Top doctor pleads for Sydney beaches to stay open because the risk of transmission outside is low and the beach is far different to spectators packed into a footy match
- Sydney's eastern suburbs and northern beaches packed with locals outdoors
- Contrasting scenes in the Covid-ravaged south-west with streets deserted
- Top doctor not concerned with the busy scenes seen at Bondi and Manly
- Dr Nick Coatsworth says transmission of virus while exercising isn't an issue
A top doctor claims Sydney's beaches should stay open as the city's coronavirus outbreak worsens, despite being packed with exercising residents.
NSW recorded 105 cases on Sunday as Sydney and surrounding regions entered their fourth week of lockdown.
But stay-at-home orders haven't stopped hundreds of Sydneysiders from flocking to the beach to get their daily dose of exercise and fresh air.
As residents in three local councils in Sydney's south-west complied with strict new orders to stay in their neighbourhoods, there were different scenes in the eastern suburbs and the northern beaches on the weekend.
Pictured are joggers along a packed Bondi promenade
The promenades along Bondi and Manly beaches were packed with people exercising and walking their dogs while enjoying the winter sunshine.
But former federal deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth wasn't worried about the busy scenes seen at beaches, citing a low risk of transmission.
'I didn't have an issue with what we saw over the weekend,' he told the Today show on Monday.
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The numbers of Covid cases who were in the community while infectious are showing no signs of slowing down, despite being the key to lockdown being lifted.
But Dr Coatsworth said the risk of the virus of being transmitted while exercising outdoors was far less than at a packed stadium of fans at a sporting match or concert.
Thousands of AFL and rugby union fans were ordered to isolate for 14 days after they were deemed as close contacts of an infected case at separate matches in Melbourne in recent days.
Surfers and swimmers were keen to hit the water, despite being the middle of winter. Pictured is Manly Beach on the northern beaches on Saturday
'I think we've got to be moderate about this. Of course the Delta strain does transmit outdoors but only in very close circumstances,' Dr Coatsworth said.
'There was a Trans music festival in the Netherlands, of course 20,000 people in close proximity listening to dance music and of course, in that sort of situation, you may get transmission.
'But if you're walking past someone during your morning exercise, that is not going to be an issue.'
Many at the packed Sydney beaches weren't wearing masks, despite reiterated pleas from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and health officials to take one with them whenever people leave the house.
Dr Nick Coatsworth says there is little risk of Covid being transmitted during exercise. Pictured are swimmers hitting the water at Manly Beach on Saturday
Former Bachelorette Georgia Love was among those shocked at the scenes at Sydney's beaches.
'Bondi right now, where masks nor social distance seem to matter,' she captioned a short clip of the packed scenes.
One TikTok user shared contrasting footage between a packed Bondi and deserted train stations and shopping strips in Sydney's south-west.
The water at Bondi and Manly was just as busy with hordes of surfers and swimmers braving the chilly temperatures.
'When everyone decides to be a surfer during lockdown at Bondi,' a video of up to a dozen surfers riding the same wave was captioned.
'It's crazy busy in the water in the middle of winter.'
'Bondi right now, where masks nor social distance seem to matter,' Georgia Love tweeted on Sunday
But Dr Coatsworth said the scenes in Bondi and Manly on the weekend shouldn't be compared with other parts of Sydney.
'If people want to exercise in south-west Sydney, the eastern suburbs or the north, I believe they're more than entitled to,' he added.
'I think that, of course, the risk of transmission outdoors is exceptionally low and as long as people are following the rules, as stipulated by the NSW Government, it doesn't matter where they are in Sydney.
'They should allowed to follow those rules and I'm sure the police will exercise appropriate leniency when reminding people about what those restrictions actually are.'
