Thousands of Sydneysiders flock to the beach for one last dip before many are BANNED under tough 5km rules as mounted police patrol the sand - while ultra-locked-down west is dreary and deserted
The harsh divide of Sydney's lockdown was on full display on Sunday, as those in the east flocked to the beach to make the best of the final day of the 10km travel limit, while thousands living in the hotspot LGAs continued to suffer under tighter restrictions which has left once bustling streets deserted.
For those on the well-heeled coast, lockdown still gives them chance to go to the beach, swim in the sea and stroll through the lush parklands on their doorstep for their daily exercise.
But for those in the city's south-west and west, it's a very different story.
Sydney in lockdown is a grim tale of two cities. Pictured here are beachgoers exercising at Sydney's Bondi on Sunday
Police horses patrol the beaches as sunbather soak up the winter sun on Bondi Beach on Sunday despite the lockdown restrictions
In Sydney's west, it is the worst of times with empty streets and abandoned shops. Seen here is Guildford on Sunday
Bleak empty streets lined with shuttered businesses offer little to anyone. Seen here are youths walking through Fairfield in Sydney's south-west.
Bleak empty streets lined with shuttered businesses offer little to anyone. Police helicopters circle overhead and members of the ADF patrol the street.
Families are banned from Sunday gatherings and no-one can travel more than 5km from home without a special exemption or risking a $5,000 fine under the new stay-at-home orders from midnight on Monday.
The geographical constraints can mean families with children have nowhere for the youngsters to play and let off steam - and give their beleaguered parents a breather.
In the beachside suburbs of the east, they can at least make the best of it. Crowds flocked to the seaside to enjoy the sea air. in Bondi on Sunday
There was a high police presence at Bondi Beach, pictured, ahead of strict new restrictions coming in overnight on Sunday
In Sydney's south-west restrictions are already some of the harshest the country has seen since the pandemic began last year. Seen here is a shopper in Guildford on Sunday
Lockdown laws in 12 local government areas in Sydney's south-west and west will become even stricter overnight on Sunday and fines for breaches go up from $1000 to $5000. Seen here is a woman shopping in Guildford in Sydney
NEW STAY AT HOME FINES IN NSW
The increased fines for Public Health Order breaches are:
$5,000 on the spot fine for breaching self-isolation rules (up from $1,000)
$5,000 on the spot fine for lying on a permit
$5,000 on the spot fine for lying to a contact tracer
$3,000 on the spot fine for breaching the two-person outdoor exercise/recreation rule (up from $1,000)
$3,000 on the spot fine for breaching rules around entry into regional NSW, which restrict travel except for authorised work, inspecting real estate or travelling to your second home
The sight of police and ADF personnel patrolling the streets, like this pair in Bankstown, has now become commonplace in Sydney's west
Under new Stay At Home restrictions, streets in Sydney's west and south-west like this one in Fairfield, now lie empty
Pictured: Surfers congregate together as they catch waves at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Sunday, August 15, 2021
Pictured: Despite lockdown beachgoers sit and walk at Coogee Beach in Sydney, Sunday, August 15, 2021
Pictured: Police enforcing lockdown are seen speaking with beachgoers sitting on the sands at Sydney's Coogee on August 15, 2021
Instead they may have only the limited comforts of their own homes to see them through this relentlessly growing outbreak.
Meanwhile for those with water views, Sunday was a perfect opportunity to soak up an unseasonably warm winter's day, swimming in the ocean before drying off on the sand - albeit watched over by police.
Since the latest outbreak began in Bondi on June 16 - and the current lockdown was gradually phased in from June 26 - 7,745 have been infected in NSW and 48 have died.
The latest NSW outbreak began in Bondi on June 16 but cases in the city's east have dwindled since then. Beachgoers are seen being talked to by police on horseback on Bondi Beach on Sunday
Since the current outbreak began, 7,745 have been infected in NSW and 48 have died, mainly in the west. Seen here is a woman being spoken to by police in Bondi on Sunday
NSW recorded another 415 new cases and four deaths on top of the four deaths and record 466 cases announced on Saturday. Police horses are seen here patrolling Bondi Beach on Sunday
Police helicopters have been seen circling overhead ordering locals off the street in the west. Seen ere are the quiet streets of Penrith, lying empty on a normally busy weekend
On Sunday, the state recorded another 415 new cases and four deaths on top of the four deaths and record 466 cases announced on Saturday.
All hope of lockdown restrictions being lifted on August 28 now look to have been abandoned.
The state is now chasing double-dose vaccination rates of 70 to 80 per cent while also tackling the rising case numbers as its way out of the Covid crisis.
As of Sunday, 26.54 per cent of the population over 16 is fully vaccinated and it's expected to take another 88 days to reach 80 per cent at the current rate.
The whole state is now in lockdown after a snap decision on Saturday afternoon to include the rest of regional NSW from 5pm for a week.
Locals in Sydney's poorer suburbs in the west may have only the limited comforts of their own often small and cramped homes. Pictured here an empty street in Penrith
Despite the lockdown, those in the well-heeled east can still go to the beaches on their doorstep without breaching stay at home restrictions. Seen here are the crowds at Bondi on Sunday
The whole of NSW is now in lockdown after a snap decision on Saturday afternoon to include the rest of regional NSW from 5pm for a week. Seen here are mounted police patrolling Bondi Beach on Sunday
But it is Sydney's west and south-west which has so far borne the brunt of the outbreak and the lockdown.
Strict restrictions for 12 local government areas in those areas have seen them under some of the harshest lockdown laws seen in Australia since the pandemic began.
Workers needing to travel outside their LGA have had to be tested every three days and a previous 10km limit on shopping and exercise has now been drawn even tighter to a strict 5km.
In the east though, it is like a different world. Families enjoy the winter sunshine on the beach and exercise in the sprawling parks.
Dogs frolic in the seas alongside beachgoers in their swimsuits while police watch on benignly, occasionally telling people to move on with a warning of a possible fine.
Sydney's west and south-west which has so far borne the brunt of the outbreak and the lockdown. Streets like this one lie empty as families obey stay at home orders
In the east, locals throng to coastal walks and parents stop and talk while their children run and play nearby. Mounted police, seen here, patrolled Bondi Beach as many baked in the sun
Locals throng to coastal walks and parents stop and talk while their children run and play nearby.
Despite the move to outlaw crowds flocking to the sunshine, NSW Health has previously acknowledged there had been no known cases of outdoor transmission and that while it is technically possible, the chances are miniscule compared to the chance of infecting another person indoors with little ventilation.
A case in Newcastle which was traced back to a beach party is still under investigation but contact tracers are looking at the possibility the infection was passed on through carpooling on the way to or from the gathering.
Despite the move to outlaw crowds flocking to the sunshine, NSW Health has previously acknowledged there had been no known cases of outdoor transmission. Seen here are the ghostly streets of Penrith in Sydney's west
Blacktown, seen here, is in one of the 12 local government areas under NSW's strictest lockdown restrictions
Despite the stay at home orders, Sydneysiders in the east still flocked to the beach. Seen here are beachgoers at Maroubra on Saturday
Questions remain about the need for the latest clampdown on people being outdoors.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has conceded there is still 'no strong evidence about outdoor transmission'.
The new laws were in response to police requests to curtail the mobility of Sydneysiders, she said.
The new NSW stay at home laws were in response to police requests to curtail the mobility of Sydneysiders, said Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Seen here are the near empty streets in the centre of Blacktown on Friday
She added: 'Not only will the police commissioner receive what he wants in terms of additional powers or additional resources, but more than what he needs and wants.'
Although the current outbreak began in Bondi when a flight crew limo driver became infected and spread it through the eastern suburbs before he tested positive, case numbers there have now dwindled.
NSW HEALTH-APPROVED REASONS TO LEAVE HOME
A reasonable excuse is if you need to:
- obtain food or other goods and services locally
- leave home to go to work if
- you cannot reasonably work from home and
- the business is allowed to be open
- leave home for education if it is not possible to do it at home
- exercise and take outdoor recreation in the local government area you live in or 5km from your home
- go out for medical or caring reasons, including obtaining a COVID-19 vaccination.
Of Sunday's 415 cases, just 37 were from Sydney's eastern suburbs, south-east, North Shore and Northern Beaches. Mounted police patrolling Bindo Beach on Sunday are pictured here
Of Sunday's 415 cases, just 37 were from Sydney's eastern suburbs, south-east, North Shore and Northern Beaches.
However 307 were from Sydney's west, south-west and inner west as the disease tightens its grip on the densely populated, sprawling suburbs.
Ms Bereiklian paid tribute to those who were helping the state fight the virus - but said the new restrictions were needed to actual turn around the numbers and start to bing them down.
'That's why we're asking people to take notice,' she said. 'We are so grateful to the vast, vast majority of people who are doing the right thing.
More than 300 of the 415 new cases in NSW on Sunday were from Sydney's west, south-west and inner west. Seen here are the deathly quiet streets of Blacktown on Friday
'But Delta doesn't leave any room for error. Even a handful of people doing the wrong thing creates absolute havoc.
'One or two people who've moved around in particular ways have caused havoc across a number of local government areas.
'It only takes a handful of people doing the wrong thing and that's why the role of police is so critical.'