While data for the number of fines issued in the first day of the lockdown was not yet available at the time of publication, police handed out 60 penalty notices for breaches across northern NSW in the 24-hours leading up to the heavier restrictions being introduced.

NSW Police Northern Region police commander Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said, anecdotally, compliance had been "very, very good across the region" so far.

"I was out myself, across Newcastle CBD and in a shopping centre, and I saw complete compliance with mask wearing, which is really good to see," he told the Newcastle Herald on Friday afternoon.

As for the weekend, Assistant Commissioner McKenna was repeating his call for people to resist any temptation to flout the public health orders so that the region could get out of lockdown as quickly as possible.

"If people don't want to do the right thing, chances are police will find out ... and firm action will be taken against them," he said.

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