Opinion: Victoria's Lock Down

For just on a month, Victoria is in a stage 4 lock down, due to a rise in Covid 19 cases, including stringent rules on compulsory masks in public places, only one person per family is permitted to go to the grocery store, and a curfew that keeps us inside between 8:00pm to 5:00 am everyday of the week. There are certainly more rules that currently escape me, however, the above mentioned is quite enough.

In a recent poll, it was revealed that the majority of Victorian's agree with these rules, and those who disagree are in a small minority. What does say about the Victorian community?

Aside from the massive fines one can receive for breaking the rules, including jail time in some cases, as a population, we take this pandemic seriously, and will do just about anything as a group to ride the virus through to it's unrealised end. That said, this decision to comply with these restrictions has not come without criticism.

It can be confidently said, that most of the criticism has come from right wing circles like opposition party's, such as the Liberal government, (Victoria's government is Labour) and conservative news organisations such as Sky New, and specifically from their respective journalists. In a tweet today from a high profile writer, an writer of the Murdoch owned Australian Newspaper, reported the poll numbers taken from the Victorian people, while arrogantly throwing shade on them, as if we are some ignorant, sheep people, following orders from the Pied Piper over the proverbial cliff. He didn't provide any argument to support his claim, but really, that's usually the case for anti-maskers, who can scream about *their Rights*, while ignoring the medical facts concerning the pandemic. These criticisms are purely political or based on disinformation.

Let's be honest, throwing politics around against basic preventative measures to combat a pandemic, like refusing to wear a mask is childish at best, and in the least, moronic.

Over the last three years, I've been on social media, and since the pandemic, theories abound on its source and resisting any governmental order to combat the virus. I must say, they're a few writers who have done their research and have put forward some compelling notions. One popular Youtuber, a young woman based in Atlanta who I respect, published a video named, Just Say No. She focused on Melbourne and our strict rules during our second wave of Covid. It was the same arguments which do not hold water. Such as our governments are in cahoots to instigate total control over the population. We must say No, to ensure our individual Rights, etc. I would ask this intelligent young lady to come to Melbourne and visit our hospitals, to wear a mask, and witness first hand those on the front lines. I'm certain, she'd have a change of heart.

Melbourne will get through this lock down, and even now, the new cases and number of deaths has gotten significantly less since the declared State of Emergency.

Right wing politicians and their cronies in the media, including anti-establishment types, politicising the pandemic have done nothing productive, but have merely stirred those less informed up in arms, creating a paranoia that is not warranted or needed during a health emergency.

In Melbourne and throughout the state of Victoria, the people realise the importance of remaining inside, wearing a mask, and avoiding public spaces, in order to get on top of the virus.

Indeed, I can also assure you, that the Victorian people are aware of their individual Rights as citizens in a democracy. It comes down to common sense, something the Right-wing and uninformed in this country and the planet, surely lack.