Snap lockdown was the slap in the face reality check all Territorians needed

THE snap lockdown had to happen. It’s the reason we’re allowed out of our homes today

• FREEDOM AT LAST: Lockdowns lifted after Territory’s dance with Delta brought under control
• WE’VE REOPENED FOR BUSINESS: Full details of all the restrictions still in place

THE snap lockdown had to happen.

It’s the reason we’re allowed out of our homes today.

It was also a lesson in never becoming complacent about coronavirus.

But it was the lockdown Territorians never thought would happen … it crept up and slapped us in the face.

Last Saturday’s announcement of the NT’s first case outside of repatriation flights this year was a shock.

But the snap, 48-hour lockdown the next day, which was then extended for another 72 hours, was a reality check.

Our government, health professionals, industry and locals can do everything in their power to prevent coronavirus from shutting down our Territory but we’ll never be foolproof.

This case slipped through Queensland’s bungled hotel quarantine program.

Just like the NT government traps arrivals mid-flight when calling a hotspot, authorities locked up Top End Territorians within hours.

But it meant five days later, we were back out in the open enjoying beers at the pub.

It gave people, who could potentially have been infected with the highly infectious Delta variant, little chance to escape the lockdown or move around.

OTHER DENISE CAHILL OPINIONS

Staggering number of people are ignoring paid parking rules across City of Darwin

Mental health patients are not a ‘burden’ on our health system, they’re fellow Territorians who need our help

Compared to our Southern cousins, Territorians have been able to travel throughout their own backyard freely and largely interstate.

Since reopening borders in July last year, the Territory has locked out Southerners on and off.

Last week, we were in the unusual situation where they all locked us out.

The days in lockdown were like Groundhog Day that started with the daily anticipation of Chief Minister Michael Gunner’s press conference.

Would there be cases? Are there more exposure sites? Who needs to get tested? When will the lockdown end?

There’s been many learnings from the days in lockdown, here’s a few.

Mr Gunner is always late to a press conference if it’s bad news.

He kept the media and the public waiting for agonising minutes each day when there were more cases and extra exposure sights. But when an early or snap press conference was called it was to deliver even worse news ie the Alice Springs lockdown. .

Territorians love to get swabbed.

No matter how many times Mr Gunner, Chief Health Office Hugh Heggie or Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker emphasised that only casual contacts should be queuing at the Marrara drive through testing facility … every second Territorian scrambled to join the long line of cars.

Drivers lineup for covid testing in their cars at Marrara Sport Complex on June 30, 2021.

Panic buying.

A favourite pastime of every Australian that’s ever gone in to lockdown. Supermarkets and bottle shops remain open but there’s a weird obsession to par take in this shopping frenzy in the hours before lockdown.

The Opposition retreat.

While the CLP criticises the Labor government on their policies and actions daily, they remain in the background during crucial Covid-19 times … because it’s the right thing to do.

Exposure sites are revealing.

Exposure sights follow stereotypes. Someone who visits the Buff Club is a smoker who buys their durries from a corner store. A Zumba participant shops at Rockmans.

Never ask a Victorian how to survive a 5-day lockdown.

Five days under stay-at-home orders was hard. Hats off to all those Victorians who endured months of tight restrictions. Never contact Victorian friends and family during a short lockdown and complain. They’ll probably unfriend you on Facebook.

Denise Cahill is the Head of News at the NT News

Follow @DeniseCahill18