Australia Covid-19: Sydney cases expected to rise after anti-lockdown protest as two accused of hitting police horse

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Thousands of people violated coronavirus measures and marched through the center of Australia’s largest city on Saturday, many revealing masks and holding signs with anti-vaccination messages, and clashing with police. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the protests “reckless” and “selfish”. Protests also broke out in other major cities, including Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.

More than half of Australia’s 25 million people – including state capitals Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide – are again living under lockdown measures to stem the spread of the highly contagious delta virus. Frustration is growing over the lockdown and the slow pace in rolling out a vaccine in the country.

On Sunday, New South Wales police said 63 people had been arrested during the demonstrations, and authorities had opened an investigation to track down each participant.

Hundreds of fines have been issued for breaching the health system, including 107 in the past 24 hours which relate to Saturday’s protest, NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said at a press conference on Monday. He said 10,000 reports have been sent by the public to a criminal hotline, and investigators have identified more than 200 people.

“We have a strike force that has been set up and they will continue to investigate and prosecute every single individual we can identify who is either arrested or given wrongdoing,” Fuller said.

Images and footage of the protests appear to show a police horse being pushed or beaten by protesters. The New South Wales State Police later posted a photo on Facebook saying that one of her horses, Tobruk, was unharmed and enjoying gifts of “carrots, apples, licorice, chocolates and flower bouquets” donated by good hunters.

“Our beautiful brave Tobruk is safe and unharmed after his horrific encounter today. Thank you again for your words of support,” New South Wales State Police said.

After the incident, a 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with illegal assembly, cruelty to animals, and breach of Covid directives. Another man, 36, was also charged with assaulting a police officer, cruelty to animals, and breaching Covid directives. Police said the two men refused to release them on bail.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “disgusted, disappointed and saddened” by the protesters who took to the streets after four weeks of lockdown measures.

The New South Wales government has warned that it will likely have to extend Sydney’s strict stay-at-home order beyond its July 30 end date. Asked if the mass protest could lead to a prolonged shutdown, Bregellian said, “I hope it’s not a setback but it may be.”

“Events like this can cause super-spread events,” she added.

Prime Minister Morrison said on Sunday, “People understand that there are frustrations with the lockdown. But this kind of behavior doesn’t help anyone. Selfish behavior doesn’t help anyone.”

The comments come as Australia recorded another large number of new cases of Covid-19 daily, and New South Wales, which includes Sydney, reported 145 new locally transmitted cases and two more deaths on Sunday. It follows 164 daily infections reported in the state on Saturday, according to the health department.

Berejiklian warned residents to be vigilant because one of the two people who died on Sunday was a woman in her 30s who “had no pre-conditions”.

Just under 15% of Australia’s adult population over the age of 16 has been vaccinated, according to the Federal Department of Health on Thursday.

Australia has recorded nearly 33,000 cases of Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic, with about 1,000 cases in the past week, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. JHU said at least 913 people have died.

“I can’t stress enough how contagious – it’s harsh how contagious – this virus. It’s spreading like we’ve never seen before,” Berekilian said, urging residents to stay home.

After there were reports of more protests next Saturday, NSW Police Commissioner Fuller warned there would be a heavy police presence.

“We will take the land too soon,” he said. “You will be arrested.”

Angus Watson and Hilary Whiteman of CNN in Sydney and Pauline Lockwood of Hong Kong contributed reporting.

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