Police have been left stunned after a Melbourne man went on a tour of south-west Victoria this week "to have a look around".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The man in his late 20s was found sleeping in a Timboon laundrette after police were notified there was an individual walking the town's streets not wearing a mask.
He was issued with a $1652 COVID-19 fine after consideration was given by police to arresting the man.
He had travelled by train from suburban Melbourne (a coronavirus hotspot) into the city on Tuesday.
He then travelled by train through the western suburbs (hotspots), to Geelong (another hotspot), on to Colac (another hotspot) and got off the train at Warrnambool's Sherwood Park station.
He slept on the streets of Warrnambool on Tuesday night, in laundrettes and similar places.
On Wednesday he decided to get on a bus to Portland (another hotspot) for a day trip and returned to Warrnambool where he again slept overnight on Wednesday.
On Thursday morning he decided to board the train and head back east.
He got off at Camperdown and took a bus to Timboon, where he was spotted not wearing a mask, which was reported to police.
After being told he would be issued with a fine by police, the man put his mask on incorrectly before heading back to Camperdown and returning to Melbourne.
He told police he wanted to "have a look around".
The man was warned last week by police to comply with coronavirus health guidelines.
He does not believe he has COVID-19 and has no symptoms.
A police source said it was essential everyone in the south-west and throughout Victoria wore a mask during the coronavirus pandemic.
"There are only a small percentage of people doing the wrong thing, but this is an example of the sort of things that individuals are doing," the source said.
"He's from a hotspot, travelled through hotspots, has then spent a couple of nights on the streets of Warrnambool where there is little or no virus, between going to another hotspot in Portland for a day trip.
"He's potentially a super spreader and that's why everyone needs to wear a mask, to protect ourselves from this sort of selfish behaviour."
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.