Coronavirus Australia live: Police clash with anti-lockdown protesters
Coronavirus Australia live: Police clash with anti-lockdown protesters
Several arrests have been made and hundreds of fines dished out in Sydney and Melbourne following wild anti-lockdown rallies today.
Several arrests have been made and hundreds of fines dished out in Sydney and Melbourne following wild anti-lockdown rallies today.
In Melbourne – where thousands of protesters descended on key landmarks across the city – protesters clashed with officers in riot gear, with one officer receiving lacerations to the face.
Footage has emerged of the escalating demonstration, showing attendees being tackled to the ground, while others can be heard telling officers coronavirus is a “hoax”.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews slammed the “absolutely selfish” behaviour of those planning to attend this morning, with mounting fears the illegal protests could undo all of the state’s hard work. It was later revealed Victoria Police made 15 arrests.
“It is not safe, it is not smart, it is not law. In fact, it is absolutely selfish for people to be out there protesting,” Daniel Andrews told reporters, as Victoria reported 76 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths.
Meanwhile in Sydney, three were arrested at an unauthorised anti-lockdown demonstration in Hyde Park, while 18 others were issued with penalty infringement notices. Altogether across the city, as well as in Byron Bay, there were 14 arrests.
Adelaide and Perth have also seen protests today – despite residents living in essentially COVID-free states. Around 200 South Australians gathered to object against government coronavirus restrictions, a possible vaccine and privacy breaches.
Perth protesters said they were standing in solidarity with those in Victoria.
Follow our live coronavirus coverage below.
Live Updates
Virus alert for Sydney medical centre
NSW Health have issued an alert after two confirmed COVID-19 cases attended a Sydney medical centre.
Anyone who visited Hyde Park Medical Centre on the ground floor of 175 Liverpool St has been warned of a potential exposure to coronavirus.
"NSW Health is assessing potential exposure to COVID-19 of people who attended the Hyde Park Medical Centre and physiotherapy, pathology, dermatology and dental practices and pharmacy on the ground floor of the building from Monday 24 August 2020 to Saturday 5 September 2020," NSW Health said in a statement.
"Anyone who worked at these locations from Monday 24 August to date should get tested for COVID-19 immediately and isolate until a negative result is received."
Patients who are closed contacts will be contacted by NSW Health and told to get tested an immediately self-isolate for 14 days from the date of their last visit.
"Anyone who visited the premises should be alert and get tested for COVID-19 if they have even the slightest symptoms, and isolate until a negative result is received," NSW Health said.
"NSW Health has already identified a number of close contacts of the cases and directed them to immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days and stay isolated for the entire period, even if a negative test result is received."
Some of Victoria's restrictions could ease in a week
A draft of Premier Dan Andrews' proposed roadmap to see the state out of strict lockdown suggests restrictions could begin easing in just over a week, according to The Australian.
A leaked draft of the document, seen by the publication, says initial changes will see exercise quotas lengthened, followed by a gradual increase in the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings.
These are said to start from September 14, and will allow two people or a household to gather outside in Melbourne, with exercise hours extended from one to two per day.
From September 27, the plan is reportedly for Melbourne’s current 5pm-8am curfew to be lifted, with five people from a maximum of two households allowed to gather outside from the same date.
Restrictions on outdoor pools and training would also be loosened from the 27th.
It also details the number of cases needed for the lockdown currently imposed on regional Victoria to be eased from Stage 3 (Stay at Home) to Stage 2 (Go Outside).
According to the report, the average daily increase over the past fortnight would need to be less than 5.
Mr Andrews is set to announce the final schedule for easing restrictions in the state on Sunday, after it has been under various levels of lockdown for the past two months.
Quaden Bayles spotted at Brisbane anti-lockdown protest
Quaden Bayles, the nine-year-old son of Indigenous rights activist Yarraka Bayles who went viral earlier this year, was photographed at one of today's anti-lockdown protests.
Quaden was pictured taking part in the Brisbane 'Freedom Day' protest.
Quaden, who lives with dwarfism, captured the attention of the world with a heartbreaking video of him in tears, which his mother posted to show the impacts of bullying.
Days after the video was uploaded a strange rumour started spreading on social media claiming Quaden and his mum were lying about his age and he was actually 18.
Photographs of the young boy's involvement in the protest today comes after boxer Anthony Mundine partook in one of Sydney's 'Freedom Day' rallies.
Mundine told the Sunday Telegraph on Saturday he supported the anti-lockdown movement and COVID-19 was a “cover up”.
“I support people coming together and standing up against injustice. It’s a dictatorship. A tyrannical reign,” he said.
“COVID is just a symptom of 5G radiation – it’s a cover up.”
Several arrests made at Sydney protests
Sydney Police has revealed 14 people were arrested following unauthorised rallies in Sydney and Byron Bay today.
81 penalty infringement notices were issued following the event, with the police operation now closed.
Anti-lockdown protests took place in Olympic and Hyde Parks today, with another held in Byron Bay.
It comes after hundreds of frustrated activists descended on Melbourne, resulting in 15 arrests and 150 fines issued.
In Sydney, two men and a woman were arrested in relation to the gathering at Hyde Park on Elizabeth Street.
All three granted conditional bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday 21 October 2020.
A 16-year-old boy was also issued with a youth caution for not complying with Public Health Orders.
Of the group at Olympic Park, two men were arrested.
Meanwhile, seven men and two women were arrested at parks on Jonsons Street and Bay Street, Byron Bay.
Two cases traced to Hyde Park Medical Centre
NSW Health is alerting anyone who attended Hyde Park Medical Centre on the ground floor of 175 Liverpool St Sydney that two cases of COVID-19 have attended the centre.
NSW Health is assessing potential exposure to COVID-19 of people who attended the Hyde Park Medical Centre and physiotherapy, pathology, dermatology and dental practices and pharmacy on the ground floor of the building from Monday 24 August 2020 to Saturday 5 September 2020.
Anyone who worked at these locations from Monday 24 August to date should get tested for COVID-19 immediately and isolate until a negative result is received.
Patients who are considered close contacts will be contacted by NSW Health
Craziest protest costumes spotted
Anti-mask, anti-lockdown, 5G conspiracist Freedom Day protesters who descended on cities across Australia in droves today were sporting all manner of quirky costumes for the unauthorised events – including literal tin foil hats.
Here are some of the wackiest outfits, signs, and looks from the day:
Anthony Mundine spotted at Sydney's ‘Freedom Day’ protest
Anthony Mundine was spotted joining in the anti-lockdown rallies across Sydney today, posing for photos with fans along the way.
Mundine told the Sunday Telegraph on Saturday he supported the anti-lockdown movement and COVID-19 was a “cover up”.
“I support people coming together and standing up against injustice. It’s a dictatorship. A tyrannical reign,” he said.
“COVID is just a symptom of 5G radiation – it’s a cover up.”
Apollo Bay warning issued
Coronavirus has been detected in wastewater taken from a sewer network at Apollo Bay in southwestern Victoria.
The state is analysing sewage for fragments of the virus at sites across Victoria.
The Apollo Bay findings have prompted a warning from Victorian Chief Health officer Brett Sutton.
He urged residents of Apollo Bay and nearby communities who have even very mild symptoms of coronavirus to get tested.
Scientists from Melbourne Water have been taking samples of sewage from around the state since May.
15 arrests made at Melbourne protests
Victoria Police have revealed 15 arrests were made from the Albert Park Freedom Day protests today, at which a crowd of hundreds gathered.
More than 150 fines were dished out as frustrated activists, furious with the state's Stage Four lockdown, turned out in droves to make their voices heard.
Of those arrests, 14 were for breaching COVID-19 restrictions.
One was arrested for assaulting a police officer as the protests turned violent. The officer received lacerations to the head.
A Victoria Police statement read: "Despite all the warnings, it was disappointing to see individuals turn out to protest in the city today, putting the lives of Victorians at risk."
It said they expect to issue further fines as a result of the day.
SA wastewater testing returns positive tests
SA Health has revealed wastewater testing currently underway in South Australia has returned evidence of coronavirus at two treatment plants.
One positive sample came back from Bolivar, north of Adelaide, with a second positive sample at the Angaston facility in the Barossa Valley.
The treatment plants serve 700,000 and 2000 properties respectively.
Professor Spurrier said the results meant South Australians could not to be complacent.
She urged South Australians to get a test at the first sign of any symptoms.
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