Opinion: It only takes one covidiot, we’ve got two

It only takes one person flouting coronavirus restrictions to spoil it for the rest of us, and Queensland is now on tenterhooks, writes Peter Gleeson.

It only takes one rulebreaker for the system to come crashing down.

The ripple effect of two women allegedly flouting COVID-19 laws and returning from Melbourne with coronavirus is huge.

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Entire communities have been left in limbo, living in fear that the virus which is currently ravaging Melbourne will do the same here – and this is life and death stuff.

State Parliament recently passed laws providing for a six-month jail term for this type of offence.

And it did so knowing it only takes one idiot to wreck it for the rest of us.

Look at the hotel quarantine fiasco in Victoria, which is directly linked to thousands of cases and a mounting death rate.

Already the implications are dire as schools and businesses are shut and an exhaustive contact tracing exercise gets under way.

The women came to Brisbane on July 21 on a flight via Sydney.

It is unclear how they escaped quarantine protocols, and that will no doubt be determined during the criminal probe.

Vigilance and self-awareness are so important at this most challenging of times.

The investigation is brutal but necessary. Imagine if this sparks a massive outbreak that kills hundreds of people?

The next few days and weeks will have entire communities – and the Government – on tenterhooks.

We can only pray that we avoid the tragic situation that is engulfing Melbourne.