For the eighth day in a row, Victoria has recorded double digit coronavirus case numbers. Over the past 24 hours, there has been 20 new cases, with 17 cases yesterday and 16 the day before. Before this, the state was seeing relatively low numbers, between zero and 10.
There are currently 141 active cases in the state, making up 57% of the number of active cases in Australia. There has also been another death in the state as a result of coronavirus, bringing their death toll up to 20.
How is it that Victoria has suddenly seen a spike in coronavirus case numbers? We know that the media has been click-baiting people into thinking that these cases all came from BLM protests a few weeks ago. But what went wrong here? And when’s the dome that was used to cover Springfield being brought in?
Coronavirus Part II: The Lockdown Returns
Panic buying set in again in Melbourne #panicbuying #melbourne #toiletpaper pic.twitter.com/FCCsk9DFzA
— RareWumpa (@RareWumpa) June 23, 2020
From what I’ve seen online, it seems like Melbournians have been relatively against lockdown restrictions. And the pressure they’ve been putting on the Victorian Government to relax these restrictions isn’t helping the matter.
But of course, Melbourne isn’t the only state that still has new cases every day. New South Wales continues to see new cases coming in each day. Even Western Australia has only had one day without any new cases, and Queensland has had a week.
My concern, and the concern of health experts and heaps of my friends, is that we’ll end up with a second wave even worse than the first. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: why are we in such a rush to get back to ‘normal’ life?
There’s no doubt that a second wave would bring even more severe lockdown restrictions, and would leave the economy in a near-irreparable state. But surely the health and safety of Australians should be the number one priority here?
If you weren’t convinced about the threat of a potential second wave of coronavirus, you should be now. Panic buying of toilet paper has returned to some stores in Melbourne this week over lockdown fears. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March, Woolworths alone sold 39.7 MILLION rolls of toilet paper a week. Who needs THAT much toilet paper??
Time To Take The Virus Seriously
Is this the same NSW state govt. that was so incensed about the QLD government keeping their border closed?
Or is there another one?
Because this hypocrisy is huge
NSW Government’s hardline approach as Victorian coronavirus cases surge – ABC News https://t.co/8Qqvftz3d5
— AuStinkTank – Hey Scott, get off the grass. (@AuStinkTank) June 23, 2020
Even NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, seems to be taking it a bit more seriously now, even if it’s also pretty hypocritical.
In a press conference yesterday, the Premier urged NSW residents to rethink hosting visitors from Melbourne, and called on tourism vendors and accommodations to ban travellers from Melbourne, given the high case numbers. (So, why is she pressuring Queensland to open their borders?)
This announcement by the NSW Premier comes just one week before Victorian school holidays are due to start, and two weeks before NSW school holidays start. The NSW and Victorian Governments expect there to be increased movement of people travelling around the country once these holidays start.
So, if you’re from Melbourne and are planning on coming up to NSW for the ski season now that it has officially been opened, you may have to rethink your plans. Two of the most popular snow resorts, Thredbo and Perisher, are less than two hours from the Victorian border.
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that no one wants a second wave of coronavirus. Between the panic buying, constant reporting of deaths in the media, and the toll lockdown took on on our physical and mental health, we were just straight up not having a good time.
So if we want to avoid a second wave and not have to go into super strict lockdown like New Zealand, take the virus seriously. Maintain social distancing, wash your hands/use hand sanitiser, only go out when you have to. And for the love of all that is good, if you’re feeling sick, stay home! Do the right thing.
Image Source: 20th Century Fox
