Australia’s popular Bondi Beach reopens, but sunbathing is banned
Swimmers and surfers were allowed to return to the water at Australia’s popular Bondi Beach on Tuesday morning, but sunbathing on the sand remained banned.
Bondi Beach, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, is Australia’s most popular tourist destination after the Sydney Harbour area. In 2018, it was visited by 2.9 million people.
Authorities shut the beach down some five weeks ago after thousands of people flouted strict coronavirus social distancing rules to sunbathe and swim there.
Swimming and surfing will be permitted from Tuesday onwards, but not sunbathing or walking. The beach will be open on weekdays between 7 am and 5 pm, as will two other smaller beaches nearby, according to local Waverly City Council.
The beaches will remain closed on weekends.
The council mayor told reporters on Monday that the “swim or surf and go” measures were largely for local residents and people should not drive from afar to the beaches.
Bondi is one of the hotspots for Covid-19 cases in Australia, according to the New South Wales state government. It is a popular destination for backpackers visiting Australia from overseas.
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Neighbouring Sydney beaches, including Coogee and Maroubra, have also been reopened from Tuesday without time limits.
Meanwhile, some Australian states have started loosening Covid-19 restrictions, while maintaining social distancing measures, from this week.
Australia has more than 6,720 confirmed coronavirus cases, with 84 fatalities.
