Australia Covid news live: Crowds pack Bondi as Sydney cases grow

Crowds of unmasked residents flocked to Bondi this weekend, taking full advantage of the new outdoor recreation freedoms.

Mitchell Van Homrigh

less than 2 min read

September 19, 2021 - 8:44PM

Police overwhelmed as crowd takes over grassed area in Bondi

Hello, and welcome to our coverage of Covid in Australia.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled his state's roadmap out of lockdown, with fully vaccinated residents the big winners of the reopening plan.

Mr Andrew's big announcement came as Victoria confirmed 507 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and one death.

NSW recorded it's deadliest day of the current outbreak on Sunday, with 13 deaths and 1083 new Covid infections.

This live blog has now ended.

Updates

'Not a good look': Bondi packed

Ally Foster

Crowds of unmasked Sydney residents flocked to Bondi this weekend, taking full advantage of the new outdoor recreation freedoms.

Residents, many of them maskless, were pictured packing the grass on Biddigal Reserve overlooking Bondi Beach on Sunday afternoon.

People were seen dancing, drinking alcohol and hugging as they enjoyed the warm weather.

One man told The Daily Telegraph it was like "party time" was back in Bondi and "as if Covid didn't exist".

“It is not a good look at all but that's just typical Bondi,” he said.

“Police were just too overwhelmed to enforce Covid-19 protocols.”

What happened to Virus in Bondi beach!! pic.twitter.com/HJFkzN1t6s
— MrG-XRP007 (@MXrp007) September 19, 2021

Bondi Chief Inspector Nic Twentyman told the publication that police were patrolling but no fines were issued.

Images of people packing the beach at Bondi and soaking up the sun have caused a stir in recent weeks, with residents in some of Sydney's LGAs of concerns complaining last week that they “feel like second-class citizens”.

“There’s Bondi first and then there’s us out here, second class because we don’t have any sea next to us,” Joe, 29, from Bankstown told news.com.au.

“We’re paying the price out here for what happened and the resentment will remain long after this is over.

Dan's international travel bombshell

Dan's bombshell travel admission Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hinted that his state may open their borders to international travellers before Sydney.

When unveiling the state’s road map on Sunday, he said “with the greatest of respect, interstate travel is not at the top of my list”.

According to the roadmap changes to travel would occur when 80 per cent of the state is fully vaccinated.

“This roadmap is about delivering the national plan, and being faithful to it. Us playing our part, nationally, that is all about freedom of movement, both internationally as well as interstate. I want that freedom of movement as soon as we can,” he said.

“I don't think widescale across-the-board international travel would happen before then (travel with NSW). We have a bubble with New Zealand that has been suspended at the moment, or green lanes as the Prime Minister and the Federal Government talk about.”

List of fully vaccinated privileges in Vic

Shireen Khalil

The following changes will be made when 70 per cent of the community is fully vaccinated.

In Melbourne

– No curfew or any reasons to leave the home in place
– 10 fully vaccinated people can gather outdoors and community sport training can start again.
– Pubs, clubs and entertainment venues can open to 50 fully vaccinated people.
– Weddings and funerals open for 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors.
– All school students return to on-site learning part time.
– Hairdressers open for up to five fully vaccinated people.

Here are the big changes happening when we hit vax targets.

70% (Oct 26)- hospitality outdoors, hairdressing for fully vax, weddings & funerals 50

80% (Nov 5) – All school back, hospitality for fully vaccinated, intrastate travel, masks only indoors, weddings 150#springst pic.twitter.com/QBELRQMcCj
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) September 19, 2021

The following changes will be made if 80 per cent double dose is hit on November 5

– Retail reopens
– Hairdressers for fully vaccinated people
– Childcare opens
– All kids back at school all days
– Weddings, funerals, 150 fully vaccinated peple indoors, 500 outdoors
– Masks inside only
– Pubs/restaurants seated service only

TGA given clearance for Moderna vaccines

Shireen Khalil

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the TGA has now given clearance for Moderna and it will be rolling out in pharmacies this week.

"We anticipate those jabs in arms by Wednesday, 1800 pharmacies by the end of this week, doing the job," Mr Morrison said in a press conference on Sunday.

"I note that yesterday it was a record Saturday vaccinations (at) 227,036. We now have 71.7 per cent first dose and 46.7 per cent second dose."

Mr Morrison said the second shipment of Moderna, which will be another 700,000 doses, will be coming in this evening.

The Prime Minister made the announcement after he addressed the media on Sunday to confirm that Industry Minister Christian Porter has tendered his resignation from the ministry.

It comes after Porter was unable to provide more information on the blind trust established to pay his legal bills.

ACT records 17 new cases

Shireen Khalil

The ACT has recorded 17 new coronavirus cases, with 12 infectious in the community.

It brings the total number of infections under this outbreak to 618.

Heath Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told reporters on Sunday, six of these cases are under investigation, five are known to have been in quarantine during their entire infectious period and 12 spent some of that time in the community.

The latest update came the day before bookings will be available for 12- to 15-year-olds at ACT mass vaccination clinics.
"There are are about 25,000 young people in this age group in the ACT," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"So while this is a relatively small cohort, we know that it is particularly important that we continue our vaccination program to ensure that young people in our community can be vaccinated."

Confirmed case in Cowra

Shireen Khalil

Western NSW Local Health District announced there is one confirmed case of Covid-19 in the Cowra LGA.

"It will be formally reported in Monday's case numbers," it stated.
"They are isolating outside the Cowra township with household contacts. The person was likely infectious in the community. The community is urged to get tested."

Rules ease in Sydney hotspot areas

Shireen Khalil

From Monday several rules will be eased for residents in the 12 local government areas of concern.

– There will be no limit on the duration of outdoor exercise and recreation;
– Outdoor gatherings of up to five fully vaccinated people will be allowed in a person’s LGA or within 5km of their home;
– Shopping, exercise and outdoor recreation can be done 5km from home or within your LGA;
– Residents can attend a small wedding (maximum 11 people) in greater Sydney as a guest;
– A person’s single bubble buddy can live in greater Sydney (previously must have resided within 5km of a person's home).

Those council areas where restrictions are easing are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and some suburbs of Penrith.

Melbourne Cup on the cards

Mitchell Van Homrigh

According to the state’s roadmap, 80 per cent of the state’s population will be vaccinated before cup day.
Premier Daniel Andrews reiterated the roadwork is only a guide but they would work with the racing industry to have it as normal as possible.
“If we deliver it by Cup Day, or it’s really clear that we’re going to, then we’ll have options to have a crowd,” he said. “I can’t say how big … but it’s a great goal. It’d be a great signal to the world, signal to the rest of the country that Victoria is open.”

Andrews' hope for a normal Christmas

Mitchell Van Homrigh

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hopes Christmas will be “as close to normal as possible” with 30 visitors likely to be allowed in homes on December 25.

When dissecting this state's roadmap he also said the resumption of interstate and international travel, which had been “a bit challenging”.

“We aim to have 30 visitors to the home on Christmas day,” he said. “That means … as close to normal as possible.” More

Dan blasts over 60s using Pfizer

Mitchell Van Homrigh

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has blasted his constituents who are aged over 60 and taken the Pfizer vaccine.

“I don't know anyone in the 60s. Who is a grandparent who would take something off the grandchild,” he said.

“You are essentially taking something of a 12, 13, 14-year-old because the only vaccine they can get is Pfizer.”