The NSW Government has made the decision to shut Bondi Beach for the time being. The rather blunt closure comes after a sweltering Friday during which the golden sands exceeded Australia’s recently introduced outdoor-gathering limit of 500, necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Photos of a packed-out Bondi Beach went viral yesterday, with beachgoers widely condemned for their selfish and irresponsible behaviour. Rightfully so.
It could also have something to do with how the Government are shaping their messaging of Covid-19, emphasising – every chance they get – that it is typically only serious for people already at-risk of health complications. Just one look at social media and it’s easy to see how this is being misinterpreted as reason for complacency.
Still, the closure is temporary and the measure will most likely extend to Sydney’s other beaches if social-distancing rules continue to be ignored. And unfortunately, it’s likely they will be, despite medical professionals (non-politicised ones, so not our CMO) begging people to take this seriously and act now.
Stay tuned for more forced closures because people don’t know how to stay home, or continue to write it off as “hysteria.”
UPDATE: Many other beaches (all Eastern Suburb ones) have now been closed because the government, understandably, has very little faith in people actually understanding the meaning of “social distancing” and listening to the waves of doctors from around the world pleading with them to cut out all non-essential outings and stay the fuck at home.
Here’s a nice video of Italians regretting similar complacent attitudes.
