Let's revert to Crocodile Dundee times, when being as ocker as possible was a virtue. If Mick Dundee was asked if he understood NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's lockdown announcement today, you suspect the answer would be: "Yeah (long pause, then with a scrunched up, quizzical face) ... but nah."
There were changes for the nation's most populous state, but those changes won't impact all the people until most of people are double vaccinated. Confused, yup, me too.
Essentially, the raft of freedoms Ms Berejiklian floated today are the ones double vaccinated NSW residents will enjoy from the Monday after the state reaches the 70 per cent double dose target. On current forecasts, NSW will reach that high water mark about mid-October.
When NSW hits the 80 per cent double dose target, more freedoms around international travel, community sport, major events will be revealed.
And with another 100,000-plus people being vaccinated yesterday, it all sounds (sort of) positive. That was, of course, before the 1405 positive cases, 202 people in ICU and five deaths were mentioned.
Anyway, soon some people will be able to have their nails done.
It means a semblance of social interaction can restart - with all the necessary COVID protocols in place - and on RUOK Day, let's count that as a win (though possibly it's also another plank in the 'carrot and syringe strategy' mentioned yesterday).
Also on the mixed blessing front is the news that some NSW regions will emerge from lockdown this weekend. These are the areas that miss out.
It's a similar situation in most of regional Victoria, too, where new rules apply from 11.59pm tonight. For some businesses, the much-anticipated announcement came as a disappointment as the restrictions would make reopening financially unfeasible.
In the ACT, an outbreak continues to roll on though not as dramatically as the other states, the government has said it will not make significant changes to public health measures until everyone had been offered the opportunity to be vaccinated.
Canberra's lockdown is scheduled last until September 17, but the high number of cases infectious in the community may mean it could be extended.
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