We can’t wait to get back into it

The expectant, confident smiles of the Eaton family on the front of Friday’s paper as they headed to Aldinga Beach near Adelaide to camp captured the mood of much of the nation this weekend. Saturday and Sunday mark our transition weekend. Beer is flowing in pubs; cafes and restaurants are opening with 10 patrons dining in at a time in most states, as well as takeaway; golf balls are being driven down pristine fairways; coastal islands are stirring; shops are welcoming back customers; and worshippers are re-entering silent churches, 10 at a time. Families and friends are making up for lost weeks. Sitting on a park bench or on the grass has never felt like such a treat.

Big sport, such as the Olympics and Wimbledon, has been intermittently curtailed by war and catastrophe. But not since the earliest days of white settlement, Gideon Haigh writes in Inquirer, has Australia been so devoid of all sport as during the coronavirus response. Giant arenas, suburban ovals, bowling greens, local tennis courts, gyms and playgrounds have all been idle. Australians have missed one of their great solaces that brings them together like nothing else. Fans can hardly wait to watch the first AFL broadcasts, rugby league’s State of Origin in November and see incoming Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan overhaul his code. The anticipated return of little sport, which brings children together cheaply, happily and healthily, is sparking plenty of excitement. For many families, weekends without basketball, footy, netball and tennis have felt empty.

At least, and at last, we are on the way back. Normal life is unfolding on a smaller, quieter scale than in pre-virus days. The national mood is lifting. But the positive news comes with a critical caveat. COVID-19 remains potent and contagious. Until it is expunged or a vaccine is found, it is likely to become more of a threat as we relish the chance to be out and about again. Physical distancing becomes more important if a second wave of infections is to be avoided. If ever there is a time for downloading the COVIDSafe app in the interests of fellow Australians’ health, it is now. More than 5.7 million people have done so; if millions more do, its effectiveness will increase. As the economy and weekend fun spring back to life, tracking will be vital in stymieing the virus. A potential outbreak at a nursing home in North Rockhampton in central Queensland is a reminder of what is at stake.

Unwinding lockdown measures sooner than expected offers important hope for the 600,000 people who lost their jobs last month. Young people were hit especially hard, with youth unemployment rising to 13.8 per cent from 11.5 per cent. Another 489,900 people left the ­ labour force. The road back to life as it was before will be slow and rocky. Mortgages have been suspended and will need to be repaid; 830,000 people in financial hardship have accessed $6.3bn from their super savings. Millions of people are poorer.

Compared with most nations, Australians are in a good spot. New Yorkers and Londoners, for instance, have begun heading back to work on crowded trains, buses and pavements as hundreds are dying from COVID-19 nearby. That is not to suggest thousands of Australians are not doing it tough. As Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Friday, stress arising from health concerns, the loneliness of isolation, and anxiety about jobs, small businesses and finances have added to mental health challenges. The commitment of more resources to a sphere that was already in need of extra support before the pandemic will benefit those who have sought help and encourage others to come forward. As Australians transition step by step, good federal and state leadership and community-minded values that have brought us so far should stand the nation in good stead.