Sydney beaches closed again as NSW COVID-19 death toll rises
A swimmer who defied police after crowds forced the closure of several Sydney beaches has complained his civil liberties were breached. It follows news a fifth resident has died at a western Sydney nursing home after testing positive to COVID-19.
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A swimmer who flouted social distancing rules has complained about his civil liberties being taken away after beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs closed at lunchtime today.
Only five days after being reopened from a month-long closure, lifeguards and police were forced to close fences and move people off Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra beaches.
It follows news a fifth resident has died at a western Sydney nursing home after testing positive to COVID-19.
But the fences, signs and messages did not stop one man at Coogee who jumped the fence
before sprinting for the crystal clear, blue water.
A NSW police officer shouted at the man to get out of the water before a lifeguard on a jet ski spoke to him as he was floating near the shore.
After speaking to police on the beach he said he was not fined.
“Who made these laws?” he said. “Who thinks they’re above the law – the politicians. I did not vote for them, who voted for them? We’re smart enough to vote for them but we’re not smart enough to go for a swim.
“Someone has to stand up to these people, they’re taking our civil liberties who gave them the right?”
Randwick City Council Mayor Danny Said said he hoped the man who ran across the sand was fined: “You have to take a bit of personal responsibility.”
Beaches in the eastern suburbs were closed in March after locals and tourists flouted social distancing restrictions.
A Randwick City Council spokeswoman confirmed to The Daily Telegraph the beaches were closed today due to breaches in social distancing rules.
“There were too many people and lifeguards are now in the process of closing them all down,” she said.
“We found that there were lots of kids and families paddling at the shoreline, which increased numbers on the sand.”
Tourist Mark Tucek from the Czech Republic came to Coogee from Bondi Junction for a quick swim and a walk.
“Waverley Council announced they would keep them (the beaches) closed til next Tuesday so we came here instead,” Mr Tucek said.
“In my opinion the council could employ people to keep people apart so we can still use the beaches.”
The closures came only hours after the state’s top cop warned the beaches would be closely monitored.
“We hope people go down there and exercise, have a swim, then dry off and go home, and really give someone else the opportunity to go down to the beach,” NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.
Despite the closures, Waverley Council remains on track to open access to the water at their beaches.
“We’re going to try on open access on Tuesday. We thought carefully about when we wanted to try this again,” Waverly Mayor Paula Masselos told The Daily Telegraph.
“Our community is on board with the plan and they have been doing the right thing. They want access to the water to be opened. Our challenge is dealing with the tourists and visitors but we are lucky our lifeguards are experienced in dealing with big numbers.”
FIFTH DEATH AT NEWMARCH
A fifth resident of Anglicare’s virus-plagued Newmarch House nursing home has died after testing positive to COVID-19, taking the state’s death toll to 35 this evening and the national death toll to 79.
Anglicare Sydney released a statement confirming the 96-year-old woman, who suffered from multiple health issues, had died this morning at the facility in Caddens in Sydney’s west.
CEO of Anglicare Sydney Grant Millard said he was “thankful” a close relative had visited the woman on Thursday night before her death, and once again asked for “thoughts and prayers” during the outbreak.
“We grieve with the family, our staff who have cared for her, other residents who have come to know her, and everyone who has been thinking and praying for us during this difficult time,” Mr Millard said. “Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.”
It follows the deaths of a 79-year-old female resident on Thursday morning and a 92-year-old woman on Tuesday morning.
Two male residents aged 93 and 94 also died from COVID-19 inside the nursing home last weekend.
Just seven people returned positive results for COVID-19 overnight, despite more than 7000 people presenting for testing yesterday.
TESTING RAMPED UP TO 8000 A DAY
Anyone who feels unwell or is concerned they might have COVID-19 can now come forward for testing after the government broadened the testing criteria.
The Daily Telegraph revealed today NSW residents can now step forward for COVID-19 testing as the government works to boost testing rates to 8000 a day.
Previously, just those people who have been in contact with an infected person, were part of a known cluster or who work with vulnerable people could be swabbed for the virus.
Ms Berejiklian called on all residents to come forward for testing – even on the weekends – to ensure daily testing rates remain high.
It’s hoped the increased testing rates will help the state prepare for a potential lifting of lockdown restrictions in coming weeks, she said.
“As we consider lifting restrictions we have to do more tests,” she said.
$73 MILLION FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The government has boosted access to mental health services across NSW, announcing the expansion of virtual mental health support teams and additional resources on the state’s mental health hotline.
Mental Health Minister Bronwyn Taylor said the government has placed 180 new psychologists into the workforce and boosted frontline support for the 1800 011 511 mental health line to enable it to field an additional 60,000 calls.
“We want this mental health line to be all things to everyone that needs it. If we can allow access to people with a mental health issue we can allow the right pathway to right service at the right time they’re going to get better outcomes,” she said.
The government has also announced it will be expanding virtual mental health support service across every Local Health District in NSW to enable people in the state’s regions to access help when they need it most.
“It’s bringing mental health care to people regardless of your circumstances or where you live.”
“It’s a huge step forward in mentals health provision, particularly in this time of COVID-19.”
New parents will also be able to access free support to help with their newborn’s sleeping routine.
Ms Taylor said Tresillian’s Sleep Well Baby program will be free for all NSW parents from today.
“What that means is every single day from their homes 24 hours a day parents will be able to access the services they need,” she said.
The program offers support for parents of newborn up to children aged 3 to help guide them through getting their baby to sleep. It includes the latest clinical guidance around sleep routines and useful sleep monitoring tools.
Originally published as Sydney beaches closed again as NSW COVID-19 death toll rises
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