Anti-vax and anti-mask ‘covidiots’ could derail Sydney’s bid to reopen from lockdown on Friday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has warned.
The state has seen a surge of people refusing to wear masks under the current public health orders and politicians are worried it could dent the lockdown timeline.
Social media has seen a wave of people being arrested for not wearing masks and now Mr Hazzard has branded conspiracy theory activists ‘wackos’ and begged the public to ignore them.
‘We are deep in a war with this virus,’ he said on Saturday. ‘When you’re in a war, you don’t win it with wacko views.
Anti-vax and anti-mask ‘covidiots’ could derail Sydney’s bid to reopen from lockdown on Friday, New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard (pictured) has warned.
Residents in Bondi were spotting sitting down and having a chat despite the rules strictly allowing them to exercise outside only
‘And we can’t win this war unless the community are all with us, absolutely. Unfortunately, we’re seeing that some people think it’s okay not to wear masks.
‘We will only win this war against the virus if people wear masks and follow all the instructions that will keep us safe.
‘We owe this to ourselves, we owe this to the community, we owe this to our families.
‘Wear a mask and don’t get caught up in the wacko views some are expressing.’
NSW Police revealed they issued 78 penalty infringement notices on Friday, with 48 of them $200 fines for mask breaches.
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said police had received almost 350 tip-offs to Crimestoppers hotline about people breaching public health orders.
Exercising is one of the four essential reasons residents in Bondi are allowed to use to leave home
NSW Police revealed they issued 78 penalty infringement notices on Friday, with 48 of them $200 fines for mask breaches. Seen here is a man being arrested in Maroubra on Thursday
And he warned his officers would not be letting up on their high-profile campaign to clampdown on offenders.
‘It is quite clear now that people will report this sort of behaviour to police and we’ll take action,’ Mr Warboys said. ‘We have always said we will take action where we can.
‘Police would much rather not issue personal infringement notices. We would rather see people comply with public health orders.
‘The vast majority of people do the right thing. They do the right thing by themselves, their family and communities.
‘We would much rather be highly visible and having people do the right thing. Be with us on this journey,
Sunbathing was still a high priority in the winter sun at Bondi, as seen above left, despite lockdown restrictions. Outdoor exercise is allowed under the current public health orders and that was interpreted as including swimming by beachgoers in Bondi (right)
Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys (pictured) said police had received almost 350 tip-offs to Crimestoppers hotline about people breaching public health orders
He added: ‘We’re blessed with a beautiful day today and tomorrow. Take note of what the premier and the chief health officer have asked us to do this weekend.
‘I guarantee the police will be visible right across New South Wales, we will take action where we have to, but we would much rather not.
‘Please comply with the orders.’
As well as masks, police are checking businesses are using QR codes and sign-in sheets
A cafe in Jindabyne has been charged for allegedly not enforcing QR codes and sign-in sheets
Police revealed they had arrested and charged a couple running a cafe in Jindabyne for alleged public health order breaches after a tip-off to Crimestoppers.
They were visited on Wednesday and charged for not wearing masks on the premises – but a return visit on Friday found customers not wearing masks, no QR code check in or sign-in sheet.
‘Remembering we are in the middle of snow season and the holidays, police tried to work with this cafe,’ said Mr Worboys.
‘I guess people who want to use that cafe [were concerned] about non-mask wearing and no QR coding requirements.’
He said the cafe now faces being shut down.
Bondi was less busy than the packed scenes 24 hours earlier but beachgoers still couldn’t resist the sun and sand (left). There were more bikinis than facemasks on display on Bondi Beach on Saturday (above)
The crowds had thinned out and there were signs of social distancing on Bondi Beach on Saturday (above)
‘I am sure the health minister would be in the position to issue a closure notice under the Public Health Act,’ said the deputy commissioner.
‘That’s that escalation of events that police and health are prepared to take to make sure people not only comply with that public health orders but protect their customers and workers.’
Police were also alerted to two men aged 21 and 23 who travelled from Sydney to Jenolan Caves ‘because they were feeling bored’. The pair were fined $1000.
Mr Warboys added: ‘People need to be aware that it’s not just a choice about being bored.
Some decided they could lie back and lock down as Sydney made the most of the winter sun (above)
Groups of 10 or more are banned from exercising together under the current restrictions being observed above in Bondi on Saturday
‘It is quite clear now that people will report this sort of behaviour to police and we’ll take action.’
Mr Hazzard echoed the police chief and added: ‘Most of the community are with us.
‘Most of the community understand the weapons we have in this war: QR codes, getting tested if you’ve been at a venue of concern or if you have symptoms, any cold or flu-like symptoms.
‘And of course, wearing masks.’