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Original poster

Melbourne apartment towers complete lockdown

351 replies

Imtootired · 04/07/2020 15:30

In Melbourne, Aus there are five tower blocks that will be put under complete lockdown for five days. I am all for being proactive about stopping the spread of coronavirus but this is madness. They are public housing so people on very low incomes for various reasons including elderly and disabled people, refugees and single parents. There will be police guarding each floor. No one will be able to leave for any reason. There have been many reports of bad hygiene practices for people quarantined in hotels and it makes me so angry that the government and dodgy contacted companies didn’t do their jobs properly and now the most vulnerable are paying the price. How will they be able to attend to all the individual needs of 3000 people? If I was stuck in a tiny apartment with my children with no time to prepare I would be furious. There were no armed guards for rich travellers returning home. I’m so angry and feel so bad for the residents. This is the beginning of a police state and once it’s happened it could happen again. If I was a resident I would be getting legal advice ASAP. I hope someone takes them to court.

OP posts:
echt · 05/07/2020 07:40

For those who are saying it isn't imprisonment or house arrest, then how come the police prevented a resident collecting the food she ordered for delivery?

Because that's not what either of those terms means.

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 05/07/2020 07:41

You are being inflammatory.

What options?

eaglejulesk · 05/07/2020 07:48

Interesting how many people living thousands of miles away in the UK have so much to say about something happening in Australia. Unless you are actually there you are highly unlikely to know the full facts - and tbh I don't think anyone in the UK should be lecturing other countries about how to deal with covid.

(now I'll sit back waiting while people find articles to link to so they can prove that they really do know all about it - don't bother, I've read so many already with incorrect information)

MRex · 05/07/2020 07:49

I'm a bit confused by this idea that translators are suddenly needed because people hadn't understood about lockdown. Some people living in those blocks.must have sufficient language skills to know that there's a virus and have mentioned it in passing? What did others think was happening with shops, stay at home orders etc for the last 3.5 months? It seems remarkably patronising to suggest at this stage that nobody in the tower blocks knows about social distancing, hand washing etc.

MarshaBradyo · 05/07/2020 07:50

People miles away have plenty to say about U.K.

What are the full facts Eagle?

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 05/07/2020 07:54

prison

Righto.....

echt · 05/07/2020 07:54

People miles away have plenty to say about U.K

Not in quite the way this thread is being conducted.

MarshaBradyo · 05/07/2020 07:57

I don’t see any difference. Anyway it’s a side point.

If the articles are incorrect what are they missing?

I’m surprised people there are so ok with it, maybe the missing information would help.

echt · 05/07/2020 07:57

What's your point, *Whichoneofyoudidthat?

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 05/07/2020 07:58

That it’s not like bloody prison. Obviously.

TurtleTortoise · 05/07/2020 07:58

I do think it's imprisonment without trial, and solitary confinement for some, presumably.

However, I cannot express how much I would rather go through a mere 5 days of this than the months of bleakness we're having in the UK. Actually I'd prefer even a couple of months of strict lockdown if it meant life was relatively normal afterwards. And how much easier it would be with an end date!

In the UK we have some kind of hellish return to normality with all the joy sucked out. Expected to stay unnaturally physically distant, separated entirely from most people I love, watching children I loved and cared for grow up from the occasional pic because socially distanced meeting is too distressing all round. I don't want to live like this. Much better to strictly contain breakouts than have limited freedoms throughout that actually removes so much more freedom in the long run.

NinkiNonkiNikau · 05/07/2020 07:59

Oh ffs. Take five days to quarantine and get food supplies etc then get tested and cleared. Or have many extra bodies in chatting and cleaning and food delivering potentially dragging it out longer. I know which option I would prefer.

eaglejulesk · 05/07/2020 08:07

What are the full facts Eagle?

The Australians on this thread have already given the facts, but that doesn't stop people in the UK from giving their distorted views from afar and insisting they know more about it than those who are actually there.

echt · 05/07/2020 08:07

That it’s not like bloody prison. Obviously

Not obvious enough for me.

Mea culpa.

MarshaBradyo · 05/07/2020 08:11

The Australians on this thread have already given the facts

Oh right I’ve only this thread, so I still think the same.

MarshaBradyo · 05/07/2020 08:12

Read

EnlightenedOwl · 05/07/2020 08:13

@TurtleTortoise

I do think it's imprisonment without trial, and solitary confinement for some, presumably.

However, I cannot express how much I would rather go through a mere 5 days of this than the months of bleakness we're having in the UK. Actually I'd prefer even a couple of months of strict lockdown if it meant life was relatively normal afterwards. And how much easier it would be with an end date!

In the UK we have some kind of hellish return to normality with all the joy sucked out. Expected to stay unnaturally physically distant, separated entirely from most people I love, watching children I loved and cared for grow up from the occasional pic because socially distanced meeting is too distressing all round. I don't want to live like this. Much better to strictly contain breakouts than have limited freedoms throughout that actually removes so much more freedom in the long run.

Its shocking what has been allowed to happen here
StartupRepair · 05/07/2020 08:17

The purpose of the lockdown is to prevent the spread of the virus and to save lives. It is not a ploy to introduce a police state by stealth. It really isn't. The Premier is the most left wing leader in Australia. He doesn't take lightly what he is asking people to do.

Splinkyplonk · 05/07/2020 08:17

Saying people haven't understood the lockdown rules because of translation issues is probably a polite way of saying people have not been obeying the lockdown rules. Hence the draconian measures.
There could be a myriad of reasons for that but there is no denying the real and additional plight of people now stuck in a tower block!

TheresABearInThere · 05/07/2020 08:18

I’m Australian and the lockdown is necessary, far better than it becoming a massive death feast like parts of Europe, the UK and Usa.

echt · 05/07/2020 08:19

Its shocking what has been allowed to happen here

What bit of the poster's post are you addressing, EnlightenedOwl?

Beebeet · 05/07/2020 08:22

Out of interest though, if there was a block of apartments in posters local community which had an outbreak, I wonder how many people would be supportive of the measures then? I bet a fair few. I am sure the man in the article will be supplied with formula, but him going to the shop when an outbreak has been identified means there is a chance he will pass it to anyone he comes into contact with. Also although there haven't been armed police, nursing home residents have been kept inside and unable to see family for a long time, people dont seem to find that as cruel or unfair.

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 05/07/2020 08:23

Sorry Echt, for being snappy. Blush

eaglejulesk · 05/07/2020 08:24

To the Aussies on this thread, you might as well go and do something fun for the rest of the evening - you are never going to convince the UK lot that they don't know far more about the situation - and indeed about how things are done in Australia - than you do.

StartupRepair · 05/07/2020 08:26

It does suck to be poor. The first people to spread the virus around Melbourne were the ultrarich who had just been skiing at Aspen and then went to a series of upmarket birthday parties and beach holidays. They weren't confined in any way.