Surf's up: Australia's Bondi partly reopens as coronavirus curbs eased

People surf as Bondi Beach reopens to surfers and swimmers after it was closed to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with strict social distancing measures remaining in place, in Sydney, Australia, April 28, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

SYDNEY (Reuters) - On a cool but sunny autumn morning, dozens of surfers lined up in anticipation and, as the metal barricades were moved aside, raced down the beach for their first authorised encounter in weeks with Australia's most famous shoreline.

Tuesday's partial reopening of Sydney's Bondi Beach was part of a gradual easing of social distancing and other restrictions imposed to curtail the coronavirus epidemic.