Australia in a mess - NZ with a plan

[StartupRepair]

More than half of Australia is in lockdown now, sparked (imo) by the intransigence of the NSW Premier who ignored all warnings about Delta. Our procurement of and messaging around vaccines has been dangerously incompetent.
It all feels a bit bleak today. At least NZ seems to have a plan.

Hang in there guys x

I do tend to agree @sashagabadon, maybe it was a case of “pick something low value” - most people don’t actually have that much of a problem with wearing masks so it’s quite an “easy” win for her.
I also fully agree it must be an awful job. Normally I’m quite happy to think what I would do in different circumstances and think I have all the answers () but in this case I’m just really glad I’m not in charge.

It seems as though there are two camps emerging in Australia.

Those who seem to think we are somehow different to the rest of the world and can keep Delta at bay. No matter what it takes They want lockdowns to continue until everyone, including young children and babies have been offered the vaccines. No lockdown is harsh enough. They love curfews, masks outside and playground closures. Suggest that perhaps all the measures are harmful to society and need to be lifted once everyone 16 and over has been offered vaccination and they are horrified. Not coincidentally they also seem to think catching Covid is some kind of certain death sentence or if they don’t die they will get long Covid.

In the other camp are those who are more pragmatic. They know that Covid is a serious illness but also recognise that the lockdowns and other measure are causing serious damage. They can see that some of the measure introduced are more for show than anything else. These people have already accepted that they will eventually catch Covid, even if vaccinated. Yes, there will be people hospitalised and some will die but people die every day and Covid will become just another cause of death amongst many others.

They are exactly the same two camps in the U.K. blue
Camp 1 was in control 2020 and early 2021. Our opposition Labour supposedly the party of the working people only complaint to pretty harsh measures (mainly on said working class) was they were not hard enough, not long enough etc.
Then gradually from I would say March maybe April, many in camp 1 migrated to camp 2 and in probably May time, camp 2 outnumbered Camp 1 and there was a noticeable change in Media etc.
Matt Hancock our health minister was always considered the dove in the cabinet reluctant to lift restrictions ( as health is his remit) until snog gate where we all watched him snogging his aide( google the video, it is very funny) and lo and behold he resigns and our new health minister is a former chancellor and the economy becomes the talking point.
I’m sure it’ll change that way in Australia too ( hopefully not the snogging bit, no one needed to see that ) but the public opinion mood swing.

@Ozgirl75

It’s so weird isn’t it *@flyornofly*. I read the same on forums over here “lock down hard!” “This is such a soft lockdown” and it’s like, ahem, kids are off school, most shops are closed, we can’t travel through our own city, yet alone state or even country, can’t go on holiday. It’s spreading in workplaces, homes and childcare, all places that can’t really be closed anyway. It’s hardly “letting it rip”, it’s taking about 2-3 weeks for cases to double and even after 9 weeks we’re still only at 650 cases per day. Back in March 2020 cases were doubling every couple of days!

Haha we had that here too last year, people going on and on about how it wasn't a 'proper' lockdown because we let people go out for unlimited exercise and didn't confine people to their apartments except to go grocery shopping like they apparently did in Spain. Bearing in mind exercise was all you were allowed to do for the first month or two - you couldn't meet anyone outdoors, even if you lived alone or were in a relationship with them, cafes weren't open for takeaway etc. (Joggers were especially complained about for daring to exhale near people ) I never really understood what more people wanted.

A grip, in most cases.

I’m sure it’ll change that way in Australia too ( hopefully not the snogging bit, no one needed to see that) but the public opinion mood swing.

Matt "Hands" Hancock - energetically delivering collective trauma to an entire nation.

"My eyes, my eyes!" - UK resident, 2021 😥

Good lord the ‘we need to worry about children getting covid’ stories are really cranking up at the moment. Problem is most people here don’t know anyone who has had Covid, let alone had it themselves so they just believe the media scare stories of everyone who gets it is extremely ill.

Not saying Covid isn’t potentially serious, of course it can be, but all perspective has been lost

@PicsInRed

I’m sure it’ll change that way in Australia too ( hopefully not the snogging bit, no one needed to see that) but the public opinion mood swing.

Matt "Hands" Hancock - energetically delivering collective trauma to an entire nation.

"My eyes, my eyes!" - UK resident, 2021 😥

Might be unpopular opinion but I’m a big Matt Hancock fan. His relentless optimism and tiggerish manner was a tonic as far as I was concerned. There are some hilarious memes and Tik toks starring Matt, they always brightened my day. He was mobbed by teen girls on the tube the other day so I am clearly not his only fan

@bluetongue

Good lord the ‘we need to worry about children getting covid’ stories are really cranking up at the moment. Problem is most people here don’t know anyone who has had Covid, let alone had it themselves so they just believe the media scare stories of everyone who gets it is extremely ill.

Not saying Covid isn’t potentially serious, of course it can be, but all perspective has been lost

It’s to prep the public to accept vaccines for kids imo. We have the same here although vaccines not yet approved for under 16’s but I expect that will change to under 12’s

@PicsInRed

I’m sure it’ll change that way in Australia too ( hopefully not the snogging bit, no one needed to see that) but the public opinion mood swing.

Matt "Hands" Hancock - energetically delivering collective trauma to an entire nation.

"My eyes, my eyes!" - UK resident, 2021 😥

That photo looks like a big Aussie spider!!!

That photo looks like a big Aussie spider!!!

The hairiest

A good account of where Australia is at. twitter.com/murpharoo/status/1428845633897582594?s=19

I really don't think I could stomach another Australian polly sex scandal. The last one was revolting enough.

We could start a book on which prominent figure we think will get busted first?

When the schools re-open my kids are going. Preferably vaccinated, but going even if not. Covid is one risk among many.

Oh the irony.

'Why does Gladys have to introduce new roles, just because some people won't follow the current rules.'

And then in the same post - I'm not wearing a mask.

😂😂🤦

I assume that’s in reference where I say that I won’t be wearing a mask for exercise - which is not against the rules, as I am outside?
Sadly you failed to read where I clearly said that I always wear a mask inside. I follow all the rules, even if I don’t want to - but we don’t have to wear a mask outside if we’re exercising, they would be mad.

“That” not “they”

So I would probably “cry laughing” at your inability to read simple sentences.

@bluetongue

It seems as though there are two camps emerging in Australia.

Those who seem to think we are somehow different to the rest of the world and can keep Delta at bay. No matter what it takes They want lockdowns to continue until everyone, including young children and babies have been offered the vaccines. No lockdown is harsh enough. They love curfews, masks outside and playground closures. Suggest that perhaps all the measures are harmful to society and need to be lifted once everyone 16 and over has been offered vaccination and they are horrified. Not coincidentally they also seem to think catching Covid is some kind of certain death sentence or if they don’t die they will get long Covid.

In the other camp are those who are more pragmatic. They know that Covid is a serious illness but also recognise that the lockdowns and other measure are causing serious damage. They can see that some of the measure introduced are more for show than anything else. These people have already accepted that they will eventually catch Covid, even if vaccinated. Yes, there will be people hospitalised and some will die but people die every day and Covid will become just another cause of death amongst many others.

I think, in reality, it's much more nuanced than this simplistic take. This is a Facebook-driven parody with no depth.

Luckily I’m always “exercising” when I’m outside anyway (walks count as exercise)

So basically you won't wear a mask outside. Even though it's a rule. Because YOU don't agree with it.

And then gave out about others not following rules.

Wow, turns out I can read a sentence from a simple poster. Oh sorry, you said simple sentence...

Anyone following the protest in Melbourne? It looks like they are getting stricter but rates going up in nsw and victoria.

Its basically a race to get vaccination rates up before it spreads isnt it?

Sigh.
Goodness, you are dim.
Yes, when I’m outside, I’m exercising. I go for a walk or run along my road exercise
I go for a bush walk or kayak exercise
Then when I go out for non exercise (supermarket), I wear a mask.
I don’t get why you’re finding that so difficult to understand. There has been no time or place that I should be wearing a mask, where I have not worn a mask.

Having said all of that - I do not believe it’s necessary to wear masks outside. All the research suggests that fewer than 1 in 1000 cases are transmitted outside, and it may be fewer than that (they may actually transmit in places like playground toilets, although people have said they are outside).
However, I am following the rules because I don’t want a fine. I don’t believe curfews or outdoor masks make the slightest difference, because if they did, the evidence would have been provided to support this, and it hasn’t.

That's not how you wrote it Ozgirl75. It was very clear you think masks outside aren't necessary, so when you walk somewhere you say it's exercise and won't wear a mask.

And, as I said, it's YOU not following the rules and then lamenting stronger rules because others aren't doing the right thing.

Walking isn't exercise, running yes.

And stop with the fucking insults yeah?

The mask and exercise rules are clearer in Victoria. Walking = mask. Running = no mask. In NSW I think you can leave the mask off for 'strenuous' exercise, which is open to interpretation.