THE mandatory face mask rules announced by the Victorian government represent a substantial change in tack against the coronavirus in Australia.
In March, when cases first spiked on these shores, the national cabinet formed of the federal and state and territory leaders opted for responses that involved shutting down non-essential businesses, and restricting the movement of people.
The economic cost was enormous, but the draconian stay-at-home rules did their job, heading off infection rates that peaked, nationally, at 500 cases a day.
COVID GLOBALLY:
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Such provisions can only last so long before they send people stir-crazy, and send the country broke, so the various staged restrictions were steadily reversed - initially, it seemed, with little adverse effect.
For two months, from late April to late June, new infections stayed at manageable levels, with most cases being returned travellers or their near relatives.
Since then, however, the outbreaks in Victoria have sent shock waves through that state, and put the rest of the nation on an increasingly concerned footing.
Cases have begun to appear more frequently in NSW, as well, and it may be that we, too, will be forced to take the sorts of measures now being introduced in Victoria.
In the meantime, we will all watch and see whether the wearing of face-masks has the impact the Victorian government and its advisers hope will be the case.
Perhaps because of difficulties in obtaining sufficient quantities, the government is not insisting on medical-grade masks.
Instead, the intent seems to be that anything is better than nothing when it comes to protection.
This has positive effects, in that it provides a constant reminder of the pervasive nature of the coronavirus.
On the other hand, the mask could provide a false sense of security, especially if it does not contain a layer of medical grade N95 filter.
Globally, the COVID-19 death toll has passed 600,000 from 14.3 million confirmed cases, with the infection rate accelerating noticeably.
The United States is still the worst hit country with 140,000 deaths from 3.7 million cases, and still setting daily records.
In Australia, more than 3500 of our 11,800 cases remain active, and the death toll has reached 122.
If there's a saving grace at this stage, it's that 70 other countries have things worse than we do.
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