Unlocking during Lockdown

 

Since early August, Melbourne, Australia and the entire state of Victoria were under heavy restrictions as a result of a new outbreak of COVID, a huge spike in cases across the city. We were told that the state had moved from stage 3 to 4, and anyone breaking these restrictions would be heavily fined.

Generally these restrictions included people not able to travel over 15 kilometers unless for work or special circumstances. A curfew was implemented between 8:00am and 5pm in the evenings. Any social gathering of more than 3 people was strictly prohibited. Of course, masks were required when leaving the household, and the 1.5-meter rule was in effect. Because of a massive downturn in cases, recorded (0 cases today) and no deaths, the Victorian Premier, Dan Andrews, has lifted many of these restrictions since last Sunday, and relief and happiness in the air can be cut with a knife.

We have a local restaurant in the middle of suburbia in my neighborhood (mostly outside dining), and this afternoon, walking to the newsagent to buy my local newspaper, saw that the place once again, brimming with patrons, all wearing masks and bright smiles.

Because of the restrictions, my hair has grown out of control, as long as it was in the late '70s, and my local barber, “Good Fellas,” now have lines that run far, everyone wearing masks, and standing the required 1.5 meters apart...again, all smiles, particularly the hairdressers and barbers inside.

There is a local Op Shop in my local shopping center closed before the Stage 4 restrictions? This was necessary, of course, because most of the people working there are the elderly. Over the weekend, I visited the place and bought a new reading lamp for $4 and a used edition of Virginia Woolf's The Lighthouse for a massive 50cents! The cash lady exuded happiness, telling me to bring the lamp back if it didn't work and to enjoy Virginia Woolf. This was genuine happiness, and it has spread across the state.

Although the naysayers and wingnuts all protested the stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne and across the state, but these were in the minority. Although many businesses had to be shut down, those employees were given a fortnightly stimulus package. Those who were unemployed were given a financial boost as well. This was a smart move by the government, ensuring the lockdown would not hurt the common working person individually...and might I say, ensuring the economy didn't shut down completely.

There have many pundits from overseas criticizing the lockdown as fascism and a crime against basic human rights. The majority of these critics came from overseas and had zero facts to make their cases. In fact, over 52% of Victorians backed the premier's actions against the virus. The opposition, shouting, and screaming like children, their popularity ratings have fallen double digits.

In spite of the people's majority support of the lockdown restrictions, a few local protesters hit the streets, but nothing like we have seen in other countries across the seas.

The Victorian people wanted to get on top of this virus, and it seems now, we see the rewards for our sacrifices.: zero new cases and zero deaths.

A time for cautious celebration for many, though realistically, however, we have a long way to go.