people just don't get it. 

Like the shop owners in Jindabyne who have been ordered to close for a week from today for serial Covid-19 safety breaches despite repeat visits from the New South Wales Police. 

NSW Police visited The Market a total of four times between June 29 and July 2, identifying breaches of staff and patrons not wearing face coverings; no signage relating to wearing face coverings or patron capacity; no QR code check-in outside or within the premises, and failure to produce a Covid-19 sign in register.

The café owners were arrested and charged on June 30 with not wear fitted face coverings in a retail business.

They were granted conditional bail however, when officers revisited the café on July 2, they found no face coverings being worn by members of the public, no QR code and no sign-in sheet.

 

The owners have been issued a total of $2000 in fines for Public Health Order breaches and a future court attendance notice for breach of bail conditions. 

SafeWork NSW director for Metro Compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said it is disappointing the seriousness of the issue isn’t getting through to some businesses. 

“A digital check-in process allows for effective contact tracing and is vital in the event a positive case visits the location,” Argeres said.

 

“This venue has consistently failed to maintain Covid safety standards and has not complied with its own Covid safety plan or the Public Health Orders designed to help reduce community transmission.

“After finding more breaches on the fourth visit, it was clear that the ongoing operation of the premises presented a clear and significant risk to public health and needed to be sent a strong message.

“Businesses need to be doing the right thing to keep their customers and the community safe. We can’t have some businesses complying and others doing the opposite, putting everyone at risk. Any business that repeatedly fails to comply with the Public Health Orders faces temporary closure”.  

The Market shop and café will be closed for seven days from today.