Déjà vu in Melbourne? Please let it not escalate.

[countessalmirena]

We don't know yet exactly what sort of lockdown it will be.

We don't know yet exactly how severe it will be, what things will be further restricted.

We don't know yet exactly how long the lockdown will be imposed.

But we know that there will be a lockdown.

I'm so disheartened by the fact that this was preventable. What possessed case number 5 (the case who contracted COVID-19 from the Wollert cluster (via a missing link, probably?) to ignore his symptoms for more than 4 days? What possessed him to go out and about while symptomatic? Was he wearing a mask? (I'll take a wild stab at it and say no, he probably wasn't.) Was he socially distancing? (Clearly not.)

Taken in conjunction with the general complacency and vaccine reluctance, the discarding of masks in public transport, the lack of enforcement (with police chiefs being - in my view - a bit ridiculous in scoffing at the task of enforcing health directives), the surging together of people  much closer than 1.5 metres when we know - surely we call know! - that this pandemic is far from over, and the number of people who are shaking hands and kissing and hugging... it's making my heart sink like a concrete boot.

I skipped wearing a mask twice recently, I admit. I had it with me, but I popped into the bank and thought it would be a good idea not to obscure my face for security reasons. I also went to a supermarket for one item, late at night just before it closed. It was not wise. Oh! And one more time... at the Melbourne Recital Centre while enjoying a fabulous concert. Every other time, yes, I've masked up. But now I feel foolish, and I won't be making any exceptions.

Stupid-decision-making people could be walking around in any part of Melbourne or indeed Victoria, refusing to be tested, brushing off their symptoms, scoffing at the notion of wearing a mask or sanitising their hands.

And more political point-scoring is being launched as well. I've no patience for it; we need to be working together to resolve these problems, and stamp out this outbreak. Ironically it is because we as a country have been doing so well that the complacent behaviour has crept back.

Fellow Melbournians and Victorians, we just have to be strong, and let's do our best to reiterate that the hygiene behaviours (    and unfortunately now (probably) as well) MUST be followed until Australia has achieved herd immunity - and even after that, we should at the very least maintain hand hygiene and cough etiquette.

Let's try to lead the world into effective long-term behaviour change.

And God help us all as we enter into whatever lockdown hell lies before us. *virtual hug* - because that's the only sort I can give you.

[not_for_sale2025]

---

@springyzone wrote:

This is just a random observation but has anyone else had the thought go through their head that quite a few of the infected people seem to visit an awful lot of places. Do these people never spend a minute at home?

When they are tested positive and asked where they have been, there's a list of places as long as your arm.

I must live a boring life. Apart from a few shops occasionally, I'm not getting out and about all that much.

---

I know someone very close to me who has travelled the world, lived in many countries and has taken risks that I wouldn't dream of taking.  But that was when she was young. She recently said she wouldn't travel at the moment if it was free - just too dangerous. But she also said she saw the world through rose coloured glasses when she had the travel bug and what was risky to others was not risky to her. She said that bug is very powerful too!

[countessalmirena]

[rogespeed]

" effective long-term behavioural change " seems to be limiting the spread of "delta" variant , which in other countries is reported as super virulent , and also behavioural change may have contributed to improving the intrinsic health of community and so less severe infections , as is noted only  3 people currently in hospital within Victoria State  

[countessalmirena]

Frustradius : the feeling one gets when the particular shop, venue or address one needs to get to is just, just, just beyond the 5km or 10km (as appropriate) radius of one’s home…

— from The New COVIDDY Dictionary, 2nd Edition, pub. Melbourne 2021

[imastawka]

Toughest lockdown rules lifted in Melbourne, but restrictions remain (msn.com)

[domino-710]

Some woman - drove from Vic on June 1 - travelled NSW into Qld - for 5 days - positive.

Oh boy.

[eol-products]

Plus had time to go to the cinema at Dubbo.

And don't forget the 3 that drove to Sydney so they could fly out to Auckland for some R&R in a hotel room for a couple of weeks.

[countessalmirena]

Mockdown : the attitude that lockdown doesn't apply to oneself so that one can go wherever one wants, even while being positive for COVID-19.

— from The New COVIDDY Dictionary, 2nd Edition, pub. Melbourne 2021

[katistrophik]

Yup - masks for us again, Caloundra is just up the road from us, so thanks people for being so thoughtful NOT, and still the authorities are trying to get more info on exactly how many places they have been gggrrr

How are you Victorian's going ? I heard restrictions were being lessened?

Hope you are all safe and well

[countessalmirena]

It's been foreshadowed that from Friday, the restrictions in Melbourne will be loosened - slightly.

• Our travel radius will increase - from 10 km radius from our homes, to 25 km radius from our homes - no further, except for essential work, education, medical/caregiving or getting a vaccination.
• Offices will be allowed to open for up to a quarter of staff, but no more than ten people.
• Retail can reopen with density limits of one person per four square metres. This doesn't include gyms, which must remain closed for now.
• We will still be required to wear masks inside and must have them with us at all times.
• We will still be permitted NO visitors to the home.
• We will however be able to gather in a group outside with up to 10 people, and masks don't need to be worn unless 1.5 m distance cannot be maintained from everyone. (Everyone must have a mask with them.)
• Weddings will be allowed again, with up to 10 persons present.
• Churches / religious gatherings will be capped at 50 people.
• We will not be permitted to travel  into regional Victoria, even if a part of regional Victoria is within our 25 km radius limit.