Friends Fined $3000 For Playing Video Games Together During Lockdown

A group of gamers in Australia have been fined after police discovered them playing video games together. The friends, not from the same family, had reportedly travelled to meet each other for a game when police began random spot checks of properties.

The trio were issued on-the-spot fines of $1,652 AUD (approximately $1,016 USD) for breaching coronavirus restrictions. Australia is currently under stage three restrictions to help curb the spread of the virus, meaning social gatherings are limited to two people except for members of your household.

Credit: Pixabay

Stage three restrictions also mean that people are only permitted to leave their homes for essential reasons, including food, work, medical care and exercise.

According to Daily Mail Australia, over 800 spot checks have been conducted by police across the country over just the last 24 hours. Known as Operation Sentinel, the practice has seen over 100 fines being issued over that time period.

Credit: Pixabay

In related news, Sony Corporation has launched a new initiative which is aimed to support those that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company stated that they aim to support the relief effort in three key areas: assisting frontline medical and first responder efforts, supporting children & educators and assisting the members of the creative community.

In a statement, the company said:

“Through this fund, Sony will provide support in three areas: assistance for those individuals engaged in frontline medical and first responder efforts to fight the virus, support for children and educators who must now work remotely, and support for members of the creative community in the entertainment industry, which has been greatly impacted by the spread of the virus.

Credit: Pixabay

“In terms of medical support, 10 million U.S. dollars of the fund will be devoted first to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO powered by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, as well as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to assist medical workers and others on the frontline of response efforts to the virus. Sony will also work with its external partners to explore ways that it can support activities that prevent the further spread and contribute to treatment of the COVID-19 virus.”

Credit: Pixabay

The World Health Organization has issued some helpful advice to follow regarding the spread of coronavirus.

Featured Image Credit: Pixabay