Lock down or let down?

 The Premier of our neighbouring state is coming under fire because of the restrictions he is still imposing on the people within it. He is also coming under fire because of the economic damage this is doing to the rest of the country.

It is the state which has had the highest rate of Covid19 infections and the most deaths. Much of the blame for that has been laid at the door of those responsible to have arrivals properly quarantined. That certainly is part of the problem. The untrained "security" guards went home and mixed with family and friends. Soon the virus was spreading through the community. 

There are also ethnic groups in the state who were not properly informed about the dangers. Our much lauded "multi-cultural" society has actually proved to be a problem. Families within these groups often mix constantly. Children are cared for by extended family. Gatherings are frequent, especially at weekends. The adolescents in them travel as groups across the suburbs. Younger students go to school "if you aren't sick" even when other members of the family have the virus. They live in close contact with other people, often in social housing. Unlike the UK we may not have 66m people crammed into a too small island but the problems are similar in some areas.

This state did things differently. We cannot afford to be complacent but quarantining seems to be working. The only cases we have are in medi-hotel quarantine. 

And that's the problem. People want to get back to their old life-style. They are asking why they can't have a drink standing at the bar. Why are night club activities still restricted? When will this or that open? Why can't the school leavers have their usual "schoolies celebrations"? 

All this seems to be about entertainment. I am much more concerned about jobs. My youngest nephew was supposed to start a new job back in March. Lock down in the neighbouring state has prevented that.  It is still preventing that. He has been doing little bits of work here and there - from home. It is just enough to keep him from starving but it is frustrating and not at all satisfying. If the situation goes on much longer he will not have a job to go to when the restrictions are lifted. 

There are thousands upon thousands of other people in the same situation. The Premier of the state keeps insisting that the measures are necessary to "keep the virus under control". The reality however may be different. 

Until we get a vaccine - if we get one - then we need to learn to live with the virus. Yes, I know. This has been said before. What the Premier in the neighbouring state is not saying is that people need to be educated so that things can change. He seems to be afraid of saying, "There are groups in the community who need to be educated about this. Let's do it." 

He has also tasted power the likes of which have never been available in this country. People are calling him a "dictator". He still has many convinced that the measures he insists on are necessary but they are far fewer than they were. If he does not ease up on some restrictions today he will lose more support. 

Will it make a real difference? Probably not. The economic damage has been done. He can deflect most of the blame for that on to his federal colleagues. He will say he is but he won't be listening to the thousands upon thousands of responsible citizens who simply want a chance to get back to work. Power is much too addictive for that.