Coronavirus Australia: Sydney hotel The Golden Sheaf blasted as queuing crowd defies social distancing

Management of a Sydney pub photographed with a packed queue ignoring social distancing vows to bolster security.

The controversial picture of the queue outside the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay. Picture: Twitter

The management of a Sydney pub photographed with punters defying social distancing in the queue outside has vowed to bolster their security capacity.

Photos circulated on social media show The Solotel Group-owned venue, the Golden Sheaf Pub with a large crowd of people lining up outside the Double Bay venue.

Give it a few hours. Here's a picture from tonight in Sydney (Golden Sheaf Hotel) pic.twitter.com/R3zM7ARrRc

— Jacob (@jacobgardiner) July 8, 2020

Solotel Group’s chief executive Justine Baker said the venue would employ extra staff and security to ensure the number of people in the queue did not exceed 20 people at one time.

“We take the safety of our guests and staff very seriously, which is why we will now be taking bookings only on Wednesday nights from 8pm,” she said in a statement.

“We are practising strict social distancing and COVID hygiene and safety procedures. We abide by NSW Health Guidelines throughout all of our venues, including the Golden Sheaf. All of our staff are inducted into the new COVID hygiene practices as a mandatory.”

“It is the collective responsibility of all staff, guests, operators and authorities to ensure the safety of each other.”

Statement from Golden Sheaf website in wake of COVID queue picture.

A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed officers visited the venue on Wednesday evening after reports of a large crowd waiting outside the hotel in the eastern Sydney suburb.

“Police liaised with the manager before assisting security with restricting the number of people in the line to comply with social distancing guidelines. The remainder were moved on from the area,” she said.

This behaviour is NOT OKAY 👇🏼
➡️As the outbreak in Victoria has shown, COVID-19 can resurge easily.
➡️ Pubs and patrons need to respect social distancing and other health measures, or we risk a similar outbreak in Sydney. https://t.co/SWMIIfRwpq

— Dave Sharma (@DaveSharma) July 9, 2020

Officers deemed the venue compliant after a walk-through of the premises was conducted. But Local MP for Wentworth Dave Sharma took to Twitter to condemn the lack of social distancing.

“This behaviour is NOT OKAY,” he wrote. “Pubs and patrons need to respect social distancing and other health measures, or we risk a similar outbreak in Sydney.”

Since July 1, the state’s hospitality sector has operated under relaxed restrictions. Venues are no longer subject to an occupancy cap, but must ensure a four square metre radius per customer. Tables must be spaces at least 1.5 metres apart and group of more than 20 are not allowed. All customers are required to remain seated while inside venues.

New South Wales recorded an additional 13 cases of coronavirus on Thursday, with 11 from returned travellers in hotel quarantine. It comes as Melbourne entered a six-week lockdown on Wednesday evening to curb a rise in community transmission of coronavirus. The state recorded 165 new cases of the virus on Thursday – it’s second highest daily increase since the pandemic began.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned against complacency in other jurisdictions, warning that no states or territories are “immune”.

“We must continue to follow the social distancing protocols all around Australia.”