Covid-19 Sydney lockdown: Anger brews over Bondi Beach crowds
Debate is brewing over the large crowds seen at Bondi Beach as one medical expert warns the highly infectious strain has “outrun” us.
The streets of Sydney were silent overnight but it was a different story hours earlier, with pictures revealing large crowds at Bondi Beach despite the city experiencing its first lockdown in six months.
It comes after multiple warnings from the vice president of Australia’s peak medical body that the Delta variant lurking across the country “has outrun contact tracers” as the Bondi cluster grew to 110 with 30 new cases of Covid-19 reported in the state on Sunday.
Five million residents across Greater Sydney and its surrounding regions were placed into a two week lockdown from 6pm Saturday as health officials race to contain the variant’s highly infectious spread.
Residents in areas across inner Sydney and beyond, including the Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Central Coast, are under stay-at-home restrictions that are in place until July 9.
While officials hope the lockdown will be enough to contain the spread, Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice president Dr Chris Moy has spoken to numerous publications over the weekend claiming lockdown should have come earlier.
“We’ve been the victims of our own success so far because to some degree there’s been a level of complacency and we’ve been living in a very gilded cage, a Truman Show, Jim Carrey-type world where we’ve really been very disconnected,” Dr Moy told SBS News.
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Gladys Berejiklian spent Sunday defending her decision to delay the lockdown, insisting she does “not regret a single decision” taken during NSW’s latest outbreak, as criticism mounts for the NSW premier.
Yet the AMA are concerned the Delta strain is being transmitted “far more easily” and that there’s no time to make mistakes.
“The bottom line is, this Delta variant is a different beast, its outrun the contact tracers,” Dr Moy told the ABC.
“The lockdown here is required, whether the decision should have been made earlier, it is likely it should have, and we will look back at that.
“It may have spread more widely.”
As states and territories brace over fears of a national outbreak, Dr Moy told the SMH that Australia is going through “a cross-country seeding event, that’s as simple as that”.
“It’s beaten the NSW contact tracers, and the reliance on contact tracers and holding out [on introducing a lockdown] for a few days has led to seeding across the country,” he told the publication.
Simmering tensions over Bondi Beach crowds
It comes as debate heats over the large crowds at Bondi Beach as NSW Health sent a reminder on Sunday night of “its advice for a number of key venues of concern across Sydney” — three of five of which were in Bondi.
Does everyone posting selfies from the grass at Bondi beach (sitting), know what they’re doing is not allowed as part of the stay at home order?
— Becko (@beckodotcom) June 27, 2021
Go home … or go for a run
Police revealed 17 infringement notices were issued on Sunday and warned lockdown rules will be enforced.
“There were more people breaching on the beach than there were getting covid tested,” 7 News’ Robert Ovadia said, describing it as “ground zero for the outbreak that’s forced us all into lockdown”.
Day 11 of Bondi outbreak: 112 COVID cases reported since June 16 until 8pm on Saturday, 3 of which are under investigation
— Ben Grubb 🛠(@bengrubb) June 27, 2021
Day 11 of Avalon outbreak: 134 cases
Day 11 of Crossroads outbreak: 81 cases
Via @juliette_io's https://t.co/4DKEQ4iAH0pic.twitter.com/COEyWFfEtS
A man and woman from Sydney’s eastern suburbs were among those issued with $1000 fines after they “failed to comply with the Public Health Order at Bondi Beach”, police said in a statement.
Police arrived to the beach at around 10am “after reports multiple people were in breach of the current Public Health Orders.
“Upon arrival, police observed a number of people sitting on a grassed area between Campbell Parade and Queen Elizabeth Drive.
“Officers spoke to these people and issued them with directions to leave the area, which they complied with.”
But then, police spotted the 35-year-old man and 29-year-old woman return to the beach.
“Both were issued with Penalty Infringement Notices for fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 – individual (other than face covering breaches).
“Police continue to appeal to the community to abide by the public health orders, and report suspected breaches of or any behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.”
Centennial Park, Hyde Park and Manly were also highlighted as areas of concern.
Under NSW’s rules residents are allowed to leave home for four outdoor reasons, one of those being to “exercise and take outdoor recreation in Greater Sydney” but not in groups of more than 10.
“In the regions that we’ve outlined, in no more than groups of 10, you’re able to gather outside for the recreational exercise,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian outlined on Saturday afternoon.
“When you are outdoors in groups of 10, make sure that you maintain a good social distance and follow the health instructions.”
But residents have been criticised for not listening to the advice in the new age of fleeting transmission.
“This is a different beast,” Dr Moy told the SMH.
“You’ve got to go hard at this: really, that’s your best chance.”
Professor Kerryn Phelps tweeted “it does not seem to be being taken seriously”.
On Friday, AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said the Delta strain “is different.
“It is being transmitted far more easily and everyone has acknowledged this. Sydney has not faced this before and this means a different approach is required.”
misconception that most people in Bondi are rich and entitled. Part of the reason I’m at the beach is because I can’t afford a backyard or a big enough window for natural light.
— Brett Sprigg (@BrettSprigg) June 27, 2021
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