Sydneysiders can be fined $500 for forgetting to bring a mask with them when they leave the house – even if you are going out to exercise and don’t need one.
The fines are being dished out courtesy of a July 20 amendment to the NSW public health order made by Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
The order – which makes the lockdown restrictions law – was changed to require anyone in Sydney, Blue Mountains, Shellharbour, Central Coast and Wollongong to produce identification and a face mask when asked to by police.
‘You must carry a face mask with you at all times whenever you leave your home or temporary accommodation,’ it reads.
Police in Bondi were seen on Thursday moving people along who they noticed were enjoying the sunshine but not exercising (pictured)
Residents in Sydney are required to carry a face mask even if they are just out getting exercise (pictured: Bondi on Thursday)
‘Children aged 12 and under, and people with a physical or mental health illness or condition or disability that makes wearing a fitted face covering unsuitable, do not have to carry a mask with them.’
Masks are not mandatory outdoors except in certain situations spelled out in the order but if you leave home without one in your pocket, you can be fined.
They must be worn outdoors when you are working, are next to food, drink, or retail outlets such as queuing outside a café, or in a fresh food market.
Should you walk indoors you also need to immediately put a mask or or face a fine, and will likely be denied entry.
However, even if you have no plans to go any of these places, you still must have a mask on you at all times and produce it if police ask.
About 1,000 more police officers have been deployed across the city to enforce lockdown rules from Thursday (pictured)
As of 12.01am on Friday, residents of eight western Sydney councils – Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta – must wear masks outside at all times regardless.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed on Thursday police were cracking down on on people not following restrictions.
Fines around face mask requirements were more than doubled from $200 to $500, and 1,000 police officers being deployed to enforce the rules.
One woman posted to a local community group that she stumbled on police at Bondi Beach ‘checking everyone’s ID for suburb compliance and asking to show you’ve got a mask with you’.
‘If not, you get a $500 fine on the spot,’ the woman said.
People commenting on the woman’s post said they also saw police out enforcing the rule, along with the 10km limit.
One woman said police were checking people had face masks and ID on them
People in most parts of Sydney aren’t required to wear a face mask while exercising outdoors (pictured: a woman jogging in Bondi)
Fines for breaches of the mask rule have been increased to $500 from Thursday
‘They were in the city last night doing the same thing, randomly pulling over cars and such,’ one wrote.
Another person said they knew of someone who was out for a swim and another on the way to workout and was fined for not having a mask.
New local Covid-19 infections in NSW spiked to a record high of 239 on Thursday, prompting new powers for police across NSW.
Police will also be able to shut down businesses across the city that repeatedly breach public health orders.
The assistance of 300 defence force personnel has also been requested to help the effort.
The military supported hotel quarantine policing, logistics in the Police Operations Centre, and compliance during a 2020 border operation.