The light is at the end of the tunnel, and it looks at last like
it might be sunlight and not a steam train...
After four months, it looks like all areas will be out of
lockdown soon. After the identification of the Delta variant
of the Coronavirus in a limousine driver on 16 June (the Bondi
Cluster), the pandemic has spread far and wide.
Stay at home orders were issued for areas of Greater Sydney on 3
July, and these spread to affect the whole city, from the Central
Coast to the Illawarra/Shellharbour and out to the Blue
Mountains.
"Areas of concern" were identified, incurring more stringent
restrictions, and questions were asked about who could continue
working.
At the zenith of this outbreak, approximately 60% of Australia's
population and GDP was from areas affected by lockdowns.
Concerns about further hotspots led to police and military
personnel walking the streets to enforce curfews.
Since the pandemic began last year, Australia has recorded
149,398 cases, with 1,577 people unfortunately passing
away.
The crisis has driven a strong push for vaccinations, and
Australians have responded (though not always voluntarily), and
we're now nearing levels of coverage that should see the population
protected.
Australia now has 85.5% of the population (17,622,159) over 16
with at least one dose of a vaccine, while 70.0% of the same cohort
(14,435,341) is double-vaccinated:
|
Jurisdiction
|
1st dose
|
2nd dose
|
|
ACT
|
>95%
|
82.8%
|
|
NSW
|
92.5%
|
82.3%
|
|
TAS
|
85.1%
|
70.0%
|
|
VIC
|
89.2%
|
69.3%
|
|
SA
|
77.2%
|
60.0%
|
|
NT
|
71.7%
|
59.8%
|
|
QLD
|
73.2%
|
58.1%
|
|
WA
|
74.3%
|
57.0%
|
Unfortunately, the restrictions also drove protests, as citizens
resented the restrictions on their personal freedoms, and legal
challenges have been posed against mandatory
vaccinations.
As time goes on, we will no doubt find out what the less
reported impacts of the restrictions have been, and how it may have
affected the economy, employment, personal relationships, and
mental health.
For those affected by the current restrictions, a COVID-19 disaster
payment is available to help workers unable to earn income due
to public health orders, and the Federal, state, and territory
governments have all announced assistance
packages for those affected.
And, if you have been struggling, please reach out to services
such as Beyond
Blue or the Black Dog
Institute for help.
Like everyone, we hope that we all return to a state of
normality before Christmas, and that we can reunite with friends,
family, and colleagues.
Fingers crossed that it happens faster than we
anticipated.
Details of the current restrictions in each state and territory
are outlined below: