Australia has been given a small win after a series of heavy blows since the Covid-19 crisis kicked off. After weeks of social restrictions, we’ve been able to flatten the curve at a pretty impressive rate – especially when you consider the state of other nations right now.
The relative success of Australia’s approach to Covid-19 has meant that we’ve been able to relax some restrictions on social-distancing – which you’re all very aware of. Yay to open beaches!
Our new reality is a much more encouraging one, but it does come with a serious level of responsibility. The way Australia handles the coming weeks will determine whether or not we’re hit with a second wave of Covid-19, and we can’t afford to take that lightly.
If you look at the experiences of places like Singapore, it’s clear there is a very real threat that a return to normal life will result in a massive spike in infections. According to CNN, Singapore was at 266 cases when the second wave hit – that number spiked to almost 6,000 in a month.
The set-back is being blamed on the oversight of particularly cramped areas, like highly-populated dormitories. Something we Aussies would do well to pay close attention to.
Experts are stressing that while circumstances are improving right now, we’re still at the beginning of a long road. This is not the time to take a lax approach to the rules.
Dr Kathryn Snow, an infectious disease epidemiologist of the University of Melbourne recently told ABC News:
“We are one or two months into what is realistically going to be a 12-18 month process … There is still a huge risk of transmission.”
She told the news outlet that Australia has been able to see success because of our strict approach to restrictions, and the Government’s quick decision to implement them. But she warned that it would not take long for things to slip back into a state of chaos.
“It only took a matter of weeks for things to get completely out of hand in the UK, the US and Italy,” she said.
It’s fair that people are craving some normalcy right now. We’re in the middle of an absolute sh*tstorm, and the temptation to return to regular life is unbearable at times. But we need to stay committed.
So, enjoy this new level of freedom. See the people you love (where appropriate). Just don’t forget that the actions of every one of us still matters if we want to stay on top of this thing.
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