Managing a pandemic’s no walk in the park. There’s little clear data initially, and big decisions to be made. Governing is driven by the spur of urgency, because lives are at stake. The bias towards action is heightened, and with it the prospect for missteps and expediency.

That’s the context for the launch of the government’s COVIDSafe app. The launch looks rushed, most likely due to the government’s need to stay ahead of the growing pressure to break out from lockdowns. Sydney, in particular, looks restless: if the lockdown starts to fail at one point, pressure will surely build elsewhere.