Retailers reported a substantial fall in the number of shoppers at Sydney’s Boxing Day sales on Saturday after the New South Wales government pleaded with people to stay away amid fears of further coronavirus outbreaks in the city.
On Friday the NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, urged people not to attend shopping centres on Boxing Day, saying the government would “prefer people do not go to the CBD tomorrow” as the state continues to grapple with the northern beaches Covid-19 outbreak.
Reports from retailers on Saturday suggested Sydneysiders had heeded her calls.
Paul Zahra, the chief executive of the Australian Retailers Association, told Sky News that activity in Sydney’s retail heart around Pitt Street had been at a “record low” on Boxing Day morning.
“Normally people would queue up as early as Christmas Day night to get into the stores, but this year’s been a very different year, being a Covid year of course and with Gladys’s commentary,” he said.
“It’s certainly had an impact on the CBD locations this morning”.
The association had criticised the government for asking people to stay away from the city, calling her comments on Friday “incredibly disappointing”.
But Zahra conceded that despite the lack of activity in Sydney’s shopping centres, retailers had reported a substantial uptick in online sales.
“Across all retailers are saying there’ve been record highs this Christmas,” he said.
Berejiklian thanks shoppers on Saturday, saying she was “very pleased this morning to see people listen to our instructions regarding CBD shopping” and that the majority who did turn up were wearing masks.
“Obviously the number of people was substantially reduced and we’re deeply grateful,” Berejiklian on Saturday.
“We know today the strategy we have in place is working and I want to really thank everybody for trying so hard and working so hard during what is often a time when we are all coming together.”
But Berejiklian did express concern as reports on social media pointed to busy scenes in Parramatta and Miranda.
Paramatta Westfield today during Boxing day sales
— Nasem Allam 🇱🇧🇦🇺 (@nasemallam) December 26, 2020
Corona who?@9NewsSyd @NSWHealth @7NewsSydney @abcnews @abcsydney @smh @parracity #covidnsw #parramatta #nsw #Sydney pic.twitter.com/p1UdZvlDSX
Westfield Miranda today we were in a minority wearing masks no such thing as social distancing. This is why we are seeing outbreaks. People are STILL too complacent. Asked the people behind me in the line who weren't wearing masks not to get too close they laughed at me @GladysB
— Shiregirlshelly🌺 (@shiregirlshelly) December 26, 2020
“If you are in the suburbs, please make sure you are wearing a mask when shopping indoors. If it is too crowded, turn around and go home. Thank you to everybody who ordinarily would have gone to the CBD, the response has been really positive and overwhelming,” she said.
“I want to thank retailers for their understanding. It is a difficult day to have to hear the state’s premier to ask [shoppers] to stay away, but we are all making sacrifices so all of us can be safe. Those people in isolation were not able to have any Christmas at all, so thank you for doing the right thing.”
