Editorial: There is no time for complacency in the battle to beat coronavirus

EDITORIAL: The restrictions being imposed to halt the spread of coronavirus are taking their toll – it’s not in our nature to sit still or to be fenced in.

WITH each day that passes, another range of restrictions are handed down by state and federal governments and the impacts of the coronavirus crisis hit home that bit harder.

There are a great many folk who called for a full lockdown from the get-go, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the country’s premiers foreshadowed that increasing measures over a period of time was the way to go.

Politicians knew that in a great many cases, those calling for a complete lockdown didn’t understand what that would really mean for people.

And that’s because it’s impossible to comprehend or imagine what it’s like until you are actually living it.

We’re not even in full lockdown yet, but there is no denying the measures are taking their toll.

HOSPITAL, NURSING HOME VISITS BANNED

People are happy to try to do the right thing and stay at home — until it impacts something they hold dear.

It might be the morning surf trips, a catch-up with mates, your annual family Easter weekend away at the shack. These might seem like trivial luxuries, but make no mistake: giving them up feels like a sacrifice at best and, at worst, can impact mental health.

Then there are those who are separated from families either on the mainland or overseas, those who have lost jobs and those who, as of yesterday, are no longer able to visit loved ones in hospitals or aged care homes.

There are some compassionate exceptions, of course, but the measures are undoubtedly distressing for many families. It’s important to acknowledge that no matter how big or small the sacrifice, some of the things that really matter to you are being taken away.

And that’s hard.

It’s not in our nature to sit still or to be fenced in. We’re social creatures, and no matter how much the digital age has transformed the way we communicate, this period of hibernation has proven that our DNA demands physical contact and face-to-face social interactions. But it is important to stay mindful that all of these measures are temporary.

The government’s modelling shows that the curve in Australia is flattening.

Experts share projections to give people hope — but they also come served with a stark warning that now is not the time to become complacent.

We need to acknowledge that the regulations are hard to cop and that we’re all guilty sometimes of thinking being affected by COVID-19 is something that will never happen to us or, if it does, assuming we would bounce quickly back from a bout.

But we need to be disciplined and stop ourselves from being so shortsighted.

If you haven’t done so yet, plan your Easter weekend at home.

Get local produce delivered, create games, time and space with your family. Connect with relatives online and make this hibernation period special.

At least acknowledge that there will be a time in the near future where this will all be a distant memory, and you will be once again let loose to appreciate all those freedoms that just a few weeks ago we largely took for granted.