Sydneysiders have made a mockery of the city's shutdown with a day at the beach turning the lockdown into a lie down in the sun.
Streets around the world famous beaches of Coogee and Bondi were packed with locals making the most of the wintry sun which saw temperatures rise above 25C.
Despite pleas from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to stay at home, thousands took to the beach to sun bake, prompting police to call in air support to order people off the sand.
Eastern Suburbs beachgoers have made a mockery of the Sydney shutdown with a day at the beach turning the lockdown into a lie down in the sun. Seen here is one Bondi beachgoer on Sunday
beach police patrols individually checked IDs and the addresses of sunbathers and swimmers on the ground.
A police helicopters bellowed at sunbathers from above while beach police patrols individually checked IDs and addresses of sunbathers and swimmers on the ground.
NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia they had deployed 22 crews at beachsides in the Eastern Suburbs, from La Perouse in the south to Camp Cove at Watson's Bay, incluidng Bondi, Coogee, Bronte and Maroubra.
They issued 29 personal infringement notice fines, and warned 35 others, with another 44 businesses also inspected in the area.
Police helicopters bellowed at sunbathers from above
'Nearly 1000 people were spoken to, ensuring they were complying with the LGA requirement,' said a NSW Police spokesman. 'Officers were also enforcing QR codes at large retailers at Maroubra, Bondi and Eastgardens.'
For weeks, Ms Berejiklian has been begging Sydneysiders to only leave their home for essentials like exercise, shopping, vital work or getting vaccinated.
'Assume that you have the virus, or that people you come into contact with have the virus,' she has repeatedly told the state.
'We can't afford to have people who have the virus going about their business.'
Streets around the world famous beaches of Coogee (seen here) and Bondi were packed with locals making the most of the wintry sun which saw temperatures ride above 25C
Hundreds ignored pleas from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian to stay at home and instead packed the streets of Coogee (pictured) and Bondi
Gladys Berejiklian has been begging Sydneysiders to only leave their home for essentials like exercise, shopping, vital work or getting vaccinated. Seen here is a take-away restaurant in Coogee on Sunday
But those words appeared lost on locals and visitors to the sun-soaked suburbs who turned out in big numbers to enjoy the unseasonably warm winter weather.
The disappointing scenes played out as the another 239 Covid cases were confirmed in Greater Sydney, including nine in one inner west aged care facility in Summer Hill.
The premier renewed calls on Sunday for Sydneysiders to get vaccinated amid the worrying case numbers.
'Today is August 1 and I am calling upon the people of greater Sydney, and New South Wales, to come forward and get vaccinated,' she said.
The premier's pleas appeared lost on locals and visitors to the sun-soaked suburbs who turned out in numbers to make the most of the unseasonably warm winter weather. Pictured here
