Advertisement

“Public health enemy number one” Anthony Karam has finally been arrested and charged by police.

After allegedly defying orders to isolate and continuing to evade police, the COVID-positive 27-year-old will face court for 13 offences related to his failure to isolate.

Police will allege that Karam was told he had coronavirus earlier this month, and after being asked to isolate in hotel quarantine, refused to do so.

Karam is also accused of defying public health orders, continuing to move around among the community and not wearing a face mask.

He was arrested at a unit on the fourteenth floor of an apartment complex in Wentworth Point just before 5.30pm, five days after Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant asked for the public’s help to find him.

Image: NSW Police

“I’ve been isolating this whole time mate,” he told 7NEWS as he was being arrested.

“I have proof that I’ve been isolating the whole time mate, so do what you want.”

NSW Police said in a statement on Thursday night: “The 27-year-old man, who tested positive for COVID-19, was also subject to an order under Section 62 of the Public Health Act.”

CCTV footage released by police show Karam’s last known movements inside an apartment complex elevator, where he is seen sneezing several times.

An order signed by Dr Chant said the man was a “risk to the health or safety of the public”.

Image: 7NEWS

This article first appeared on Over60.