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Chaos as thousands gather for anti-lockdown protests

There has been chaos in the heart of Sydney as anti-lockdown protesters, many maskless, took to the streets to protest COVID-19 restrictions, sparking police clashes and 57 arrests.

Thousands walked through Sydney's inner-city, despite the city being in lockdown. Some of the protesters were carrying placards with anti-vaccination messages. Many appeared not to be wearing masks.

READ MORE: 'Unfortunately cases continue to rise': New high of 163 local COVID-19 infections recorded in NSW

Police confirmed 57 people have been arrested and charged at the Sydney protest, which was in breach of public health orders. More than 90 infringements have been issued.

Police Minister David Elliott said a strike force of 22 detectives had been set up to track down 3500 "very selfish boofheads". He also said anyone who attended the protest to get tested for COVID-19.

In a statement, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed the full force of the law would be brought against the protesters who breached restrictions.

READ MORE: Sydney dad lost sight after whole family caught COVID-19

"I am utterly disgusted by the illegal protestors in the City today whose selfish actions have compromised the safety of all of us" said Ms Berejiklian.

"The protestors have shown utter contempt for their fellow citizens who are currently doing it tough.

"I want to thank the brave Police officers who put their own safety on the line to ensure the protest action ceased."

https://twitter.com/MinnsChris/status/1418812907010215936Lockdown protesters in Sydney.https://twitter.com/tiffgenders/status/1418776078236016641

Another rally was held in Melbourne and a third in Brisbane.

At the Melbourne rally, police officers formed a blockade at the corner of Flinders St and Swanston St.

Officers surrounded the protest group and began detaining those who were refusing the leave the area.

In Sydney protesters met at Victoria Park on the edge of the CBD, then, led by police on horses, marched to Town Hall.

There was no social distancing and few face masks.

A man dancing with batons lit on fire was sprayed with a fire extinguisher before being arrested.

Protesters climbed onto shop awnings, what appeared to be an Australian flag was burnt and anti-Government messages were chanted as police tried to move the crowd on.

NSW Police issued a statement confirming the arrests.

"Officers from across Central Metropolitan Region, assisted by specialist resources, were deployed," the statement reads.

"So far during the operation, a number of people have been arrested. As attendees disperse, movement out of the city will be facilitated down George Street."

Police said trains were still operating, but some station entrances are blocked.

Once the crowd made its way back at Victoria Park, police warned anyone who did not leave would be issued with a $1000 fine and began making arrests.

A man with batons lit on fire at the rally in Sydney.The man had his fire extinguished and then appeared to be held by police.https://twitter.com/MaggieRaworth/status/1418766604100243457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Federal Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said he was "very concerned" people were not wearing masks and physically distancing.

"When that happens, there is the risk that we'll get spread of COVID-19," Professor Kidd said.

"This is even more imperative during this outbreak with the Delta variant than it was during the times last year when we saw similar protests.

"This puts people's lives at risk."

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said ahead of the event, a lockdown protest being held in Sydney could be "disastrous."

"I think it's not really the time for people to come together closely, to exercise somewhat they would think was their democratic right and it may well be," he said.

"New South Wales Police are in a position where they will try and work with the organisers and the specific group leaders to make sure that they comply with the public health orders, and in fact we don't get a situation where we end up with a spreading event in Sydney which would, of course, be disastrous."

Some of the protesters carried anti-vaccination messages.https://twitter.com/NatarjshaKramer/status/1418760878959198211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Meanwhile, almost 250 people have been fined for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules over the past 24 hours in NSW.

Most of the fines handed out yesterday were for people blatantly disobeying the rules by having parties at home.

Police were called to a party at Pyrmont where eight people were fined $1000.

READ MORE: NSW records new high of 163 coronavirus cases

Six people were fined at a birthday party at Riverwood in the city's South.

People are not supposed to have anybody to their home at all.

At Belmont near Newcastle – where five people are allowed to a home – 10 people were fined for being at a party.

NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys called the party hosts and guests "highly irresponsible."

"People are actually planning these events and inviting people around. They know it is outside the public health order," he said.

However, NSW Health Minister Hazzard dismissed raising fines to try and deter people, saying officials are working with multi-cultural communities to get the messages out.

"It is one of the joys of this nation that we are a proud multicultural nation, but sometimes people who have come from overseas perhaps have suffered at the hands of other governments and perhaps getting the messages through is challenging," he said.

READ MORE: 'More people probably die of peanuts': GP tells young people to get AstraZeneca vaccine

"So, we need to find ways to keep working at that and get the messages through."

"We really need our community, particularly in southwestern and western Sydney, to stay at home, to hear the message and stay at home.

"And don't intermingle with family members from other households."

READ MORE: International flights to South Australia halted

Plus, 18 people who were among those who gathered in relation to a family "tragedy" in Sydney's Pendle Hill have now been diagnosed with the virus.

It's not known if they were also fined.

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NSW Police set up strike force to find anti-lockdown protesters, 57 charged

NSW Police have charged 57 people and issued more than 90 infringement notices after anti-lockdown protestors gathered in their thousands in Sydney's CBD.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said further charges were expected, as police launch a new strike force to identify "as many people as possible" involved in the protest activity and to track down 3500 "very selfish boofheads". He also said anyone who attended the protest to get tested for COVID-19.

Videos of the protests from members of the public will form part of investigation.

READ MORE: Chaotic scenes as thousands gather for anti-lockdown protests

Mr Elliott said police hoped to identify "as many people as possible" involved in today's protest activity, which contradicted current public health orders.

Sydney anti-lockdown protest July 24

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon has condemned the actions of anti-lockdown protestors, after reports police were assaulted.

"Anyone who thinks they can get away with the types of actions we saw will be chased by the law, to the full extent of the law," he said.

READ MORE: 'Unfortunately cases continue to rise': New high of 163 local COVID-19 infections recorded in NSW

Mr Lanyon said initial reports suggested police officers had not been significantly injured, but based on the vision he had seen, this was the result of luck.

Sydney lockdown protests

Mr Elliott appealed to participants of the anti-lockdown protests to get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate "until we know your family and friends are going to be safe".

READ MORE: 'More people probably die of peanuts': GP tells young people to get AstraZeneca vaccine

"You don't have to be an epidemiologist to work out if this is a super spreader event, we can forget about lifting restrictions next week," he said.

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Adults in Sydney should strongly consider any available COVID vaccine, says ATAGI

Anyone aged 18 or over in Greater Sydney "should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine", including AstraZeneca, to protect themselves against coronavirus, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales.

The advice comes after NSW recorded 163 local cases of COVID-19, which is a new daily record for the state.

READ MORE: Chaotic scenes as thousands gather for lockdown protests despite lockdown

Of those, 66 were household contacts and 45 were infectious in the community.

ATAGI has previously recommended Pfizer as the vaccine of choice for anyone under 60 years of age because of the extremely small risk of a blood clot disorder which is more likely to occur in younger people.

However, today's statement is a change in direction in response to the growing crisis in Sydney.

"All individuals aged 18 years and above in greater Sydney, including adults under 60 years of age, should strongly consider getting vaccinated with any available vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca," ATAGI said in a statement.

"This is on the basis of the increasing risk of COVID-19 and ongoing constraints of Comirnaty (Pfizer) supplies.

READ MORE: 'All our allocation is allocated': Victoria will not send vaccines to NSW as state records 12 new cases

"In addition, people in areas where outbreaks are occurring can receive the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine four to eight weeks after the first dose, rather than the usual 12 weeks, to bring forward optimal protection."

ATAGI has also reaffirmed its previous advice that in a large outbreak, the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca are greater than the risk of rare side effects for all age groups.