Social distancing ignored across Australia during weekend as shoppers rush to buy Mother’s Day gifts
Adelaide: Pre-Mother’s Day shopping brought out huge crowds yesterday in shopping centres across Australia, causing fears over the blatant disregard for social distancing. Pictures captured show a packed Westfield in Marion, Adelaide, with crowds filling the enclosed space.
It’s a trend that occurred across the nation on Saturday. Photos emerged on social media of huge crowds in shopping centres in Sydney and Western Australia, as well as Adelaide. In Sydney, Bankstown Shopping Centre in Sydney’s west was particularly busy, with crowds cramming the entrance to the Myer store.
In the commercial district of Miranda in southern Sydney, seas of people could also be seen. Shoppers at Westfield Burwood in Sydney also packed into the centre. Western Australia also wasn’t spared from the pre-Mother’s Day excitement, with shoppers taking to social media to express their concern. One customer told the
ABC their local shopping centre was “busier than Christmas” as they rushed to get their hands on a Mother’s Day gift.
“We still have social distance rules but at Westfield, social distances didn’t mean anything. Don’t understand why most of the shoppers and Westfield management are so ignorant of the regulation,” one shopper posted to social media.
Another shopper compared the shopping spree to “swimming in COVID soup”.
“It’s bizarre that Westfield today is jammed with a sea of people yet cafes and restaurants are limited to 10 people,” another said.
The Australian Retailers Association was happy about the shopping enthusiasm but concerned about shoppers’ safety.
“It’s great to see the obvious enthusiasm from Australians to get back to the shops after weeks of lockdown. That’s a really great sign for retail, and a very natural response as Australians see the lockdowns starting to ease around the country,” Paul Zahra told the
ABC. “At the same time we want a safe restart, not a false start. And we are still waiting on a green light from some state governments before the full reopening of retail.” News.com.au
Shoppers at Westfield Burwood in Sydney also packed into the centre. Western Australia also wasn’t spared from the pre-Mother’s Day excitement, with shoppers taking to social media to express their concern.