Tamworth COVID-19 lockdown: Highway Patrol officers out in force on New England Highway and roads but locals generally doing well

Peel Highway Patrol Inspector Kelly Wixx told the Leader officers had been continuing a high visibility operation on the roads.

"The operation is going well, people are complying with the stay-at-home rules," she said on Tuesday afternoon at the end of the city's first full day of lockdown.

"In general, the residents are taking this very seriously.

"They are complying with the health orders and they are staying put and it shows regional communities are really trying their best."

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Inspector Wixx said the highway patrol squad particularly had a "very visible" presence on the New England Highway.

There are static breath testing stations set up at Willow Tree and Glencoe to stop people trying to slip through the net or breaking road rules. Mobile units are also deployed across the region.

She could not confirm whether anyone had been caught breaching public heath orders in our area recently, but assured the community that safety was paramount, with licenses being checked and questions asked.

"If we are detecting any breaches of the public health orders we are investigating it fully and if they do not have one of the exemptions, we are taking actions, we are turning them back and we are ensuring that they do not come into our COVID-free communities," Inspector Wixx said.

Tamworth local government area residents can only leave home for essential reasons.

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