The travails of living with the pandemic

I wonder if Dominic Perrottet ever gave serious thought to the short-, medium- and long-term consequences of his gung-ho “let it rip” approach to releasing Omicron back in December? In the short term, we now have a crisis in hospitals in all the eastern states and a fear-imposed lockdown in NSW, which has killed off the recovery of restaurants and hospitality; exactly the opposite of what he claimed were his intentions.

In the medium term we will be living with the virus for most of 2022, because whilst cases may decline in February and March, they will inevitably rise again as we enter winter and flu returns.

In the longer term, if people in NSW vote against the Liberal brand in May, Scott Morrison could lose the election and Australia will then be subject to four years of Labor government, which will completely change the direction this nation takes on everything from social welfare to climate change.

John Clark, Burradoo, NSW

Premier Mark McGowan laid it on the line when he said: “If we proceeded with the original plan, we would be deliberately seeding thousands upon thousands of Covid cases into WA and at this point in time that is not what I am going to do.”

The business reaction to his decision is appalling if you read between the lines. Essentially, business is saying that their continued trading and profits are more important than the deaths of their customers. We Queenslanders should know; it’s what has been done to us.

Tony Young, Blackbutt North, Qld

The Labor premiers have been the slowest learners during this pandemic. Mark McGowan is about to learn, like Dan Andrews, that this virus cannot be “crushed”.

It appears his greatest fear in providing a fortress from the rest of Australia is not so much in protecting his citizens but having the awareness that he does not have hospital space or facilities to cope with an outbreak of any size. A “sandgroper” burying his head in the sand to escape the inevitable will not protect his bullied constituents.

Mary-Anne Higgins, Rose Park, SA

Mark McGowan stating that there is insufficient evidence to make an informed decision on opening the WA border is simply untrue. There has never been a virus with more data gathered in human history. An unbelievably cruel decision to so many WA families and businesses. Who will help us in the west?

Hamish Rose, Subiaco, WA

Mark McGowan of WA with his backtracking on the February 5 border opening shows he is a one-trick pony with not an iota of compassion or concern for his tourist industry or those who have been stopped from visiting family for over a year. Even those calling him “daddy” may turn on him if his strategy results in no AFL home games and the two local teams having to be greatly disadvantaged by staying interstate.

Tony Nicod, Collaroy, NSW

Our WA Premier has advised that we will have just over 500 new hospital beds by the end of 2022. In October 2020 in Wuhan, the Chinese built a 1000-bed, fully equipped two-storey hospital in one week. Wake up, West Australians; hold this McGowan government to account.

Bruce Stewart, Jane Brook, WA

We used to be much more patient, stoic and uncomplaining. We queued for everything, our food was rationed, buses and trains arrived once hourly and, more recently, we’d doggedly queue up for bread and petrol.

Now, we demand 25 million RATs be supplied on the dot, regardless. What’s more, even though they’re largely becoming our own personal safety blanket, we certainly don’t want to pay for them.

Rosemary O’Brien, Ashfield, NSW

I took my two grandchildren, aged 6 and 9, to the Australian Institute of Sport immunisation clinic for their Covid-19 vaccination, after which they were offered a sugary lolly as a reward.

We were grateful – but it struck me as a missed opportunity. Are there any vaccination venues around Australia offering the 5-11-year-old children a reward of fresh fruit instead? This simple action could encourage their mouldable young minds to adopt healthy eating habits, thus increasing their chances of gaining further “immunity” from other diseases – including diabetes.

Jorge Gapella, Kaleen, ACT