Surging Covid case numbers won’t stop Sydneysiders from soaking up the sun in city parks and beaches, despite the pleas of New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Locations in current Covid hotpot areas around Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs were chocabloc with locals desperate to get out the house for fresh air after a week of dismal weather.
Centennial Park – bordered by current cluster outbreaks in Bondi Junction, Randwick and Paddington – was close to capacity as families made the most of the good winter weather.
A Bondi-based woman posed up a storm as she took photos on the coastal walk on Saturday morning
Surging Covid case numbers won’t stop Sydneysiders from soaking up the sun in city parks and beaches, despite the pleas of New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Seen here is Centennial Park in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
Centennial Park – bordered by current cluster outbreaks in Bondi Junction, Randwick and Paddington – was close to capacity as families made the most of the good weather. Seen here are walkers in Centennial Park in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs
Bondi’s famous hill was covered in residents who didn’t appear to be exercising outdoors
Locals described the scenes as ‘chaos’ with not even a single parking spot to be found in the massive parkland area.
It’s a favourite with families for picnics as well as dogwalkers, bicyclists, rollerbladers, runners and horse-riders, as well as team sports on the playing fields hidden away in the extensive grounds.
And Maroubra beachfront – also enduring its own hotspot alerts – was packed with sunworshippers ignoring the potential dangers.
Daily Mail Australia photographers captured the crowded scenes in a series of pictures at several spots around the city.
Beachgoers were spotted lazing in the sun – instead of working out – on Saturday
Locals described the scenes as ‘chaos’ with not even a single parking spot to be found in the massive parkland area. Centennial Park is a favourite for bicyclists, seen here
a favourite with families for picnics as well as dogwalkers, bicyclists, scooter-riders, rollerbladers, runners and horse-riders, as well as team sports on the playing fields hidden away in the extensive grounds. Dog-friendly Centennial Park is a favourite for dog owners (pictured) in the Eatsern Suburbs
Maroubra beachfront (pictured) – also enduring its own hotspot alerts – was also packed with sunworshippers ignoring the potential dangers
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian admitted it could spark a new wave of infections if people became complacent, especially if playing sport for exercise. Locals took advantage of the good weather to relax in the sun at Maroubra beachfront (seen here)
Plenty of Bondi lovers were walking past the famous Icebergs pool on Saturday
The NSW Premier admitted it could spark a new wave of infections if people became complacent, especially if playing sport for exercise.
‘I’m concerned the good weather and all of us being cooped up, people will let their guard down,’ Ms Berejiklian admitted at her Covid briefing on Saturday.
‘Yes it is great weather – we live in the best place on earth but please be sensible.
‘If you’re exercising with others outside your household, maintain good social distancing. Don’t let an exercise group of 10 become 20 or 30.
The NSW Premier asked locals to exercise in small groups and maintain social distance as bicyclists flock to family-favourite Centennial Park, seen here
The Premier is convinced the state is on track to conquer the latest outbreak with even the rising numbers reflecting their modelling ahead of a predicted turnaround
Residents in Melbourne – who are no longer in lockdown – were also out and about on the first day of the weekend
Melbourne’s cafe scenes were thriving once again after the city was released from lockdown
‘We much prefer people exercising outside in a safe way, in a socially distanced way, and we just ask people not to give up now.’
The Premier is convinced the state is on track to conquer the latest outbreak with even the rising numbers reflecting their modelling ahead of a predicted turnaround.
But it depends on everyone continuing to play their part, she said.
The turnaround in Sydney’s Covid cluster numbers depend on everyone continuing to play their part, says NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Seen here is a busy ice cream van at Centennial Park
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned this weekend’s good weather could scupper all the good work down so far though if locals ignore the lockdown restrictions. Runners are a frequent sight at Centennial Park, as seen here
In Melbourne the shopping centres are packed with residents after they were locked out for two weeks
‘We’re at the halfway point. We’re at a good position,’ said Ms Berejiklian. ‘The lockdown is having the impact to date we though it would.
‘There’s nothing surprising we’ve seen in the numbers.
‘And of course as the days go by we want to see the numbers of people who have been exposed in the community with the virus continue to decline.’
This weekend’s good weather could scupper all the good work down so far though if locals ignore the lockdown restrictions, she warned.
The NSW Premier insisted the city was at the halfway point and in a good position, and the lockdown is having the expected impact
Sydney is depending on everyone keeping their guard up, said the NSW Premier
Police in Melbourne are spotted patrolling the busy streets wearing masks
‘We have a chance to get out of this lockdown as soon as we can, so long as we don’t let our guard down and suddenly let the virus spread today and tomorrow because of good weather,’ said Ms Berejiklian.
‘I just appeal to everyone to do the right thing. The lockdown is so far having the desired effect.
‘But we need that to continue.’
The NSW Premier begged locals not to let their guard down and suddenly let the virus spread today and tomorrow because of good weather
The NSW Premier appealed to everyone to do the right thing and said the lockdown is so far having the desired effect