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Open the borders, no need for caution

The Queensland Government’s decision to delay the opening of state borders is beyond my comprehension.

Queensland police officers are seen operating a vehicle checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland-New South Wales border. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING
Queensland police officers are seen operating a vehicle checkpoint at Coolangatta on the Queensland-New South Wales border. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt) NO ARCHIVING

I CANNOT appreciate more the professional efforts of federal and local governments in formulating early measures to restrict COVID-19 deaths to 100 in this country.

However the Queensland government’s decision to delay the opening of state borders is beyond my comprehension.

Common sense surely indicates that these prolonged closures will eventually produce far more health casualties indirectly associated with COVID-19 than with it.

Not to mention the economic casualties.

Additionally comments made by Dr Jeanette Young, the chief health officer, has worried me.

Firstly, in defending the border closures she states that if only one person comes through infected this could have disastrous consequences.

While in the next breath stating this virus may never be eradicated.

So does that mean then the borders will be closed indefinitely?

Some weeks ago when the virus curve had flattened considerably she continually added the worrying statement that “this virus is going to get very much worse” to her announcements.

Which it never did.

I sincerely hope that pressures from all areas convince this government of the sheer over cautiousness of their stance.

ADRIAN RICHES, Buderim

Originally published as

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/queensland/sunshine-coast/opinion/open-the-borders-no-need-for-caution/news-story/186d0b0dc728b509a7e33e915995ca2b