Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach has been closed after thousands of people were photographed flouting social distancing advice, with New South Wales authorities warning more beaches could also be shut if the federal government’s ban on gatherings of over 500 people isn’t obeyed.
People flocked to beaches across Sydney on Friday despite health advice to remain 1.5 metres away from other people and to stay home when possible, sparking outrage on social media and from politicians.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Saturday called the behaviour of beachgoers “unacceptable” as the number of COVID-19 cases across Australia surpassed 1,000.
Mr Hunt urged the public to take government health advice seriously, echoing earlier statements from the NSW and Victorian authorities, and called on local councils to step in to ensure compliance.
“If you are breaking those rules, you are not only putting yourself but the rest of Australians at risk,” he said.
Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Friday.
AAP
“To those small few who are doing the wrong thing, think of others, and to those who have local responsibilities, discharge those responsibilities.”
Announcing the closure of Bondi Beach later on Saturday, NSW Police Minister David Elliot said Surf Life Saving organisations would now conduct head counts and close the beach if they found more than 500 people.
If people did not comply with Surf Life Saving instructions, police would have the power to remove them, he said.
“This is not something we are doing because we are the fun police … we want to save lives,” he said. “The photos we saw this morning were a clear breach of the laws.”
Waverly Council Mayor Paul Masselos also weighed into the issue after photos of the beach went viral, pleading with people to “stay at home” if possible.
“We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and I am frustrated that people continue to ignore health advice about social distancing as observed yesterday at Bondi Beach,” he said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews criticised the beachgoers for pretending the coronavirus pandemic “isn’t real” on Saturday, as he announced an additional 51 COVID-19 cases in the state.
He also used to the opportunity to urge people to take social distancing advice seriously, declaring there is “no joking about this”.
“If we don’t flatten the curve and suppress the number of people testing positive for the virus, hospitals will be overwhelmed and that means more people will die,” he said.
“If you are in any doubt how serious this is, turn your TV on and have a look at what is going on in other parts of the world.”
Australia recorded it’s seventh COVID-19 related death on Friday after an 81-year-old woman died in NSW. The woman had been in close contact with a confirmed case linked to Ryde Hospital, state health authorities said.
More than 272,000 cases have so far been confirmed across the world. Of these, approximately 87,000 have recovered and more than 11,000 have died.
In NSW, 436 cases have been confirmed, while Victoria has 251 and Queensland has 221.
Smaller numbers of cases have also been reported in all other Australian states and territories: 50 in South Australia, 90 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, nine in the Australian Capital Territory and two in the Northern Territory.
Coronavirus symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia, according to the Federal Government’s website, and can include a fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath.
As of Saturday morning, only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are advised to be tested.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
Source: SBS
