Coronavirus: Kangaroos return to empty streets of Australian city centre

‘Protective Security Officers tracked a suspect wearing a grey fur coat hopping through the heart of the Adelaide CBD,’ force jokes

A kangaroo has been spotted hopping through the streets of an empty Australian city during the country’s lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

Police shared footage of the animal travelling next to a deserted pavement in Adelaide, and running into just one car in the city centre.

The kangaroo then hops over to an empty park in the video posted by South Australia Police.

“Protective Security Officers tracked a suspect wearing a grey fur coat hopping through the heart of the Adelaide CBD,” the force joked.

“He was last seen on foot heading into the West Parklands.”

In Australia, people can only go outside if it is essential — for example, to get food or go to work — in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 6,600 people in the country to date.

Animals have been spotted roaming around in public in other countries — including deer running through streets and an alligator strolling through a shopping centre in the US — while people have been ordered to stay at home.

Mountain goats have also been seen wandering around a Welsh town and nibbling on residents’ hedges during the UK lockdown.

Australia has been enforcing social distancing measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, banning public gatherings of more than two people and placing restrictions on movement.

Restaurants, bars and other “non-essential” businesses have closed.

Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, said last week there would no easing of Australia’s restrictions for at least another month.

He said the rules would not be relaxed until national testing capacity has been increased, contract tracing of known Covid-19 cases expanded, and a response to any future outbreak fully prepared.

The number of confirmed infections in Australia stood at 6,606 on Monday, while 69 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in the country to date.

Additional reporting by Reuters