Health minister demands anti-maskers stay home and out of shops after protesters chanting 'I would rather be a human than a slave' marched through Bondi
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has urged anti-maskers to stay at home and not endanger lives if they refuse to cover their faces.
Anti-mask and vaccine protesters swarmed a shopping centre in Bondi Junction, in Sydney's east, on Sunday holding signs and chanting 'I would rather be a human than a slave'.
The anti-maskers mingled with other shoppers, who were wearing masks, and pushed wild claims such as 'masks increase your risk of infection'.
'I have noted that there have been some demonstrations in the last 24 hours indicating that some people don't like the idea of a mask,' Mr Hazzard said.
'Well if you don't like the idea of a mask, then stay home or stay outside.
'You don't have to go into the shopping centres and put other people at danger.'
Anti-mask protesters walk down the streets of Bondi Junction, in Sydney's east, on day one of masks being made mandatory in Greater Sydney
The protesters sang chants including 'I'd rather be a human than a slave' as they took their anti-mask message to the streets
Masks were made mandatory from 11:59pm on Saturday in a bid to limit the community spread of Covid-19 in the wake of the Northern Beaches outbreak without the government having to impose restrictions limiting business activity.
Dozens of protesters flooded the shopping centre on Sunday holding signs and chanting against the new restrictions.
One sign read: 'I fully support your right to hide in your house and wear a face diaper until you can take an untested vax... as long as you fully support my right to do none of those things'.
The protesters marched through the shopping centre and also took their message to surrounding streets, where mask-clad shoppers were queuing to enter stores.
NSW Acting Premier John Barilaro on Sunday reiterated the importance of wearing a mask in stopping the spread of Covid-19.
'We're asking people to do the right thing and use common sense,' he said.
'Where practical, where possible, please wear a mask and you're going to help us deal with the issue in relation to the transmission of Covid, especially on public transport.'
Mr Hazzard urged residents to wear a mask to keep themselves and the community safe.
'Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for your community - that's the main reason because in wearing a mask you will be keeping yourself, but also your locals, your families, your community, and, of course, possibly eventually the whole of NSW safe,' Mr Hazzard said.
Protesters also took to the nearby Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre, where they pushed their anti-mask message in front of masked shoppers
As the protesters marched through the streets, the passed by shoppers and retail staff who were all wearing masks
Masks are now mandatory in indoor settings in Greater Sydney, including for hospitality workers
Greater Sydney residents have been told wearing a mask will help slow the rate of community transmission while also limiting the economic impact. Pictured, residents in Sydney mask-up over the weekend
When to wear a face mask
New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian announced face masks would be mandatory for all Greater Sydney residents from 11.59pm on Saturday.
The rule also applies to residents living Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains.
Whenever a resident leaves their home, they will need to wear a mask when visiting these indoor settings:
1) Entertainment venues, such as a cinema
2) Places of worship, such as a church or mosque
3) Public transport, such as buses and trains
4) Shopping centres
5) Established gaming areas
6) Hair and beauty salons
Anyone who is caught not wearing a face mask risks copping a $200 fine.
He said most people were already masking up.
'Certainly in any local shopping centre, I would say about 98 per cent of people are already wearing masks,' Mr Hazzard said.
Residents across Greater Sydney, which includes Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains, are required to cover up.
Children aged under 12 years are not required to wear a mask, though it is strongly encouraged.
It is compulsory to wear a mask in some indoor places including shopping centres and cinemas, and on public transport - which includes trains and buses.
Residents visiting an entertainment venue, hair and beauty salons, gaming areas or places of worship will also have to follow the rules.
Hospitality staff also have to wear a mask while serving customers.
Anyone caught not wearing a mask within these indoor settings risks copping a $200 fine.
'We want people in NSW to be able to go about their business as much as possible but we need to reduce the risks in certain settings where we know there are challenges,' Ms Berejiklian said Saturday.
'We have already strongly wanted people to wear a mask but we do not want to restrict peoples ability to go about their business.
'We want to increase economic activity and mask wearing in these settings will ensure we have the confidence to do that.'