Melbourne beaches: crowd disregards mask rule

Beachgoers flocked to the St Kilda shoreline when the mercury hit 30 and only one beach in the area was free by 2pm.

By 5pm the beaches were full and parking was full.

While people were told to obey the COVID-19 rules, masks weren’t worn by many in the sand.

“I noticed, but I didn’t get too worried,” said Louise Chuah of Templestowe, who was at St. Kilda with her mother and two young children.

By 11:30 a.m. popular Half Moon Bay was already full and the local Bayside City Council was urging people to go elsewhere.

“Half Moon Bay was very busy and masks were not worn … had to leave as people have brief memories,” wrote Glenn Edwards on the Facebook page.

Ricky James said he spent 20 minutes in the parking lot looking for a place before giving up.

Another beach goer, Jane Krishnan, said: “Most of Melbourne is here, cars are parked everywhere!”

In St Kilda and the surrounding beaches, Port Phillip City Council officials carried out hourly beach checks over the 11 km foreshore to ensure COVID rules were being followed.

“We have received many reports of people outdoors not wearing masks. Please remember that this is still required and make sure to mask yourself! “It advised on its Facebook page.

With South Melbourne beach already full, people were advised to go elsewhere, but by 2pm there was only one beach with space left.

“It’s getting denser out there. West Beach is probably the only area that still has room and we may need to distract the crowd from St. Kilda if the numbers keep rising, ”warned the city council.

While beach goers were urged to leave their cars at home as the parking spaces became smaller and smaller, locals complained about illegally parked vehicles.

Lucie Williams (18) from Albert Park and Liv Watt (18) from St. Kilda were among those who got some sun.

They brought their masks but weren’t nervous about the crowd.

“Things have kind of cooled down and everything is going back to normal,” said Liv.

“We’re just looking forward to going back to the beach.”

Jovy Danno, 19, from Broadmeadows, came with a group of friends, but none of them wore masks.

“Everything is cool now. We live close together and work together so it’s not that necessary. It is necessary, but not for us, ”he said.

Previously, the council’s CEO Peter Smith said 3AW council officials are working with police to enforce COVID-19 rules such as: Social distancing, mask wearing, and a limit of 10 people per gathering will be enforced.

“We will be monitoring our most popular parks and beaches every hour throughout the day and encouraging people to move to less crowded rooms if some are a little too crowded,” he said.

It has also hired private security guards to monitor the queues at public toilets.

Health Minister Martin Foley has urged beachgoers to comply with the COVID-19 rules.

“We’d encourage everyone who goes to the beach, everyone who goes out today, to put on some masks. Wet masks are not effective, ”he told reporters on Tuesday.

“When you’re on the beach, when you’re in the park, wear a mask.

“It’s the easiest thing we can all do to do our part, to sustain ourselves, to protect our families, and to keep Victoria open.”

There is also a 24-hour ban on alcohol on the coastal beaches and reservations of St. Kilda.

The local police force is supported by government resources such as the Mounted Branch, the Public Order Response Team and the Water Police to detect and prevent violations.

Victoria has had no cases and no new deaths for its fourth straight day.