Covid Bingo

 Image : Reddit

Doesn't seem to matter where you are in the world at the moment, we get up every morning and play Covid bingo and then it is a lottery as to whether you get it or not. The cognitive dissonance is strong. When have we ever let a lethal virus run riot? When have people just plain ignored health information because they want to be "normal". When was covid informed we have had enough and it's time just to get on with life?

Today, in South Australia, we hit over 30, 000 cases. When the borders opened November 23rd 2021 we had no cases and the odd breakout we controlled. If you look at the very extensive health information on our Australian government health site the 20s and 30s are driving the infections in Australia but the 60+ age group are sacrificing their lives. We are using young people to carry the virus to older people so they die. Nice. We are also using that age group to infect unvaccinated under 5s who are getting the virus. We keep schools open so the not properly vaccinated children can bring the virus home and so schools are like super spreader venues where teachers and families can get covid. Is that what we are doing?

Harsh. Yes. Very harsh. it is a really unpleasant, unbelievable set of circumstances. Every morning we get up and struggle with it. Where is the sense? The logic?  I understand we had all those freedom fighters protesting their rights and people were banging on about opening the borders and  having one Australia. I understand politicians were receiving vile threats to themselves and their families. I understand politicians  said one thing and people wanted another then they got the other and still the politicians were wrong. Open the borders, shut the borders, turn the borders over. Wear the masks , don't wear the masks. Stay at home, don't stay at home. Always you have to come back to what works : masking, ventilation, social distancing, sanitising and washing hands. SA Health puts good information up on Facebook and in Facebook stories every day. Instagram puts up Covid safe information all the time. 30, 000 plus cases tells me we are not listening. Supermarket shopping, yes. The shops are always busy.  Listening , no. We have a population of 1.7 million . Victoria has a population of around 6 million and has 56, 000 plus cases. We are getting it wrong. 

Some think it is all over because they can't do this bingo everyday. Have the kids got it? Do they go to school or not? Have I got it? Can I go to work? Is the RAT showing negative right or wrong? I don't want it, do I have to stay home again. What? They were vaccinated and are in ICU? The confusion and complexity is rife. People can't necessarily get in to see a doctor. They can't necessarily get an ambulance. The world is unsafe and we are on our own. The information is there but not percolating through the population and then there are those who are just plain making it worse. 

It is currently a bit of a free for all and the only way through is to keep a level head and consult solid information. You then end up hoping the health resources will be there. Are they? This is not managing a pandemic. Living with covid is horrible. 

South Australia has a new Premier

 

South Australia elected a new premier resoundingly yesterday and Peter Malinauskas gave a heartening speech. He is fit, enthusiastic, capable and his deputy, Susan Close, is very competent and a good communicator. There was a big swing to Labor so the message was clear. Many are offering opinions today as to why the Liberals were not reinstalled. There are no quick, easy answers. It has been a mood which crystallised on 23rd November when our borders were opened and has only grown for all sorts of different reasons. I can offer a few:

• Opening the borders before we had had boosters and our children were vaccinated meant many were quarantining during Christmas. Omicron was increasing. People were getting sick. Those without boosters went into voluntary isolation. It hit businesses and families hard . At the time we had done well and were safe. We had had four deaths the whole pandemic. We now have 231. These people and families have been so hurt. Trying to see how effective vaccines are is probably something which needs to be done, but not before everyone has had a chance to be properly vaccinated. It puts vulnerable and little children unduly at risk.
• Liberal decisions meant retail workers had public holidays and penalty rates removed. We are the only state which does not let them have public holidays. 
• Creating a nuclear waste site at Kimba has angered so many because we had formally made it clear as a state we didn't want one. 
• Liberal politicians were resigning because of state ICAC and the minority government had become weakened. Our parliament hasn't been running very well recently.
• Prior to 23rd November 2021 our covid management team of Professor Nicola Spurrier , Chief Commissioner Grant Stevens and Premier Steven Marshall were doing a great job of clear messaging, good decisions and creating safe practices to keep us secure. When the borders opened it has been difficult, garbled messaging, unpleasant and our safety has been threatened. Some of it was addressed but the ambulance ramping and deaths because no ambulances arrived on time have exacerbated the situation. There is a lack of consistency around pandemic management we really do not like. 
• Privatising public transport has been extremely unpopular.

There are other reasons. Mr. Marshall wasn't really himself. We had all respected him during the beginning of the pandemic but he seemed more to be broadcasting federal talking points in recent months. His concession speech last night was him, who he usually is. He gave a dignified, measured speech. We wish him well and know he will find a happier position to be in in South Australia. 

As it stands, we have what we need right now. Mr. Malinauskas is committed to and knowledgeable about health matters. Our crisis centres on that. He is committed to children and the future. Our worries are about that. He wants people to be who they are and find a good place in our state. We need that. We need strong, enthusiastic leadership which is about our health and wellbeing.