Coronavirus: Social distancing measures failing and ‘falling on deaf ears’

Strict advice for Aussies to maintain distance from others doesn’t seem to be making any impact as partygoers and shoppers flout rules.

The strident government’s message about social distancing to stop the spread of the virus in Australia isn’t making an impact and continues to “fall on deaf ears”.

New measures by Prime Minister Scott Morrison include banning all non-essential gatherings of more than 100 people.

Additionally, government officials and health authorities have been urging Australians to observe social distancing by staying at least 1.5 metres apart.

Despite this, photos recently shared to social media reveal many are still flouting guidelines, with parties and social gatherings in full swing in Sydney last night.

“The message about #socialdistancing isn’t getting through,” wrote one user. “The scene on the right appears to be a farewell party. They will be on an international flight soon.”

The messaging about #socialdistancing isn’t getting through.

The scene on the right appears to be a farewell party. They will be on a international flight soon.#coronavirusaus #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/4QnLtzcOtn

— Mary Lloyd (@MaryLloyd4) March 21, 2020

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced today he “may have to take far more draconian measures” with the potential for a lockdown to be discussed tonight at the national cabinet meeting.

The stepped-up strategy comes after thousands flocked to Bondi Beach on Friday in defiance of social distancing guidelines.

“Inevitably, and I suspect soon, there will be a need for particular locations (to have) more extreme measures taken,” the Prime Minister told the nation at a press conference in Canberra.

“And that is exactly why I took the decision to bring forward the next meeting of the national cabinet from Tuesday evening to this evening.”

Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said while the prevailing belief was younger people were immune to contracting the virus, this wasn’t the reality.

“While we have seen across the world people getting this very severe infection, the 20 per cent who get it are mostly older people but some young people have also had severe infection,” he said.

“Some young people have died and some young people have transmitted that infection to other members of their family.

“This is an important message for everybody, including all components of society, to take this message very seriously.”

People lining up outside Coles Broadway this morning at 6.45 - 15 mins before opening time. There were police guards on either ends of the centre as people kept piling in, looks like #COVID19Aus #panicbuying is still very much alive & #SocialDistancing is falling on deaf ears pic.twitter.com/vQM1HHNfx2

— Massilia Aili (@MassiliaAili) March 21, 2020

A user took to Twitter this morning to say they were shocked to see people lining up outside Coles Broadway in Sydney before opening time – with little regard for social distancing measures.

“People lining up outside Coles Broadway this morning at 6.45 – 15 mins before opening time,” Massilia Aili wrote.

“There were police guards on either ends of the centre as people kept piling in, looks like #COVID19Aus #panicbuying is still very much alive & #SocialDistancing is falling on deaf ears.”

In a bid to help government enforce guidelines, Sydney councils have moved to enforce a raft of strict new measures.

The new recommendations came after Health Minister Greg Hunt on Friday slammed the beachgoers and local council for not following self-isolation directions.

“Around the country, people are generally taking enormous strides but what happened in Bondi was unacceptable and the local council must take steps to stop that occurring,” he said.

Beachgoers drew condemnation on Friday when tens of thousands of people flouted social distancing rules, which have been put in place in an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

Waverley Council yesterday closed Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches in an immediate response to NSW Police Minister David Elliot’s announcement that beaches across the state could only have a maximum of 500 people on the beach at any one time.

Nearby Randwick Council followed suit, closing Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly beaches.

Mr Elliott said the hundreds of people who turned up to Bondi Beach on Sunday morning would be told to leave.

He said on Channel 7: “We are not doing this because we are the fun police. We don’t close these public spaces because we want to punish people.

“Some people are just stupid and want to take the risk. Some people they think are above the law.”

In Australia, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases stands at 1316 – with the lion’s share of those affected in New South Wales.

There are 533 in New South Wales, 296 in Victoria, 259 in Queensland, 67 in South Australia, 120 in Western Australia, 17 in Tasmania, 19 in the Australian Capital Territory and five in the Northern Territory.