Five coronavirus ‘hotspot’ northern beaches to stay closed for another week

Five northern beaches identified as coronavirus “hot spots” will remain closed for at least another week.

People exercise along a closed Manly Beach. It, and four other beaches, will remain closed until at least April 28. Picture: Jeremy Piper

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Five of Sydney’s northern beaches identified as coronavirus “hot spots” will remain closed for at least another week.

There will still be no swimming at Manly, Queenscliff, North Steyne, Shelly and Dee Why beaches until Tuesday, April 28.

People can exercise and walk on the sand at the five beaches but if they loiter, stop to sit, sunbake or eat, they will be asked to move on by police or Northern Beaches Council rangers.

A police officer talks to a woman sitting on a towel at South Curl Curl Beach on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

Council CEO Ray Brownlee said all other beaches and reserves remain open at the moment, but would be closed if people did not observe social distancing rules, including no gatherings or loitering.

Police were seen telling people to move on at South Curl Curl Beach on Tuesday morning.

Mr Brownlee said the decision to keep the five beaches closed came after a further review of data from NSW Health over the last few weeks “that identified Manly and Dee Why as hot spots for community transmission of COVID-19”.

People can exercise on the sand on the closed beaches, but cannot swim, sit down or sunbake. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“The beaches in those areas will remain closed until next Tuesday, 28 April,” Mr Brownlee said.

“In addition, all beach car parks on the northern beaches will continue to be limited to one- hour parking to encourage people to exercise and then move on.

“Council supports the community taking part in exercise in line with the Federal Health Order and encourages everyone to do the right thing to help stop the spread of the virus.”

The council stressed that people should consider Manly, Shelly, North Steyne, Queenscliff and Dee Why beaches closed as if they are closed for dangerous conditions with no flagged areas for swimming.

People can still use the sand areas for exercise, any exercise, if they are not breaching the rules of no more than two people unless they are in your immediate family, and social distancing of 1.5m.

Benches along Manly seafront taped up due to COVID-19 social distancing rules. Picture: Julie Cross

That exercise can include frisbee and ball games like soccer and cricket, as long as it is with your immediate family or with just one other person outside the household and you keep a distance of 1.5m.

All pools are closed at this time.