Updated March 29, 2020 15:12:46

Photo: Police used road spikes to stop the vehicle. (SA Police)

A woman has been arrested and issued the first fine for a breach of the new coronavirus legislation in South Australia after she allegedly failed to stop at a designated border checkpoint and coughed in the face of two police officers.

Police said that the woman sped through a border checkpoint in a vehicle on the Barrier Highway at Oodla Wirra about 10:45pm on Saturday.

Her Nissan Navara utility was pursued by patrol vehicles, which had to use road spikes to stop her.

The woman was arrested just north of Whyte Yarcowie.

Police searched the car, allegedly finding two knives and an open carton of beer.

Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.

Police said the woman refused a roadside breath test and deliberately coughed on two police officers after being taken to hospital for a medical assessment.

The 51-year-old woman was then fined $1,060 for not complying with the new COVID-19 directions.

She was also charged with engaging in a police pursuit, refusing an alcohol breath test, carrying an offensive weapon and aggravated assault of police.

She was refused bail and will appear in the Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Monday.

SA Health Minister Stephen Wade condemned the woman's actions and urged people to follow the public health rules.

"It is really disappointing when people don't comply with our public health requests," he said.

"First and foremost, our public health requests are to protect you, protect your family and protect the broader community.

"Let's be clear there is no vaccine for this virus, anybody is vulnerable to it, we all need to work together to keep all of us safe."

Topics: crime, police, diseases-and-disorders, covid-19, health, law-crime-and-justice, transport, adelaide-5000, sa, terowie-5421, yunta-5440, peterborough-5422

First posted March 29, 2020 11:04:43