Three people test positive to COVID-19 after illegal party at Shortland, 22-year-old man charged

Police will allege in court that the 22-year-old held gatherings at a home on Shortland Road on the nights of July 28, 29 and 30.

Two women, aged 21 and 20, have been previously charged for allegedly attending the gatherings and remain before the courts.

The women, along with the 22-year-old host, have each since tested positive to COVID-19.

It comes as the Hunter recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 in the 24-hours to 8pm on Monday, with the state registering 452 for the period.

The 22-year-old man was charged on Monday with allegedly breaching public health orders and will face Newcastle Local Court on September 28.

Police on Monday also issued $1000 fines to three other people who attended the gatherings - a 21-year-old man, a 26-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman.

Police are continuing to investigate the identities of other guests at the gatherings.

Officers issued 579 fines for public health order breaches across the state in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning.

Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said the charges in Newcastle came after "extensive investigations".

"The message, if it's not already there, people must really start to understand and take heed that if you are going to breach public health orders anywhere in this state, you will be caught," he said.

"The time is over in terms of warnings and cautions."

Speaking on Monday about Operation Stay At Home - the unprecedented statewide crackdown on breaches to COVID-19 public health orders - Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said it was "unbelievable" that reports of gatherings and parties in the Hunter continued.

"Ignorance is no longer an excuse. No-one can say they're not informed," he said.

"The chances are, you will get caught if you do the wrong thing."

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