A 23-year-old West Wollongong man has been charged with fraud after faking he had COVID-19 to skip going to work.
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Police said the man allegedly sent a text message to his boss about 4.15am on Monday August 2, stating he had contracted the deadly virus and was unable to go to work in Newcastle.
His co-workers were stood down and self-isolated while awaiting their test results, and several locations near his place of employment required deep cleaning.
Later that day, the man allegedly sent another text to his employer advising his second test returned a negative result.
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Subsequent inquiries confirmed the man never received a positive test result.
The matter was referred to NSW Police, with officers attached to Wollongong Police District commencing an investigation.
About 1pm on Thursday the man was arrested and charged with conveying false information that a person or property is in danger.
He was granted bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court on September 14 2021.
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