Police have sent people back home as Queenslanders defied social distancing measures and crammed into popular picnic spots on the first weekend of eased restrictions.
As authorities warned they would be watching closely, thousands of people flocked to beaches, parks and walking tracks, with carparks overflowing.
Outdoor attractions were busier than they had been pre-coronavirus as people who had been locked up for weeks visited their favourite locations en mass.
So many humans gathered in close quarters made it almost impossible to continuously maintain a 1.5m distance which authorities have warned must be followed.
On Sunday police confirmed more than 30 infringement notices of $1334 for breaches of COVID-19 directions were issued on the state’s first day of ‘freedom’ on Saturday.
The beachfront at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast was one the busiest beaches, which drew the ire of social media users who warned the “clamps would be back on in Queensland” very soon.
Police were forced to send people home at 6pm Sunday after thousands of people lazed on the grass watching the sunset from Goodwin Terrace.
So this was Burleigh Heads (QLD) on Saturday as the slightly relaxed social distancing policy came in.. ffs… There's like a million places to go on the GC to chill out and they all choose the same spot. pic.twitter.com/Y0CFhWBAII
— CommonGround (@CommonGroundAu) May 3, 2020
At the entrance to D’Aguilar National Park one man described the bushland as busier than a shopping centre.
Eased restrictions which kicked in midnight Friday enabled Queenslanders to picnic, drive up to 50km, go boating and hiking.
But citizens were only allowed to move about with members of their household and must retain social distancing measures.
In the Northern Territory nature enthusiasts flocked to Litchfield National Park, filling campsites and waterholes within a few short hours.
Other popular attractions were golf courses, playgrounds and public swimming pools.
NZ Warriors land in Australia
Warmly greeted as the ‘Tamworth Warriors’, the NRL’s only overseas outfit touched down in Australia minus two players after hooker Nathaniel Roache became the first footballer to fall foul of the league’s strict biosecurity protocols and David Fusitu’a was excused on compassionate grounds.
Roache was bumped from the club’s chartered flight to Australia’s country-music capital after he reported feeling ill on Sunday morning.
He and Fusitu’a were conspicuous absentees when the New Zealand side arrived at their quarantine base in north-west NSW late on Sunday afternoon.
The new NRL nomads begin a stay of up to six months in Australia, having made an emotional farewell to their families in Auckland. It is hoped the families may be able to join up with the squad in the coming weeks.
Fusitu’a requested a one-week delay to his departure for personal reasons while Roache awoke suffering from cold-like symptoms and could not be cleared to fly under the team’s COVID-19 protocols.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George said Roache was ordered to stay home after contacting medical staff.
“Nate called the club first thing this morning saying he wasn’t feeling well,” George said.
“He was instructed to have a test immediately and was told not to report at the airport as he would not be travelling with the team.
“We’re totally satisfied Nate has had no contact with any other player or staff member at the club for several weeks and we’re very comfortable we have abided by all policies and requirements.
“David has stayed behind for a personal matter and will fly to Tamworth as soon as possible.”
It is unclear how or when Roache and Fusitu’a will cross the Tasman, with Sunday’s flight having been organised by the club in expectation of an Australian Border Force travel exemption, which they received on Saturday morning.
South Australia records 11th zero case day
South Australia has recorded its eleventh consecutive day of no new coronavirus cases, and given local councils the green light to reopen playgrounds and skate parks.
The state’s total number of coronavirus cases remains 438, with 98 per cent recovered.
Just seven cases are active, with three patients in hospital and none in intensive care.
Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said it was fantastic news and reflected community efforts to stop the spread.
Professor Spurrier said she was confident playgrounds and skate parks were safe to reopen, provided users continued social distancing, given they were outdoor activities and equipment could be cleaned.
She urged councils to do that regularly and erect signage to reinforce rules.
Premier Steven Marshall said the state had done “particularly well” and the next challenge was to reboot the economy.
Mr Marshall said he was very keen to see regional tourism resume as soon as it was safe and welcomed by country communities.
“When it’s safe to do so, that will be one of our priority areas,” Mr Marshall told reporters on Sunday.
“I’m keen to see it happen because I know it’s going to create a lot of jobs.
“But there are some areas of anxiety.”
Special restrictions on the Barossa Valley region, north of Adelaide, were lifted last week after a cluster of more than 40 infections last month.
Easing restrictions around funerals is also high on the agenda.
“We think that we can have risk mitigation in funerals and that is certainly something that is high on our list of prioritising, to increase the numbers allowed at those very important events,” Prof Spurrier said.
Mr Marshall said a transition committee would consider how to ease restrictions over a period of time.
“We’re very keen to see the restrictions lifted, we’re very keen to see people’s lives get back to a sense of normality.
“We don’t want to go backwards.”
More than 60,750 tests have been done in the state so far and the last confirmed case of community transmission was on March 20.
Elderly woman dies from coronavirus in WA
An 83-year-old woman has died from coronavirus in Western Australia after contracting it from a close contact.
Premier Mark McGowan said the woman was the fifth WA resident to die from the virus.
The total number of COVID-19 fatalities in the state is nine. Most were cruise ship passengers.
Mr McGowan also announced a fourth consecutive day of no new cases.
“This is extremely encouraging news,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Only 19 cases remain active after 523 recoveries.
Eight patients remain in hospital, with three of those in intensive care.
Having already increased the two-person indoor and outdoor gathering limit to 10, the state government will look to further ease restrictions in coming weeks.
He said that since March 27, police had attended nearly 10,000 locations to check for breaches under the emergency management act including people not complying with regional travel bans, arresting 10, issuing summonses to 14, slapping 50 with infringements and cautioning eight juveniles.
Five matters remain under investigation.
Mr McGowan said a Gingin man twice broke self-quarantine rules when police went to his home to issue a summons for the first breach and found he wasn’t there.
The man has been in custody since Friday after being denied bail and will next face court on May 11.
“My message today is this: we can’t afford to get comfortable, slacken off,” the premier said.
“Don’t be an idiot – we’re all in this together.
“Follow the health advice, follow the rules, keep social distancing and keep up the good personal hygiene.
“The more we do this, the sooner we can get back to normal.”
Queensland
Queensland Health recorded one new confirmed case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Sunday.
Currently, 972 of the 1,035 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
A total of 115,598 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 1990 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Queensland’s testing criteria has been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.
Currently, nine of the 53 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with four of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.
A total of 976 Queenslanders (94% of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.
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