You’re queueing it wrong: Australians forget social distancing outside of Centrelinks and shops

You’re queueing it wrong: Australians forget social distancing as they form huge lines outside Centrelinks and shops – while foreigners show us how to wait safely

  • Australians have been pictured lining up shoulder to shoulder on the street 
  • Health authorities advised social distancing of 1.5 metres should be followed 
  • Pictures of countries hard-hit by COVID-19 show the correct way to queue up  

Pictures of Australians queuing up outside Centrelink offices and at shops indicate many either do not know about new social distancing directives or are paying no heed to them.

Photographs from Brunswick, in Melbourne’s inner north, early on Tuesday morning showed people lining up shoulder to shoulder outside of businesses. 

A day earlier, more than 300 people were seen in close proximity as they queued down a street in Sydney’s Darlinghurst as they waited for a Centrelink office to open. 

A crowd of more than 300 people queue outside a Centrelink office in Darlinghurst, Sydney 

The crowd were packed shoulder to shoulder in the Sydney suburb on Monday

The crowd were packed shoulder to shoulder in the Sydney suburb on Monday 

The Department of Health has issued advice that Australians should remain at least 1.5 metres away from others in public places. 

The distancing guideline, along with the forced closure of businesses from pubs to cinemas to gyms, are aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. 

The pictures of local queues contrasted with images from other countries, such as the hard-hit European nations Italy and Spain, showing people well spaced out as they waited to get into stores and offices. 

A crowd in Italy shows the correct way to queue up with at least 1.5 metres of space between each person

A crowd in Italy shows the correct way to queue up with at least 1.5 metres of space between each person 

People in Brunwick, Melbourne on Tuesday

People in Brunwick, Melbourne on Tuesday queue up well within the 1.5 metres advised for social distancing 

Italy has more than 60,000 reported cases of COVID-19 and the death toll has tragically surpassed 6,000. 

In Spain, there are 33,000 cases reported and more than 2,200 deaths recorded as of March 23. 

Globally there have 362,000 reported cases of COVID-19. 

Other advice from the Department of Health to limit the spread of the virus included washing your hands regularly, regularly disinfecting surfaces such as benches and door handles, and coughing or sneezing into the crook of your arm.   

A line of people waiting to access a supermarket in Spain are adhering to social distancing

A line of people waiting to access a supermarket in Spain are adhering to social distancing 

This queue of people in Spain waiting to shop at a supermarket is following the social distancing advice

This queue of people in Spain waiting to shop at a supermarket is following the social distancing advice 

A line of people outside a business in Brunswick, Melbourne on Tuesday with some wearing facemasks yet not following social distancing guidelines

A line of people outside a business in Brunswick, Melbourne on Tuesday with some wearing facemasks yet not following social distancing guidelines 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk