On Saturday 21st March 2020 the NSW Government have directed volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards to withdraw patrols where there are large numbers of people present, in order to comply with the Government’s ban on mass gatherings in response to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Additionally, surf patrol captains and club captains are being given the discretion to withdraw patrols if volunteers are concerned about their own safety, irrespective of the numbers of people on the beach.