Coronavirus: Australia’s Bondi beach closed after crowds defy ban on gatherings of over 500 people
‘We are relying on the laws of common sense – they will be asked to move on if there are more than 500 people on the beach,’ say New South Wales police
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Australia’s famous Bondi Beach has been temporarily closed after the number of people flocking there exceeded the government’s coronavirus restrictions on outdoor gatherings.
New South Wales police ordered the closure of the beach on Saturday afternoon, after people visited the tourist hotspot to take advantage of the warm weather.
The local government in the area, Waverley Council, also closed Bronte and Tamarama Beaches.
The measure will be extended to other beaches if social distancing rules continue to be broken, in which non-essential outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people were banned.
Paula Masselos, mayor of Waverley, said in a statement: “I want to reiterate that this is a time to be kind, whilst being vigilant in maintaining social distancing recommendations, as well as personal hygiene and staying home if you’re feeling unwell.
“If you are being asked to leave the beach, please be respectful to our lifeguards and surf lifesaving volunteers. They are doing their jobs in keeping our beaches safe.
“We all have a role to play in preventing the spread of Covid-19. We all need to behave in a safe and responsible manner so that the spread of this virus can be slowed.
“No one is immune to Covid-19 and behaving irresponsibly puts the entire community at risk.”
NSW police minister David Elliott told a press conference: “We are relying on the laws of common sense. They will be asked to move on if there are more than 500 people on the beach.
“In consultation with the police and Surf Life Saving NSW, we will now see beaches across the state that do not comply with the regulations close.
“If people do not comply, the police will have the power to ‘move on’ individuals. This is because we want you to be safe.”
Federal health minister Greg Hunt said the number of people on Bondi Beach was “unacceptable” after photos of the crowds went viral on social media, reported the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Bondi Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Australia. In March 2019, it saw 459,000 visitors, with 80 per cent of those visitors coming from Sydney.
Australia has reported more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus and seven deaths.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments