I want to explain why there’s been a sudden shocking explosion of coronavirus cases in a country that once held the line so well. Also, I’ve got to explain how I plan to survive this.
The federal government as abdicated much of its responsibilities of the 1908 Public Health Act. Filling the void each of the states have implemented their own leadership. As much as state resources allowed, they were quite successful. There were tough periods, but the state leadership did the best they could. The sudden explosion of covid cases could be explained by this perfect storm:
- Federal government failing to get the long-promised Rapid Antigen Test kits (the states are now purchasing their own)
- Lockdown fatigue (due to inadequate federal level measures), leading to a need to open up
- Christmas and New Year holidays, when people began mixing and travelling. This was fine, considering the transmissibility of the Delta and other older variants.
- The high transmissibility of the new omicron variant
- A conflict between the states requirement to isolate until a negative test result is returned, but a federal policy of opening up. A federal government still failing to meets its obligations under the Public Health Act 1908 and Human Services (Medicare) 1973.
How bad is it? By 2nd Jan 2022, Melbourne had more cases of coronavirus than it did in all of 2020. Today, at time of writing, we had over 17,000 new confirmed infections in the last 24 hours alone. 30% of all test results are positive. The testing centres being so overwhelmed simply closed. For three days this week I tried fourteen times to get tested, and was turned away each time.
It is now simply impossible to get tested, so what can we do? If you have symptoms, it’s more likely to be covid than anything else. Though, I suspect my symptoms are just hayfever. I’m still playing it safe.
- Stay home in isolation
- Use painkillers like panadol
- Stay hydrated
- Monitor your blood oxygen levels if you have that feature on a smart watch or have a pulse oximeter
- Monitor your body temperature
- Wait until PCR testing centres reopen, or check with your local pharmacy to see if you can be put on a list of people to possibly receive a Rapid Test. At time of writing, the Victorian government has not announced how they plan to distribute their RAT kits, but announced they will be free
- Let a friend or family member know that you’re isolating and have symptoms
- If you’re vaccinated, like me, you probably will only suffer from just a cough
- Take all the vitamins you have (especially vitamins B, C, and D). B because coronavirus mainly attacks the nervous system, but we feel it as a respiratory disease. C as it probably does help the body fight the coronavirus like it does a common cold. D because you’re not going outside, so your body is unable to use sunlight to make vitamin D
- Order groceries online with like Coles home delivery
Best of luck. Follow us on the socials and let us know how you’re travelling through this new stage of the pandemic.