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Virus lockdown in Australia's second-largest city extended by a week

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Lockdowns are clearly working. and saving countless lives. Keeping to less than 100 infections is critical. and preventing even 1 death is a victory.

People who are bemoaning lost income or lost businesses or the strain of being kept at home are just not with the programme.

-15 ( +7 / -22 )

"The outbreak is believed to have begun when a traveller infected with the Kappa variant, which originated in India, returned to Australia."

Good for those ultra sensitive Indians who were complaining about calling it the Indian variant that the WHO came up with a politically correct name. I had to look up what Kappa variant refers to, since I had thought that it was the Delta variant which was found in India. It seems that B.1.617.1 is Kappa and B.1.617.2 is Delta.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

People who are bemoaning lost income or lost businesses or the strain of being kept at home are just not with the programme.

Some people think that a certain number of deaths is acceptable to prevent hampering business.

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

The Melbourne model is complete eradication. Other countries do it differently such as Japan which often has more daily deaths, let alone daily cases than the total 60 cumulative cases Melbourne has has had from this outbreak

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Indeed. I think less than 100 infections and just 1 death in this latest outbreak. They should stay locked down until the end of June. Seems like an entirely proportionate response.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is completely unsustainable and will result in more deaths from the destruction of the economy

Um, the Australian economy is thriving mate. It was one of the fastest in the world to rebound. Even though Victoria had a 4-month lockdown last year.

Why would the economy suddenly crash now, when it's done fine until now?

Not big on fact-checking yourself, are you.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Strangerland

A year ago you many would have agreed

Now it seems stupid to consistently lockdown

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

A year ago you many would have agreed

With what?

Now it seems stupid to consistently lockdown

I don't think you actually known anyone in Melbourne. The Aussies have been living a normal, mask-free life, with their pubs on the weekends, mask free, for pretty much this whole pandemic. You act like this lockdown is unpopular with the people or something. If you knew Aussies, you would know that's a very American projection on the Aussies; they are supportive of these measures as a means to allow them to quickly return back to normal life. Aussies don't mind a bit of effort for the greater good. They're a proud people, proud of their nation, and their isolation has in turn bred a sense of togetherness people in American could never comprehend.

Not that I'm saying you're American, only that the attitude you project is one that is very American.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

Strangerland - Um, the Australian economy is thriving mate. It was one of the fastest in the world to rebound

Totally agree! Over 90% of Australia is virus free and business as usual. A two week lockdown is only a small inconvenience for a small percentage of the population. The trade war with China is much more detrimental to the Australian economy.

It’s the rest of the world effecting the Australian economy by not controlling the virus and killing tourism.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

some are not locked down, they are running around Japan playing contact sports and not socially distancing.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

StrangerlandToday  05:31 pm JST

A year ago you many would have agreed

With what? 

Now it seems stupid to consistently lockdown

I don't think you actually known anyone in Melbourne. The Aussies have been living a normal, mask-free life, with their pubs on the weekends, mask free, for pretty much this whole pandemic. You act like this lockdown is unpopular with the people or something. If you knew Aussies, you would know that's a very American projection on the Aussies; they are supportive of these measures as a means to allow them to quickly return back to normal life. Aussies don't mind a bit of effort for the greater good. They're a proud people, proud of their nation, and their isolation has in turn bred a sense of togetherness people in American could never comprehend. 

Not that I'm saying you're American, only that the attitude you project is one that is very American.

Well, I have have family and friends in Melbourne and regional Victoria who would beg to differ from your rose-tinted view on lockdowns. Especially the ones in regional Victoria are sick of it, especially this time around. That's why the state government was forced to ease restrictions on country areas from tomorrow night even though Melbourne will stay under the tougher regime. It's all the more insulting when other states can handle the situation without such harsh restrictions.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

This is completely unsustainable and will result in more deaths from the destruction of the economy

No it won’t. As a poster child for globalization, there will be no allowing it to fail. Notwithstanding the obvious unsustainability of a model that, at the drop of a hat, goes into lockdowns costing billions, they’re a one trick pony. Whenever faced with a problem, their instinctive reaction is to throw money at it. Even now, the magic pudding will soon, once more, be tapped releasing a torrent of funds that, last time around, and for over a year, saw unemployed and those on benefits making more than many people here make WORKING full time.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Stranger land,

no I am not American,

not sure what that has to do with anything, most of the world has figured out lockdowns are an impractical, expensive, deadly waste of time,

corona is here to stay, if eliminating corona is your strategy you’re going to be locking down until you all run out of money.

I am sure this lockdown is less popular than the last and no doubt the next will be even more so,

surel you don’t think this the last time you will be locked down

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

Australia's control of the pandemic so far has been admirable.

But its rollout of vaccinations has been pitiful.

With no restrictions in most of the country they could easily have vaccinated 60-70% of the population by now.

Then they would have be free to move. Now they are just prisoners.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Australia doing all the right things to live covid free. Well done Aussies. Keep it up.

It is simple, I live in Melbourne and I support the lock down. My neighbors say they support it and the people in the places I shop at, say they support it. There will always be some who dont, but you wont hear much from them as they are few and far between.

I do not always agree with @Strangerland but he is absolutely correct. Well said mate.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I do not always agree with @Strangerland but he is absolutely correct. Well said mate.

Arigato

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

To those who are saying long full lockdowns destroy the economy, New Zealand had a full 7 weeks lockdown (everyone stays home and strict social distancing) and their economy is now booming.

The people who say that lockdowns destroy the economy are simply repeating the same garbage they got told by their political leaders at the start of the pandemic, and they're too stupid to realize that we have real-world examples that prove their silly theories wrong.

These are the same people that have this unrealistic expectation that everything about the pandemic should have been known about the pandemic before the pandemic even started, so when scientists changed their advice based on incoming data, these morons took that as a sign of corruption. And here they are, repeating their moronic talking points here as if the rest of us are as low intelligence as they are to believe them in spite of reality.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

This enthusiasm about lockdowns is quite interesting:

Lockdown: the confinement of prisoners to their cells for all or most of the day as a temporary security measure

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Lockdown

noun.

a security measure taken during an emergency to prevent people from leaving or entering a building or other location: The school remains under lockdown due to police activity in the area.The governor implemented a statewide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus—residents may not leave their homes for nonessential activities.The army base was on lockdown after a report of shots fired.

a freeze or pause: Banks aren’t lending during this credit lockdown.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The thing with Australia is most people are nervous about the speed of authorisation and efficacy of vaccines especially the astra Zeneca one. Lock downs are also wearing very thin. As others said, COVID is here to stay so vaccinate those most at risk of serious complications and let the world return to the new normal...whatever that is

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

As a Melburnian currently in lock down I can advise that majority of people support and understand why were in lockdown.

Prior to this kappa variant being introduced through hotel quarantine failures we were living a close to normal life.

Businesses were back to normal we even had 70,000 people attend sporting events.

Your economy can't grow if you have covid through your community.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

oyatoiJune 2  07:58 pm JST

This is completely unsustainable and will result in more deaths from the destruction of the economy

No it won’t. As a poster child for globalization, there will be no allowing it to fail. Notwithstanding the obvious unsustainability of a model that, at the drop of a hat, goes into lockdowns costing billions, they’re a one trick pony. Whenever faced with a problem, their instinctive reaction is to throw money at it. Even now, the magic pudding will soon, once more, be tapped releasing a torrent of funds that, last time around, and for over a year, saw unemployed and those on benefits making more than many people here make WORKING full time.

You make an interesting point. There has been plenty of anecdotal evidence from Australia that businesses have been struggling to get staff, especially in the service sector, because they could make a similar amount of more from staying on (taxpayer-funded) welfare even after the lockdowns eased. Trial run for a UBI under cover of a crisis?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There has been plenty of anecdotal evidence from Australia that businesses have been struggling to get staff

Yep. Apparently there are three businesses that feel that way. In all of Australia.

Good thing you guys have anecdotes, or you wouldn't know about their feelings on the matter.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

StrangerlandToday  11:10 am JST

There has been plenty of anecdotal evidence from Australia that businesses have been struggling to get staff

Yep. Apparently there are three businesses that feel that way. In all of Australia.

Good thing you guys have anecdotes, or you wouldn't know about their feelings on the matter.

Do you actually know anyone in Australia and communicate with them regularly? Know anyone in areas that have been locked down for long periods, whose livelihoods have been negatively affected through business shutdowns, mental anxiety/depression and the like? Can't even leave the country? Well I do. You don't have to believe me, but it's a fact.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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