In the week before the coronavirus outbreak, many people in the West were already spending their summer in the sun, enjoying the sun and the water.
But the new outbreak is having a dramatic impact on beaches in the area, as the number of infected people on the water increases.
The West Coast is home to a number of beaches that are particularly susceptible to infection, with a recent outbreak at Lake Macquarie having brought the total number of confirmed cases in the region to 13.
It is a significant problem for the region as the water is one of the few things people can easily use on a daily basis and has a reputation for being a popular hangout for locals.
The outbreak has also brought some respite from the crowds at beaches on the South Coast and in some areas of the Great Barrier Reef.
The number of cases in Lake MacQuarie has more than doubled in the past few days, from six to 25, as more people have been infected with the virus.
The South Coast has had the highest number of infections, with 14 cases in 24 hours, while a further eight people have died from the virus at the same time in the Northern Territory.
But it is the water itself that is proving to be a serious problem, with more than 20 people having died in the water in the last week.
The NSW Health Department has been working to find solutions to prevent the spread of the virus, including the use of hand washing machines, and encouraging people to get their hands washed regularly.
A number of beach closures are planned for the next few days and the Health Department is advising anyone who feels unsafe to check with their doctor.
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‘I can’t swim, I can’t play, I’ve got diarrhoea, I don’t know what else to do’ A number are choosing to head to the beach in search of respite, with many opting to go to the beaches that they know well.
“I’ve just been swimming, I’m getting a little bit better, and I’m just swimming,” one man said.
“It’s nice, but it’s not for me.
I can barely swim, so I can only go to a beach if it’s a long day or if it has no shade, and that’s when I’d have to sit down.”
A number who have been affected by the outbreak have decided to head back to the water to get some of their daily routines back in order, with some opting to stay on the beaches for longer periods of time to prevent them becoming infected.
“The beach is a lot of fun, but at the end of the day, it’s for the beach,” one woman told news.com.au.
“There’s no real way around it, and it’s just a bit of a hassle.”
One man said he had already decided to return to the West Coast because of the threat of the coronas.
“A lot of people have decided they can’t go out anymore because of it,” he said.