Sydney’s ghost town: On the day of Australia’s largest sale event of the year shoppers are nowhere to be seen as customers heed the call of Premier Berejiklian and stay at home
- Sydney’s CBD was almost empty on Saturday morning after a recent outbreak in coronavirus cases in the city
- Barricades, COVID-19 marshalls and police were all out in full force ahead of the city’s Boxing Day sales
- Few turned up with many deciding to heed government’s advice to stay at home, turning to online shopping
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While Australians race to the shops for the highly anticipated Boxing Day Sales, Sydney’s CBD looked more like a ghost town as a recent outbreak of coronavirus cases forced many to stay at home.
In earlier years, there hasn’t been an inch of space in the city’s Westfield shopping mall on Pitt Street with countless shoppers flooding in to pick up the best discounts.
Barricades and security guards had all been set up along the shopping strip on Saturday morning in preparation for an influx of shoppers but few turned up.
Instead Sydney-siders heeded the advice of Premier Gladys Berejiklian to avoid the area after infections linked to the recent cluster in the city grew to 127.
While Australians race to the shops for the highly anticipated Boxing Day Sales, Sydney’s CBD looked more like a ghost town as a recent outbreak of coronavirus cases forced many to stay at home
Barricades had been set up along the roads leading to Pitt Street in preparation for a string of Boxing Day shoppers
While Pitt Street Mall is usually filled with shoppers on Boxing Day this year was a different story thanks to the global pandemic
Some shoppers still headed into town on Saturday morning to get their hands on the discounted items on offer
Eager shoppers usually get to the doors as early as 6am but there were only a handful of people waiting outside David Jones on Saturday morning.
Social distancing markers had been placed around stores to ensure a steady stream of customers but most were not needed.
Ms Berejiklian on Christmas issued a stern warning to those thinking about heading to the Boxing Day sales.
‘We know this is not the easiest message to give to those retailers, but want to discourage people from going to the CBD tomorrow. Please limit your activity,’ she said.
‘If you are going shopping in the CBD, please make sure you wear a mask.’
It seemed most residents followed her advice and although the crowds picked up as the day went on, it was a stark contrast to last year’s turnout.
Many shoppers were also seen without masks despite the government repeatedly suggesting they should be worn at all shopping centres.
More to come.
Security guards are seen waiting outside a Myer in Sydney’s Westfield on Boxing Day
One eager shopper managed to get his hands on several Nike items during Boxing Day’s huge sales in Sydney
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