Wild scenes as cops party in front of a packed-out dance floor in New South Wales – despite the state hanging perilously close to a Christmas Covid lockdown
- NSW Police officers filmed dancing with revellers at packed pub in country NSW
- As most Sydneysiders stayed at home, revellers packed dance floor in Armidale
- Temporary restrictions for Sydney as northern beaches outbreak grows to 68
- Singing and dancing now banned at Sydney venues until midnight Wednesday
- NSW police confirm they’re aware of the Armidale incident and are investigating
- Do you know more? Email tips@dailymail.com
Startling footage has emerged of New South Wales police officers joining revellers on a packed dance floor while thousands of Sydneysiders are holed up in lockdown.
As most Sydneysiders obeyed warnings to ditch festive celebrations and stayed at home on Saturday night amid a growing coronavirus outbreak on the northern beaches, it was a different story at a popular pub in Armidale in the NSW northern tablelands.
Footage has emerged of wild scenes at Wicklow Hotel on Saturday night as mask-free revellers packed the dance floor following the easing of coronavirus restrictions in NSW three weeks ago.
One video shared online shows carefree revellers on a packed dance floor dancing and singing to The Proclaimers’ 1980s hit 500 Miles as two female police officers join in the fun on stairs, much to the delight of patrons.
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NSW Police officers (pictured) were filmed singing and dancing with revellers at the Wicklow Hotel in Armidale on Saturday night
The hotel also shared footage of similar scenes on its Instagram page of mask-free patrons squeezed close together on the dance floor while enjoying a local cover band Terra Firma, hugging each other with little social distancing in place.
‘All contributing to the vibe,’ one Instagram story was captioned.
Dancing was permitted in NSW pubs for the first time in eight months by the state government on December 7, but with only 50 people allowed on the dance floor at any one time.
‘NSW Police has been made aware of the video and are conducting inquiries,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
The manager on duty at Wicklow Hotel on Sunday told Daily Mail Australia she was unable to comment on Saturday night’s festivities.
Around 270,000 residents on Sydney’s northern beaches remain in strict lockdown until Wednesday night as 30 new cases were recorded on Sunday to take the tally to 68.
Wicklow Hotel shared footage of Saturday night’s wild scenes on its Instagram page, where patrons danced closely together and hugged each other (pictured)
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian tightened restrictions for Greater Sydney and the Central Coast amid fears the outbreak will spread.
From 11.59pm on Sunday until 11.59pm on Wednesday all Greater Sydney residents can only have a maximum of 10 people in their homes.
There are also new restrictions for venues including a 300 person cap, a one person per four square metre rule and a ban on singing and dancing.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said singing and dancing were ‘one of the most dangerous exercises you can do’.
The temporary restrictions don’t apply to regional NSW.
Armidale locals partied on Saturday night while thousands of Sydneysiders were holed up in their first night of strict lockdown
