Thousands of Australians could die from coronavirus if people continue to blatantly ignore warnings about social distancing, Victoria’s chief medical officer has warned.
Sunseekers are continuing to flout guidelines designed to combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus – even lounging in front of signs reading ‘Beach Closed’ and ‘Stop COVID-19’.
Professor Brett Sutton slammed the sunbathers on Twitter, saying their behaviour was ‘really c**p’, as he warned Australia is likely to suffer 100,000 coronavirus cases within weeks.
He predicted thousands of people would die if residents continue to float the guidelines designed to keep them safe.
Dozens of beachlovers gathered at Melbourne’s St Kilda on Saturday, despite the beach being shut down by authorities to help stop the spread of COVID-19 – which has now killed 14 Australians and infected thousands.
Startling pictures show groups of young people flouting social distancing guidelines to work on their tans, despite repeated calls for people to stay at home or maintain a 1.5m distance from one another.
Several large signs were put up by officials warning people to stay away, with one even pleading ‘Stop COVID-19’ while another read ‘No Gatherings’.
But for many walkers, sunbathers and joggers lounging under the signs, it simply provided a sunny spot to hang out.
Groups of people are seen sunning themselves at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday, despite a nationwide clamp down on social gatherings to help combat the coronavirus outbreak
A group of young women are spoken to by a police officer on Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) after dozens flocked to the closed beach to enjoy the sunshine despite the coronavirus pandemic
This group of young people didn’t appear to be 1.5 metres apart, and were sat directly in front of a sign telling residents ‘No Gatherings’ during the COVID-19 pandemic
There were similar scenes at Brighton Beach, which was full of sunbathers despite being closed, forced police officers to patrol the beach and turf off offenders.
‘Some of the behaviour today – when we’re asking people to stay home – has been really crap,’ Dr Sutton wrote on Saturday night.
‘It’s hard to change habits and it’s hard to see dangers that aren’t apparent yet.
‘But with 3,000 cases of COVID in Australia this week, we’re headed to 100,000 in 2-3 weeks without change.
‘That means thousands of deaths. Overwhelmed health services. Medical staff at unacceptable risk. Unstoppable spread. Do the right thing now and stay at home. Today. Tomorrow. Until we’re through this, please.’
The Melbourne beaches were closed to groups on Friday, and St Kilda closed altogether, with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews warning sunseekers they were putting people’s lives at risk.
‘If you can stay home, you must stay home,’ Mr Andrews told reporters.
‘You don’t need to be at the beach. If you choose to be at the beach then that is a choice that may cost someone their life.
Police officers patrolled St Kilda Beach on Saturday (pictured), telling seemingly surprised residents that they were not allowed on the beach because of COVID-19 restrictions
Sunbathers flocked to Bondi on Saturday (pictured) in Sydney, despite warnings about the coronavirus pandemic and calls for people to stay at home
Police were forced to approach ignorant sunbathers (pictured) who chose to go to St Kilda Beach on Saturday despite social distancing guidelines to help stop the spread of COVID-19
Dozens of people, even those with young children, flocked to Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) despite the government pleading with Australians to practice social distancing
Police Minister Lisa Neville said people would face fines of up to $1,652 for gathering in groups and businesses would be hit with penalties of $9,913.
Over in Sydney, hundreds also continued to ignore the guidelines, which are designed to keep Australians safe from the highly contagious disease, which has killed more than 27,000 people worldwide.
Similar scenes unfolded at Rushcutters Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, and Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire, with scores of people getting together at the park, going on walks and playing group sports.
Such activities were either banned or limited to a maximum of ten people this week under new measures to help curb the spread of infection.
The shocking footage comes as the country’s death toll rose to 14 on Saturday after a 91-year-old Sydney woman who tested positive for COVID-19 died.
Beachgoers are told to leave Brighton Beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) by police, after ignoring warnings that the beach was closed to hel
People are seen playing, sunbathing and walking at St Kilda (pictured) on Saturday, despite the beach being closed because of the coronavirus
Groups of young people are seen at St Kilda Beach on Friday (pictured) despite a ban being put in place by the local council
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia has soared to 3,637, with 1,617 in NSW – the country’s worst-hit state.
A sign put up at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) told residents that the beach was closed – but many ignored the warning
The majority of COVID-19 infections in the state have been reported to be emerging from Sydney’s eastern suburbs, where hundreds of people were seen flocking to the region’s popular beaches last week.
The state and federal government have since issued multiple calls for Australians to ‘do the right thing’ and adhere to guidelines that could potentially save hundreds of lives.
On Saturday, officials closed Maroubra beach after defiant sunbathers had flocked to the sand following other beach closures in the city.
Beachgoers were told to leave the area at 11.30am.
In Melbourne, St Kilda beach was shut by police on Friday after hundreds of people gathered on the shore, breaching social distancing rules.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged people to be vigilant and sensible and said no one should leave their homes unless they have to.
The state has also started handing out infringement notices for those who flout coronavirus public health orders.
The public have been warned that many coronavirus sufferers may not even know they have the disease, making it easy for them to infect others without realising.
Hundreds of people continue to break social distancing rules by gathering at popular outdoor areas as the country battles a coronavirus pandemic (pictured, Manly on Saturday)
Scores of unfazed residents were photographed going about their day on Saturday enjoying the 24C weather in Manly (pictured), in Sydney’s Northern Beaches
COVID-19, which originated in a food market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has been particularly dangerous for older people – but can kill anyone, even those with no pre-existing conditions.
So far, around 500 of Australia’s coronavirus cases have come from cruise ships, the nation’s deputy chief medical officer said on Saturday.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly told a national press conference almost 200 cases had come from the Ruby Princess.
The Ruby Princess docked in Sydney on March 19 after a tour of New Zealand and let 2,700 passengers leave for their homes around Australia, many flying interstate with the virus.
But despite the potential spread of the disease across the Harbour City, Manly Beach was also flooded with joggers, cyclists, surfers and sunbathers enjoying the sunny 24C weather on Saturday morning.
In photos obtained by Daily Mail Australia, hundreds of unfazed residents were seen blatantly defying restrictions, gathering at the park, beaches and promenade.
People continue to congregate in large groups, such as these in Manly on Saturday (pictured) despite repeated calls from the government for Australians to ‘do the right thing’
Australia’s coronavirus cases continue to rise, but some residents are still defying advice aimed at reducing the spread of the virus
Meanwhile in Bondi Beach, backpackers were slammed for brazenly defying social distancing rules by hosting parties and social gatherings at their hostels.
NSW Police were forced to shut down a barbecue held at Bondi Beach Backpackers Club on Hall St on Friday night that had been advertised on the hostel’s Facebook page.
In a now-deleted post, the hostel invited guests to its weekly sausage sizzle and happy hour beginning at 6pm.
NSW Police Minister David Elliot told the Sydney Morning Herald the gatherings were ‘one of the most irresponsible things I have ever come across’.
The hostel has also come under fire by outraged residents on social media, with one person branding them ‘socially irresponsible morons.’
‘Really??? Happy Hour??? A sausage sizzle for all guests?? Have you heard of social distancing? You are a disgrace,’ one person said.
Another commented on the Facebook event saying: ‘The rest of us have been stuck indoors for weeks, working from home and homeschooling kids, whilst you brainless turds are business as usual.
‘Wake the f**k up you absolute deadbeats.’
In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Bondi Beach Backpackers Club denied the hostel was hosting parties and said the event was intended to be a takeaway-meal for guests who have been unable to return to their homes overseas.
In a now-deleted post, the hostel had advertised its weekly sausage sizzle and happy hour beginning at 6pm
People were seen swimming and sunbathing at Manly beach (pictured on Saturday), even after the government was forced to close Bondi Beach last week
The state and federal governments have since issued multiple calls for Australians to ‘do the right thing’ and adhere to guidelines that could potentially save hundreds of peoples’ lives (pictured, Manly on Saturday)
Similar scenes unfolded in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with people gathering at parks and popular outdoor hotspots
The government has banned people from taking part in large group sports that involve lots of physical contact, but this group were still playing at Rushcutters Bay Park on Friday (pictured)
A crowded promenade from Cronulla Beach Saturday (pictured) despite warnings about the spread of the deadly coronavirus
The hostel confirmed police visited the premises to ‘ask some questions’ before leaving.
Earlier this week, an Argentinian backpacker and her 10 friends were reported to have contracted coronavirus after attending a party with hundreds of people on Bondi Beach.
The beach party was held before Scott Morrison banned non-essential services and outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people.
The 24-year-old woman went to Prince Wales Hospital on Monday where she was told that she had tested positive.
Her diagnosis came after several more cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in backpackers in the Bondi area.
‘There were two recent parties that some of the cases attended where the cases may have acquired their infections,’ a spokesman for NSW Health said.
Police were forced to shut down an social gathering at Bondi Beach Backpackers (pictured) on Hall St on Friday night
The hostel and backpackers came under fire on social media by many who were outraged for the brazen breach of rules
Police from Thursday have the power to hand out fines of $1,000 to individuals and $5,000 to businesses that breach public health orders or ministerial directions.
The move comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced tougher restrictions to try and slow the spread of the disease in the Australian community.
People in the firing line include returned travellers who contravene the requirement to self-quarantine for 14 days and those diagnosed with COVID-19 who similarly don’t follow the rules.
Fines will also apply for breaches of the prohibition on outdoor gatherings of 500 people and indoor gatherings of 100 people.
‘The police needed to stand up and say the community have to take this seriously, or more people will be affected and this virus could run on for many, many more months,’ Mr Fuller said.
Police have the power to apply penalties already in place under the Public Health Act, which means people can be jailed for six months and/or issued a fine of up to $11,000 if convicted.
‘No one is above the law. If you decide to ignore a direction, you will be caught, and you may very well find yourself slapped with a hefty fine,’ Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said in a statement on Thursday.
‘The fact that people are still not complying is the reason why we have police out in full force enforcing these directions.
‘This behaviour is not only reckless and stupid, but potentially deadly.’
People are seen crowding at Manly beach on Friday morning (pictured) despite the looming threat of the coronavirus