FOR anyone tempted by the romantic notion that the COVID-19 pandemic was concluding, Thursday was a wake-up call about the lurking dangers the pandemic continues to pose.
The state's leaders were sent into isolation after a positive test for NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall. The daily data that has become both a fact of life and more confusing as cases refuse to comply with the 8pm cut-off tallied another 11 new locally acquired infections.
While no cases have been discovered in our region, Business Hunter said the ripples were clear for tourism and hospitality operators less than 24 hours after the outbreak came into force. Rapid movement on border arrangements with Tasmania, WA and South Australia had no doubt rattled many plans while Queensland chief health officer Jeanette Young on Thursday urged people from that state to avoid travel "to any part of NSW". With school holidays about to begin, the timing of outbreaks has again proven it can deliver maximum inconvenience.
It can be difficult to remember, but inconvenience is far from the worst potential symptom in this pandemic that has claimed millions of lives globally. Despite our frustrations, we must remember that Australia has a charmed status compared to much of the world in terms of case numbers.
That said, frustration is certainly understandable. Other nations have raced ahead in their vaccine rollouts while the federal government's program has languished, offered no help by changes to the AstraZeneca vaccine recommendations that now indicate it will have reached all those urged to take it by October. Prime Minister Scott Morrison reminded the public this week that the idea of a vaccine a year ago was "science fiction", but it remains a shame that the federal effort to put those vaccines into the community has failed to reach the same dizzying heights that medical researchers did.
Governments who stay open are risking lives, critics crow, and those who lock down are despots. Striking a balance has been key, but fast-moving factors make it far easier to say than to do.The truth is that until vaccination can deliver a shield to many or most, complacency remains the biggest temptation and risk. Besides the obvious health results, vaccination offers stability in forward planning that may benefit the economy more than staccato re-openings ever could. For now we can but watch, wait and wear a mask.
