Covid 19 coronavirus: Australian couple fined $ 40,000 for fleeing airport

Two people who fled Melbourne airport after being told they would have to spend 14 days in quarantine will be fined AU $ 19,000 (NZ $ 20,358) each.

The 26-year-old man and 24-year-old woman from New South Wales arrived in Melbourne on Friday morning on a flight from Canberra.

Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Batty told the Herald Sun: “They were spoken to by authorized officers and informed that they would be required to remain in quarantine for 14 days as per current CHO instructions.”

“The couple then fled the officer, fleeing the airport, and were picked up by a vehicle outside.”

Police released images of the couple in hopes that someone would recognize them.

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley announced today that the couple were back in New South Wales and would receive heavy fines.

“I wanted to make a particular mention of two people who escaped yesterday from discussions with authorized officers and who have apparently returned to Goulburn in New South Wales,” Foley said.

“On the advice of the public health team, those individuals have violated numerous public health emergency orders in Victoria and each will be fined at least $ 19,000 for breaching those agreements.

“This is a very serious matter.”

Foley continued: “We have made the link between the NSW group and the outbreak in Victoria. We are determined to overcome it and I know that requires what seems to some people strict measures, but the virus does not respect state borders “.