Governments can impose mandates or appeal for our better natures. Both courses may be legitimate. Either way,it’s our time - as citizens - to step up.
But once we stop the rapid growth in COVID,there may be merit in allowing moderate to high case numbers of Omicron to continue.
Christmas will be a super-spreader event in any state living with the virus. So what do we need to do now to achieve a decent festive season without too much risk?
Victoria’s roadmap looks to be a sensible balance of cautious opening up and trying to keep within the principles of the national plan for reopening.
The challenges of the Delta variant means there is little or no room to move to reduce Victoria’s lockdown restrictions.
We can try a curfew for two weeks,with a good chance of getting out of lockdown,or stay in lockdown until November.
The national plan announced by the federal government to transition Australia’s response to COVID-19 provides targets we can aspire to,with collective rewards when we get there.
We have a natural experiment happening before our eyes. Victoria going hard and early,NSW part way through slow and steady.
The national cabinet’s pathway out of virus lockdowns is a promising end to a very messy week.
The UK variant of this virus is obviously another breaking point. This is our reality now.