WHEN the Newcastle lockdown was announced I knew what to expect when I went for my usually quiet afternoon shop. Denuded shelves, people everywhere, every checkout in operation, as though this was going to be the last shopping day until Christmas. Of course, the shops were going to be open the next day, as they will be for every other day no matter how long the lockdown lasts. Next day, everything went back to normal. A famous American politician once told a newly-elected congressman never overestimate the intelligence of the majority of your constituents. This proves it but if you need any further proof watch the posts on Facebook or Twitter, or listen to talkback radio.
Jan Phillip Trevillian, Fennell Bay
Take the first life raft available
VARIOUS responses from people with political views, certainly know how to kick a man when he is down, or attack when under pressure. For the record, Scott Morrison stepped up and ordered more vaccines than required from various drug companies before their vaccines were available.
Is he responsible for delivery, or if places in more need received our allocation? As for distribution, this is up to the state health department, thus the Premier.
As for the desire for the Pfizer vaccination, because of a slight variation in claimed immunity, the fault, or waiting time, is the individual's responsibility, not someone who offered a choice that was available, but refused. When the ship is sinking, one doesn't refuse the first life raft, because a better one may be available, nor is the ship's captain responsible for the decision. The same applies to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Carl Stevenson, Dora Creek
Party vibe not a confident one
I THOUGHT our Premier would have preferred the virus not to spread to the regions; but her statement that she refused to put a steel ring round Sydney has meant that regional areas like the Newcastle/Maitland/Morpeth area are now in lockdown after almost a year of no infections. The stark fact is that some person from an infected area seemingly decided a beach party in Newcastle was just what was needed, never mind the rules. On top of that has been the complete mismanagement and confusion of the vaccine rollout. I have no confidence in our state or federal leaders anymore.
Jan Garnsey, Morpeth
No masking facts of the cases
THE Australian Statistician reported in 2017 1255 deaths from influenza and pneumonia, which converts to 3.9 deaths in 100,000 cases. In 2020, with COVID's advent, use of masks and workers staying home when sick, the death rate from flu was four times lower. This indicator tends to suggest some positive effects from these measures.
Mortality rates in 2010 were 2373 deaths, 2014 was 2879, and 2019 recorded 4124 deaths. Figures statistically vary on the severity of the flu. Governments putting the case for vaccination tend to agree we need to greatly improve our compliance numbers. This relies on systems that actually work.
The predicted 1000 deaths a year from COVID after meeting the target for immunisation sounds terrible, but we all have lived with flus and their effects for generations. COVID is to us as measles was to First Nations Aussies; a lack of immunity made death rates extraordinary.
Reporting breaches of lockdown to Crime Stoppers does not work. The system is overworked and unable to cope with the volume of calls. Hotel quarantine has been proven faulty. Government "purpose built" complexes will cost much and line some people's pockets, giving us some sort of facilities that may or may not work. These facilities are readily available in all states. Unused military bases with bathrooms, external windows allowing air conditioning units when needed.
Bases also have built in security gates. Hospitals that have been mothballed are also waiting for a short, sharp revamp. Maitland has a new hospital nearing completion, the old one to be closed. We want our politicians to get off the fences they sit on before they do us more injury. Look to verifiable information sources and choose. This is not going away.
Lyn Rendle, Rankin Park
Belmont fix may bypass us
BELMONT, as a traffic choke point during peak hours will only get worse in the near future. Belmont definitely needs an eastern bypass, ("Belmont will need a bypass and we can prepare for it", Weekender 7/8).
A 14 km-long freeway will need to be constructed from the end of the Inner City Bypass at Bennetts Green to connect with the four-lane highway near Swansea roundabout. But this will be an expensive piece of road since it will need to include a raised viaduct through Belmont Wetlands State Park and a traffic tunnel under Swansea Channel and Swansea, as well as various cloverleaf traffic interchanges.
Since government funding is unlikely to be forthcoming, the current generation of motorists will need to put up with Belmont traffic jams. Our only hope is if the NSW electorate of Swansea and the federal electorate of Shortland become marginal.
Geoff Black, Caves Beach
Immunity is incentive enough
REG Howes (Letters, 7/8), I'm not sure if you were listening to Albo with his $300 vax payment. It said that those who get the vax are eligible for the payment. You say that some of the disadvantaged in our society could use the money to go get injected. The payment comes after the needle.
I am against any incentive for this or any government. incentive as we all need to be vaccinated to keep ourselves and our community safe. Peter Costello tried incentive with the population growth. Remember the slogan 'One for mum, one for dad and one for the country'? That didn't go well. You shouldn't need a carrot to get vaccinated.
Greg Lowe, New Lambton
Sweden's numbers are notable
IN response to Glen Wilson, personal apologies by Sweden's king and Prime Minister were just emotions and not scientific facts. The latest death rate in Sweden was zero (7 day average of 1).
Sweden has for 18 months declined having lockdowns, compulsory mask-wearing and other draconian restrictions imposed on their population, unlike in Australia where it has become routinely imposed by state premiers. Despite that the COVID death rate and infection rate in Sweden has compared very favourably to other European states. Death rates in Italy, Belgium, France, UK, and Germany have been much worse. Sweden's death rate may look high compared to neighbouring Scandinavian countries, but Sweden has a larger population that is more urbanised and more industrialised than Norway, Denmark, or Finland and has more immigrant workers than those states - all factors that aid viral spread. So, given these facts, there is a need to take further notice of Sweden's approach to COVID-19.
Peter Devey, Merewether
SHORT TAKES
THIS state government's failure once again to prevent locked down people in Sydney from traveling out of lockdown is now slowly seeing areas of our state going into lockdowns. Business people, and us the affected citizens, must surely now acknowledge the cause and who is responsible for the situation we outside of Sydney now find ourselves in. Taking Hunter people's vaccine shots back to favour Sydneyites is an abomination on the Hunter and hopefully adds another black mark to the list come election time.
Gary Hayward, Cardiff
I'M going to do as the government has directed. I'll stay at home, I'll work if I'm lucky enough to have an essential job and also not kiss and hug Mum and Dad. I will also exercise and participate in safe sports; surfing, walking with coffees and swimming. What is the definition of lockdown?
Bryn Roberts, New Lambton
REALLY valid points were made by Stuart Carter from Munibung Hill Conservation Society, ("Wildlife overpass for Hillsborough Rd", Topics, 6/8), when discussing the importance of a wildlife overpass for the upgrade planned for Hillsborough Road. Let's all get behind this idea and help preserve what wildlife exists on either side of this very busy road.
Adrienne Roberts, Kahibah
CLOSE all entry points to the Hunter/Newcastle regions. The only way that we in the Hunter can remain safe is to prevent inconsiderate COVID-ridden carriers entering our region, by having roads choked off and people from Sydney hotspots turned back and fined. We are being unfairly exposed to this virus and we have been neglected when it comes to being able to be immunised when vaccine doses were redirected to the exact area that these party goers came from, choking the flow of idiots now.
Graeme Kime, Cameron Park
IN light of a 26-year-old being charged with the rape of Brittany Higgins ('26yo charged with Parliament House rape', Newcastle Herald 7/8), the Morrison government has since agreed to offer voluntary one hour training sessions on respectful workplaces for politicians and their staff. Really? What has Australia come to that our highest members of government and society need lessons on respect and how to treat women
Debra Forbes, Wickham
INSTEAD of using the letters page of this newspaper to criticise Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the ruling political party over the manner in which they are handling the coronavirus pandemic and the supply of vaccines, I challenge all the critics to use their letters to outline what they would do to help the community given the opportunity.
Ian Stewart, Elermore Vale
RIGHTO, Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian, I've had my two rabies shots, now I want my freedom back. My hair is gone, my footy team (The Toothless Wests Tigers) are gone, my tab account is gone. I need my freedom before I drown in vodka shots. Freedom is the tonic; freedom to have a few gin and tonics with my mates, the celebrities, at my local.
