WE NEED YOU TO BE CAREFUL

THE onus is on you.

More specifically, people living in the border bubble and potentially – actually probably – mingling with visitors to the area hailing from NSW hot spots.

Under the mechanics of the Tweed Coolangatta border bubble, those residents with passes able to cross the border so their lives continue to be functional – as is right – they are also coming from a place where mingling with hot spotters will be occurring and then coming over and mixing with Gold Coasters.

Given the privilege afforded to them, it is incumbent on border zone residents to be particularly fastidious about hygiene, social distancing and getting tested at the slightest hint of COVID-19 symptoms.

Sydney had its Ruby Princess landing debacle. This remember was the cruise ship which New Zealand said no to, but inexplicably in hindsight NSW allowed to dock and then passengers – rife with the coronavirus – to disembark in to the city.

Melbourne has had its quarantine hotel debacle. What an absolute fiasco – employing private security guards to carry out a vital quarantine operation that on the Gold Coast is being strictly overseen by police and the army with medical oversight.

How that was able to occur will be answered once a state inquiry concludes and heads should role.

The border bubble situation in Tweed has the potential to be the Sunshine State’s Ruby Princess or worse, quarantine hotel shocker.

In the spirit of learning to live with the virus, the bubble is a practical measure but it is wholly reliant on special pass holders being very careful.

Unfortunately, some people will always be the exception to the rule and ruin it for everyone.

Let’s hope that does not transpire but it remains to be seen how long Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young – who on Monday warned people who would be impacted by an even stricter border block to make contingency plans – will be able to cope with the situation as it is.