A police account in Australia responded to a tweet from a citizen concerned about the new coronavirus lockdowns by telling her that she is not permitted to leave her home to exercise or walk her dog.
“Hi Andrea, You cannot leave the house to walk the dog or to exercise,” the Twitter account for the South Australia Police told a woman who asked whether or not she could leave her home to walk her dog.
Hi Andrea, You cannot leave the house to walk the dog or to exercise.
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) November 18, 2020
The Australian state of South Australia began a mandatory six-day lockdown at midnight Thursday, which includes strict rules such as only one person in a household being permitted to leave the house each day for essential reasons only.
Schools and restaurants are closed, weddings are banned, and face masks are mandatory.
South Australians will pause and create a 6 day circuit breaker that will enable us to get ahead of the Parafield Cluster.
This means all non-essential workers must stay home and only leave for groceries and medical supplies.
We are doing this to keep SA safe and strong. pic.twitter.com/qbSvfIrkvX
— Steven Marshall, MP (@marshall_steven) November 18, 2020
The tweet quickly received criticism from conservatives and lockdown critics on Twitter.
“Good lord,” Daily Caller senior congressional correspondent Henry Rodgers tweeted.
Good lord. https://t.co/nO1YKApsyS
— Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) November 19, 2020
Golfer Eddie Pepperell encouraged Andrea to let her dog defecate on the police station.
Andrea, walk the dog and get it to take a ? on the doorstop of the police station.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) November 19, 2020
Others referred to the tweet from law enforcement as “fascist,” while some, including Andrea herself, appeared to react well to the police’s response.
“Thanks for replying,” Andrea tweeted. “It’s what I’ve been trying to tell him … Good work, stay safe too.”
Thanks for replying ?
It’s what I’ve been trying to tell him … ?
Good work, stay safe too.— Andrea (@intouchfornow) November 18, 2020
The South Australia Police confirmed to the Washington Examiner that exercising and dog walking is “prohibited” under the new order but did not say how police would enforce that restriction.
South Australia, a state of 1.7 million people, has confirmed a total of 36 cases statewide since Sunday, which are believed to be the first new cases in six months.
