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SYDNEY (AFP) – Dancing, singing and singing were banned in Sydney in a new round of restrictions introduced on Sunday (December 20) as Australian authorities rushed to control a growing coronavirus outbreak in the city.
When hundreds of thousands of people on Sydney’s North Beaches woke up to the first day of a quick shutdown, authorities announced that another 30 cases of coronavirus had been detected in the area.
That brings the Covid-19 cluster in Australia’s most populous city to 68 cases since it emerged on Thursday (December 17), sparking alarm among health officials, who issued stay-at-home orders for several suburbs alongside the beach.
The state of New South Wales, which incorporates Sydney, announced on Sunday a ban on dancing, singing and singing indoors in the city, except for small weddings and religious services.
“It’s the season when we all love to sing,” said state Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
“But at the moment, it’s probably one of the most dangerous exercises you can do, dance and sing.”
Sydney’s restaurants, bars and cafes will be forced to limit the number of customers to 300 people, while limits have also been placed on home visits.
The use of masks is encouraged, but not made mandatory.
Officials have promised to review the rules on Wednesday in the hope that some restrictions can be lifted before Christmas Day.
The latest outbreak has ruined Christmas plans, as many Australians hoping to be reunited with their family after long separations were forced to cancel trips after new national border closures.
On Sunday, Victoria and South Australia became the latest states to announce that Sydney residents would be subject to mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days from entry.
Australia has been highly successful in containing the virus, taking an aggressive approach focused on imposing early and often far-reaching restrictions in response to new outbreaks.
The country has recorded just over 28,100 Covid-19 cases and 908 deaths in a population of approximately 25 million.
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