Melbourne is back in Stage 4 lockdown.

[groovergirl]

Howdy all. I'm in Melbourne, and it's just been announced that we're back in Stage 4 lockdown from midnight. It's because of some coronavirus cases in a quarantine hotel at the airport.

We've done this before, and everyone was saying "You've got this, Melbourne!" and telling us how awesome we were. But we've been so awesome for so long, and we're all so tired of this. I think most Australians are prepared to do masks and practical precautions for the long term, but these sudden hits to work, school and social life are hard to bear. I couldn't see my family in Sydney this past Xmas because the border was closed.

Hand-hold, anyone? I'll be OK tomorrow. Just in despair now.

It's shit but it's preferable to the same shit lockdown plus many many deaths like in the UK.

I haven't seen my mum in over a year. She's a flight away.

But yes, it's shit.

Ah I love Melbourne!.
Anyway please excuse my ignorance but what does stage 4 mean?.
Hows Australia doing in general with the vaccine rollout?.
Where i live weve had some kind of restrictions since last year and its normal now, but very crap 😥

Oh no! Handhold here, and a virtual socially distanced

You've done so well over there, puts the efforts in the UK to shame. I'm in Ireland and we were doing OK until we relaxed lockdown over Christmas.

Keep your chin up, and keep being awesome Sooner or later this will all be over and we can start to rebuild. Hang on in there.

Oh no. My sister lives in Melbourne, I spoke to her on Wednesday and there was no hint of it then. I was feeling envious as her dc were out with their friends, dsis and her husband were going out to dinner this weekend - life seemed very normal.

How long is this lockdown going to be?

It's so rubbish for you.

Thanks everyone. I've been following the UK's travails, and yes, sorry, you are really suffering there. (I'm guessing your govt didn't move as quickly as it should have last year -- is that right?)

@Ilikewinter Stage 4 for us is the strictest level. Schools, non-food shops, libraries and public pools will close, restaurants can only do socially-distanced takeaway, one person per household may visit the supermarket once a day, two hours' outdoor exercise only permitted. We can't go further than 5km from home unless we're an essential worker.

I WFH (freelance) anyway, but lockdown means most of my work will be cancelled. DD will be working at the dining table again. But the weather is glorious and we'll try to make something positive of it.

I really feel for you - going back into lockdown is awful and Victoria has had such a hard time of it already.

@yourfaceisaforeignfood It's especially terrible for arts workers. The theatres were reopening and bringing in shows that got cancelled last year. All on hold now. Museums closed, weddings postponed.

The Australian Open will continue, but without spectators. In a normal year the tennis fans are as big a show as the players!

I’m in Melbourne too groovergirl.
Feel a bit gutted but hopefully it’s only 5 days.
Husband will back WFH. Son’s not back at uni til March and his work is essential so he’ll still go in.
Fortunately I’ve seen a few people over the last week, went to a cinema for the first time in a year and even went out for dinner last weekend so all that will tide me over. And currently have choc sour cream muffins baking so we can binge later.

Commiserations guys. We had a snap three day lockdown up here recently and it was shit. Hopefully they’ve acted quickly enough and this one won’t be too long for you. My best friend is down in Melbourne and she said it always feels like she has PTSD from being stuck inside against her will so often.

Yeah saw this earlier; hoping this is going to be a fire break and it will work for you guys. Watching the Aussie Open right now and thinking of you lot!

Argh. DSis is in Melbourne.
I will message her.
Thanks, I’m sorry 😞

I'm sorry you're having to go through this (again!).

What an utter little SHIT this stupid virus is.

Hope you are all back to normal before long.

It's for five days. Hang in there.

I'm in Melbourne and going through all the emotions of last year again. 5 days. We can do this.

Not a single person has been vaccinated. Our idiot prime minister has done literally nothing except trumpet his success in securing the vaccine. Where the fuck is it?

The alternative is thousands of deaths and months in lockdown like the uk.

It's crap OP. Some of us have it a lot worse but it's still crap. We will get through this. The UK would love to be in Australia's position right now.

I’m in melbourne. It’s 5 days. It’s crappy but isn’t it a bit insensitive to choose to complain about this on a uk site? I know how much tougher it’s been on my friends there.

In the UK your hassles would sound like heaven with a definite end in sight. Sadly for us that boat if we ever could have had it has long since sailed.

@timeisnotaline

I’m in melbourne. It’s 5 days. It’s crappy but isn’t it a bit insensitive to choose to complain about this on a uk site? I know how much tougher it’s been on my friends there.

Agreed. We had 3 days here a few weeks ago. Rather short & sharp.

It's 5 days - you can do this! ☺️

We're in week 6 of full lockdown with really grim weather right now 😩😩

I'm sorry that you're struggling op , but you won't find much sympathy on here , a UK site.

We've been in lockdown (this time around) for over a month. The weather is shit , a lot of us are home schooling and/or trying to keep toddlers entertained whilst living in flats with no outdoor space.

@TallTowerFan

I'm sorry that you're struggling op , but you won't find much sympathy on here , a UK site.

We've been in lockdown (this time around) for over a month. The weather is shit , a lot of us are home schooling and/or trying to keep toddlers entertained whilst living in flats with no outdoor space.

We already did 100+ days lockdown in winter last year. Some of the toughest restrictions in the world, like masks outdoors all the time.

Yes 5 days is nothing, it's the feeling of dread that maybe it won't be 5 days, that's what's hurting.

Oh , and last month many of us recieved a text from the nhs which essentially told us to not bother requesting an ambulance unless you were half dead , as emergency services were under too much pressure to provide.

In the space of a year my children will have been to school for just one term.

We're in the second month of another full lockdown in hideous weather. Its freezing outside and kids haven't been allowed to mix for ages
Theatre and the arts have missed out so much here.

We had a full lockdown last March for several months. And restrictions or local lockdowns since.

I think 5 days is manageable. I expect this will be the way of it too until vaccines are done. Far rather the odd 5 days of lockdown than endless restrictions.

I dont think this is the place to complain about 5 days.

Couldn’t give a toss, we’ve had a year of it.