Gold Coast beaches are closed

Gold Coast beaches are closed after visitors from Brisbane flocked to the sand despite coronavirus restrictions

• The Spit, Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta beaches have been shut down 
• Large numbers of people from Brisbane flocked to the sand over the weekend 
• Mayor threatened stronger coronavirus restrictions if people did not obey

By Charlie Moore For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 02:22 BST, 6 April 2020 | Updated: 02:38 BST, 6 April 2020

Gold Coast beaches have been closed to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The Spit, Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta beaches have been shut down, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announced today. 

The decision was taken after large numbers of people from Brisbane flocked to the sand over the weekend despite being told to stay at home.

‘Unfortunately, over the weekend, out of towners are descending on the Gold Coast in mass numbers,’ Mr Tate said.

Sunbathers are told to leave the Surfers Paradise beach by police on 2 April

‘And I fear that this number will increase over the Easter weekend. We love you but we don’t want you visiting now.’ 

Mr Tate said he knew beachgoers were not locals because police pulled them over to ask them. 

He threatened stronger coronavirus restrictions if people could not obey the rules.

Queenslanders have been told to stay at home unless food shopping, exercising, going to work or school, or for medical reasons. 

Several beaches in Sydney, including the iconic Bondi Beach, have also been closed.

Police gathered to patrol Surfers Paradise Beach on the Gold Coast on April 2

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