As the sun rose over on Sydney's beaches halfway into a two-week lockdown, a few surfers were spotted hitting the famous Bondi waves, according to Reuters.

Residents are allowed outside for exercise and recreation. In the winter sunshine, joggers exercised on the boardwalk and others walked on the beach. Later in the day, more people were seen at Coogee Beach, singly or in small groups.

Sydney went into lockdown on June 26 as authorities in New South Wales state tried to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant in Australia's largest city.

More than a million people in downtown Sydney and the city's eastern suburbs were already under lockdown because of the outbreak, but health authorities said they needed to expand restrictions after more Covid-19 cases were recorded.

A quiet Bondi Beach is seen during a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Sydney, Australia, July 5. — Reuters
A quiet Bondi Beach is seen during a lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Sydney, Australia, July 5. — Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

WHILE launching the Economic Survey 2026, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told a hopeful story of economic...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...