COVID LEADERSHIP LACKING

WHY is it that our leaders always think everything is someone else’s responsibility (CP 14/10)?

Covid-19 has been out of sight, out of mind and we have, fortunately, been cocooned.

Don’t underestimate the power of social media and “influencers” to inform or, as is the case of conspiracy theorists and antivaxxers, to promote misinformation.

I’m often irritated by local councillors’ use of Facebook as their preferred means of communication but in the case of vaccination, shouldn’t they all be using their accounts to get the message out? I believe council currently has a social media influencer of repute.

The numbers of CRC followers on Facebook (35,000), Instagram (2144) YouTube (694) and LinkedIn (6595) reveals a majority of our population of 161, 932 to be out of the loop.

There appears to have been no community newsletter since December 2020. Perhaps now is the time to collate one promoting the need for vaccination; explaining the benefit for the community, particularly the vulnerable which includes all children under 12.

Perhaps each councillor could write a paragraph explaining why they and their families have had the vaccine.

I received a CairnsAlert text and email the other day with regard to testing of warning systems. Why not a text and email about the importance of vaccination?

Why are we not giving a platform to First Nations, Community Champions, to dispel misinformation widely distributed through social media groups to help overcome vaccine hesitancy due to past lived experiences?

James Cook University will benefit greatly from the return of international students so what are they contributing to overcome vaccine hesitancy?

The airlines are champing at

the bit to start flying tourists in so perhaps donate free flights to a lottery for the vaccinated.

Likewise tourism operators, where is the signage on your businesses stating that you embrace the vaccinated and provide a Covid-safe environment?

What is the new “Living with Covid” strategy for Cairns?

Terena Hopkin, Goldsborough Valley