I do fear the worst from this. I know there wil be a mutiny if things don’t ease, but with cases exploding around the world, and a regional outbreak when ONE person did the wrong thing...
I’d rather the government properly support ALL the businesses that are doomed from the lockdown and keep things locked down a bit longer. My mate is in an industry that has been banned from operating for months, no government support available to him and family, and no end in sight. Most of his colleagues have already gone under. He’s about to.
Agreed to an extent on the Shepparton outbreak but I also think it shows us that without an absolute 100% lockdown with no exceptions and no "permitted workers" etc - which is clearly never going to happen - then there will always be incidence of spot fires and outbreaks as people move around subject to exemptions/conditions, and it will continue to be the response to those which is most important going forward. Dan stood up and said that the 400 people in isolation in Shepparton was an example of why we can't ease restrictions yet, but actually that says to me that maybe they've finally got their outbreak response and contact tracing to a place where it is up to the task at hand.
At the same time, I also know that my perspective has shifted significantly. I've been largely supportive of Dan and the actions they've taken, but it's weighing heavily and the fact that the "road map" which was always incredibly conservative has proven to be less accurate even than Dad's internal compass on a driving holiday is a lot to bear.
We've now been unable to move more than 5km from home for 100 days, unable to visit friends or family, etc. My productivity and motivation for work has hit rock bottom the past few weeks and the thing I need most mentally - to be able to go to the forest and ride my MTB - looks like it will still be out of reach. I'm in a much better position than so many others through this - still have a job, have a comfortable home environment, don't live alone etc - but fuck me I actually feel
physically pained by the current situation and the constantly shifting goal posts.