Coronavirus Australia: Why you need to maintain social distancing

As Victoria’s virus outbreak spreads across Australia, many people are looking for someone to blame – but the truth could be awkward.

Greeting people with an elbow tap seems a thing of the past as more and more return to hugging and even kissing.

But people are being warned not to become lax with social distancing measures, as NSW looks to be following Victoria’s lead with worsening outbreaks.

With many thinking their state was in the clear, recording little or no coronavirus cases, and restrictions being lifted, Australians have returned to congregating and touching.

What’s been dubbed “social distancing fatigue” has now become a real problem as the worldwide pandemic continues and Australia sees a return in cases.

“It was always a risk,” Professor Catherine Bennett, chair in Epidemiology at Deakin University, said.

“I think we’ve seen what people are calling social distancing fatigue.

“There’s still a lot doing the right thing but it doesn’t take many to relax their guard to get this local transmission.”

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Who could forget packed Bondi Beach back in March when people were hugging even as the pandemic took hold. Picture: Adam Yip

Professor Bennett said this was evidenced in Victoria where there had been outbreaks within families who were in close contact.

She said preventing the virus’ spread relied on how venues that were now open practised hygiene precautions and officials would now be looking at making sure everything was running as it should.

“Those precautions might have to tighten further,” she said.

“Clearly something has gone wrong, but it’s not explosive (in NSW) yet.”

People were even still hugging in April. Picture: James Gourley

Professor Bennett said hopefully the 11 contacts who had contracted the virus from those who had been at the Crossroads Hotel in the outbreak at Casula were not found to have then spread the virus on themselves.

“It gets very hard to stay on top of it,” she said.

“The two things now that are going to make the difference is firstly testing, timing and co-operating, but fundamentally keeping up the personal distance, sneeze watching and hand washing.”

And even now people still aren’t getting the message, crowding at Sydney’s Golden Sheaf Hotel.

She said having the COVIDSafe app activated was also important.

An ABS survey has shown a drop off in social distancing over the past two months.

About 70 per cent of people are avoiding using public transport compared to about 85 at the start of May.

About 65 per cent said they were avoiding gatherings late last month, compared to nearly 80 per cent early May.

There has been an increase, however, in people disinfecting surfaces before using them.

Sydney psychotherapist Dipak Jilka said hygiene measures were taking their toll on people.

“Before the pandemic, we all had a routine in our life,” he told SBS.

“We were accustomed to it. But now, due to the lockdown and the social distancing, we have to break that routine and follow a new set of rules.

“This is not only overwhelming but also taxing for some of us.”

Infectious diseases expert Professor Raina MacIntyre said fatigue was a luxury for good times and this was a “matter of life and death”.