While Britons are facing tightening restrictions in the run-up to the bleakest of Christmases, revellers on the other side of the world are making the most out of the festive season.
In Sydney, the streets are thronging with people being merry and kissing under the mistletoe as residents of the Australian city bask in its low Covid infection rate.
Work Christmas parties hit the town on Thursday night despite a new cluster of cases in the New South Wales capital, with many clearly overdoing the festivities.
Revellers in Sydney, Australia, are making the most of their relaxed coronavirus measures, flocking to the bars and clubs in fancy dress for the festive season
The streets are thronging with people being merry and kissing under the mistletoe as residents of the Australian city bask in its low Covid infection rate
Australians are making the most of their relaxed rules while Britons are facing harsher restrictions in the run-up to Christmas
Work Christmas parties hit the town on Thursday night despite a new cluster of cases in the New South Wales capital, with many clearly overdoing the festivities
On a day Sydney recorded a 17th new case within 24 hours, there was little social distancing between revellers in the centre of the city
Partygoers in fancy dress were seen falling over and taking late-night breathers on the side of the busy bars and clubs.
It is a stark contrast to Britain where the government has enforced harsher measures across many parts of the country including London in the run-up to Christmas.
More than 38million people are in the toughest Tier 3 which sees pubs and restaurants closed except for takeaways.
Partygoers in fancy dress were seen falling over and taking late-night breathers on the side of the busy bars and clubs
Social distancing? In Britain, the government is still urging people to follow strict measures to stop the spread of th virus, but in Sydney, revellers were getting very close to each other
There was little physical distancing on display as revellers hugged and kissed each other, held hands, sat closely together and danced in the streets
Pubs, bars and restaurants in central Sydney were packed with carefree revellers in party mode as they celebrated the festive season
Christmas parties in Sydney are in full swing due to recent easing of restrictions, but there are increasing fears of a looming lockdown if the outbreak can’t be contained to the city’s northern peninsula
But the Christmas spirit in Sydney may soon be dampened for some with the news that 270,000 northern beaches residents are in lockdown for the next three days.
A 17th new coronavirus case within 24 hours was recorded late Thursday afternoon.
The number of infected venues now stands at 30 along with three busy trains as concerned health authorities scramble to track down the source of the shock new cluster.
The Christmas spirit in Sydney may soon be dampened for some with the news that 270,000 northern beaches residents are in lockdown for the next three days
Britain is facing a bleak midwinter, with harsher restrictions coming into force for millions, while Australians are enjoying life cloesr to normality
Bars, pubs and restaurants are all but closed for much of the UK, with those in Tier 3 regions only allowed to serve takeaway food and drinks. In Australia it is a very different story as many packed the venues on Thursday
As concerned Northern Beaches residents queued to be tested and left supermarket shelves bare amid a return to panic buying, it was a different story on the other side of the Harbour Bridge on Thursday night.
Pubs, bars and restaurants in central Sydney were packed with carefree revellers in party mode as they celebrated the festive season and the recent easing of Covid restrictions in NSW.
There was little physical distancing on display as revellers hugged and kissed each other, held hands, sat closely together and danced in the streets.
As thousands of Sydneysiders on the northern beaches were advised to stay at home, it was a different story on the other side of Sydney as carefree revellers embraced friends (pictured, partygoers in Sydney)
An exhausted reveller enjoys a quick siesta after a big night on the town on Thursday night (picture) in Sydney’s CBD as offices enjoyed their Christmas parties
These revellers were in the festive spirit on Thursday night, despite growing fears about a growing coronavirus outbreak over the harbour