Why lockdown lunacy is not a long-term Covid solution

Janet Albrechtsen’s article (“Victorians hostage to politics of fear”, 17/2) paints a bleak picture of how fear can be used to condition the targeted population into the willing acceptance of an untruth. The willingness of many Victorians, and Melburnians in particular, to unconditionally accept snap lockdowns as essential to their wellbeing is an indication of how easily this can happen. It is also an indication of how well versed Daniel Andrews is in the use of fear as an election-winning tool.

Elizabeth Todd, St Ives, NSW

I disagree with Janet Albrechtsen on one point. Daniel Andrews’ disproportionate lockdowns expose his manifest incompetence rather than hide it. Just ask the florists and restaurateurs who lost millions because of his latest quarantine bungle — another lockdown all because he didn’t implement the recommendations of his own inquiry, preferring instead his 90-minute spin sessions at his staged media conferences rather than doing his real job.

Jan Kendall, Mount Martha, Vic

I feel that the Victorian government has received a lot of very unfair criticism. I am prepared to concede that Victoria’s contact tracing and the state’s general governance are seriously substandard. But where Victoria does excel, and where it most certainly leaves all the other states way behind, is in the sphere of progressive, woke, fashionable thinking. We win hands down.

Dennis Walker, North Melbourne, Vic

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan’s faint-hearted response to COVID-19 has got way out of hand. Even if lockdown was needed due to the security guard infection, there was no valid reason for shutting down our schools. Restricting numbers at sporting events, funerals and other hospitality functions was debatable, but I would be very surprised if our Premier has the authority to ban marriages. The mere fact McGowan thinks he had the right to take such action is very concerning.

The lockdowns have had a huge impact on commerce, causing the loss of careers and the bankrupting of businesses, amplified by the mental stress and loss of confidence engendered by McGowan’s penchant for shutting down at the drop of a hat.

Bruce Harvey, Moorine Rock, WA

I appreciate the desire of Ian McKeown (Letters, 17/2) to isolate and thus protect (maybe) Australians living on this island continent from COVID-19. However, we do have an obligation to our fellow citizens who are for whatever reason living overseas and wish or need to return to their home country. These citizens should have priority over any other potential incoming people (read tennis players, celebrities and actors).

Ros Tooker, Bald Knob, Qld

Ian McKeown advocates that we should close our borders completely because of the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and economic disruption. He also writes that the government governs the majority of the population, which apparently consists of those lucky enough to remain on this isolated island, and not Australian citizens abroad. He has not thought this through. Overseas travel is already banned and there are 40,000 stranded Australian citizens anxious to come back, many with heartbreaking stories. Are we supposed to turn our backs on our fellow citizens because of stupid mistakes made in quarantine, and because of fear and panic? How long would the suggested closure last? One year? Two years? Meanwhile, we become a hermit state completely cut off from the world, losing economic and trade opportunities and highly skilled expats who want to come back to their homeland with ambitions and entrepreneurial ideas.

Lisa Sanderson, Surfers Paradise, Qld

The report that previous sufferers from COVID in China no longer have antibodies to the disease after a year is revealing (“First to be infected no longer protected”, 17/2). This suggests to me that we are going to need annual vaccinations — maybe two — not to eliminate the problem but just to prevent serious complications as the pandemic will be going on worldwide for the foreseeable future. We will also still be needing the usual annual flu injection. We are looking at something of a logistical nightmare.

Dr A. Ian Wilson, Kings Park. SA