Susie O’Brien: Numbers show why Victoria’s coronavirus lockdown is ready to be lifted
While Daniel Andrews is adamant experts will “follow the numbers” when it comes to bringing Victoria out of its coronavirus lockdown, the numbers are already clear, writes Susie O’Brien.
Opinion
Don't miss out on the headlines from Opinion. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victorians deserve to know how Premier Daniel Andrews is planning to ease us
out of the coronavirus lockdown.
Yesterday, he announced that 100,000 people will be tested for the virus in the next two weeks but no restrictions will be lifted until May 11.
Victorian Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton says they will “follow the numbers”.
But the numbers are already clear.
More than 100,000 people have already been tested since January.
On Sunday night, we recorded one new case of coronavirus, bringing our state’s total to 1349 cases. Most have recovered and just 23 people are in hospital and 11 are in intensive care.
These numbers justify Andrews laying out an orderly route out of lockdown for the Victorian people right now, not in two weeks’ time.
Victoria’s continued lockdown despite the low number of cases puts us out of step with other states, fuelling a growing sense of frustration.
In NSW, children are set to return to school despite the state having more coronavirus cases than Victoria.
In Queensland, families will soon be able to have family meals outside, relax at the beach, go for a leisurely drive, visit a national park and shop for non-essential items.
In Western Australia, people can have picnics, go out in a boat, go camping and exercise in a small group. They’ve even eased their restrictions on group gatherings from two people to 10, provided social distancing is adhered to.
In South Australia, lockdown measures have eased and kids are going back to school.
Even the Northern Territory has reopened parks and reserves after three weeks without a
new case.
It’s not just about our right to stretch out on a beach or play a round of golf. The issues are more serious than that. Desperate families need to know the end is in sight.
Every day the lockdown continues, businesses are losing billions, the economy is shrinking and jobs are disappearing. Compounding this are critical social issues such as a rise in depression and anxiety, elderly people in aged care homes who aren’t receiving any visitors and vulnerable kids who aren’t going
to school.
Victorians want — and deserve — to know what’s ahead. We need Andrews to give us some hope there’s a way out. We shouldn’t have to wait two more weeks.
Businesses need to start preparing for the months ahead, particularly given the stringent restrictions that are expected to be in place.
Schools also need to assess and plan to accommodate teachers who may not be able to return to face-to-face classes.
Victoria’s continuing lockdown despite our relatively low death rate of 83 people is in stark contrast to many countries overseas.
For instance, in Italy, where 26,000 people have died from the virus, they’re lifting the ban on funeral attendances. Outdoor services with a maximum of 15 people are now allowed. From May 4 factories and building sites will reopen and people will be able to exercise outdoors.
In Spain, where 23,000 people died, children have started playing outdoors again.
In the UK, where the death toll reached 20,000, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is now back at work. He is expected to announce plans for the easing of restrictions this week.
Dr Sutton made the point that Victoria’s gains are “hard won” and we don’t want the virus to get away from us as has happened in other countries. He’s right, but the countries where this has happened have very different infection profiles to us.
Victoria is also better protected than many other places, thanks to a $1.9 billion fund boosting protective equipment stocks, creating an additional 4000 intensive care beds and securing medical devices.
We’ve also placed more than 6000 travellers in quarantine.
Andrews says there’s no room for complacency. However, we are not a complacent bunch. We’re vigilant and we’re prepared.
The fact that the federal government’s controversial tracing app has been downloaded one million times in one day shows how vigilant we are.
But we’re also weary, anxious and desperate.
Most of us have been staying inside and dutifully following social distancing rules. In one 24-hour period on the weekend 59 fines were issued — not bad for a state of six million people.
Of course, any sudden outbreak could mean easing is wound back, but people are smart enough to understand this.
As Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt tells us, we’ve had 117 cases nationally in the past week from Sunday — an average increase in numbers of less than 1 per cent for more than two weeks now.
As at Monday morning, Australia’s number of coronavirus cases was 6711 — of which 5539 have recovered.
In other words, we’ve had a “sustained and consolidated and now extended flattening of
the curve”.
Victorians, like all Australians, have done the hard yards. We are now ready to come out the other side. We know things will be different. Life will be difficult.
Andrews led us at the start of this. He now needs to lead us out.
Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist
MORE SUSIE O’BRIEN
HOW WE CAN ALL LEARN LESSONS FROM LOCKDOWN