A MAN who claimed he had contracted COVID and was unable attend a Newcastle work site has been charged with conveying false information.
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Police will allege the 23-year-old Illawarra man sent his employer a text message stating he had contracted COVID-19 and couldn't go to work.
His workmates were stood down and self-isolated while awaiting their test results, police said, while several locations near his place of employment needed deep cleaning.
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"Later that day, the man allegedly sent another text to his employer advising his second test returned a negative result," police said in a statement.
"Subsequent inquiries confirmed the man never received a positive test result."
Wollongong police began investigating after the matter was referred to them, arresting the man at Wollongong police station about 1pm on Thursday.
He has been charged with conveying false information that a person or property is in danger.
Wollongong Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Brad Ainsworth, said contact tracers had called the man for further information when he "just folded".
"As the term goes, they put the acid on him straight away to say their records don't add up," he told 2GB radio on Friday.
The West Wollongong man will face court on September 14.
Police urge anyone with information regarding individuals or businesses breaching COVID-19 public health orders to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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