Australia and Greece are among many countries who have failed to prevent mass parties while Covid-19 restrictions are in place.
Police in Greece last night broke up a party with up to 500 guests on Mykonos, one day after authorities imposed emergency restriction measures.
The Mykonos police force was previously enlarged with a total of 100 officers from the Attica region in order to maintain proper restriction protocol. Officials at the ELAS also informed the press that there are a number of plainclothes policemen on Mykonos as well to handle problems that might occur as a result of the imposition of the stricter measures.
Greek authorities announced on Wednesday a ban on all parties, open-air markets and religious festivals. They said gatherings must be limited to nine people. Only four diners are allowed at each restaurant table unless they are close relatives, in which case up to six people are allowed.
Bondi bonanza and bush rave
Almost a month ago, Bondi and Thredbo were the home of two massive parties that violated social distancing rules.
Bondi Beach was packed with hundreds of Sydneysiders and carefree crowds who showed little regard for social distancing guidelines. Footage even showed a Bondi home being turned into a nightclub, packed with more than 100 people.
There appeared to be no police or council rangers ensuring restrictions were being obeyed. The beach is supposed to be restricted to 500 visitors at a time, according to the Waveley Council website.
In Thredbo on July 25, 100 NSW partygoers were fined $1000 for holding a bush rave in the middle of the night.
NSW Police Minister David Elliot stressed that the NSW Police will continue to monitor breaches of restrictions.
“The NSW Police force continues its operation in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he told reporters.
“The specific focus of our operation is compliance. Compliance or individuals, or compliance for businesses. People need to understand that if they act outside the public health order, or outside the public health direction, that the NSW Police will intervene and correct that behaviour.
“In the first instance, individuals can be fined $1000, which will escalate to being arrested and possibly jailed.”
