A sickening assault on an assistant nurse has sparked a public appeal from police who said she was coughed on and punched in the face. It is the fourth reported attack of its kind this week. The 25-year-old was in a takeaway fish and chip shop on the Great Western Hwy at Blackheath about 4.30pm on Tuesday following a shift at an aged-care home when an older woman came in and allegedly “began deliberately coughing in her direction”. Police said the healthcare worker who was wearing her uniform as an “assistant in nursing” was again set upon a short time later. “The healthcare worker was leaving the store when she was again confronted by the woman, who verbally abused her before punching her twice in the face,” police said in a statement. “The worker left the shop and immediately reported the incident to officers from Blue Mountains Police Area Command, who commenced an investigation.” Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he was disgusted frontline medical staff were being targeted amid angst over the coronavirus.
