RULES MUST MAKE SENSE
PERHAPS the most concerning part about the debate that fired up last week regarding the 20person gathering limits in homes is that so many Tasmanians had forgotten that rule even existed. While discussing plans to open our state to other safe jurisdictions from next Monday, both Premier Peter Gutwein and Director of Public Health Mark Veitch conceded that Tasmanians had very much reverted to pre- COVID- 19 behaviours.
Because there have been no cases and, more importantly, no community transmission for months, and with our borders still closed, residents know there is little to no chance of them being infected with the deadly virus.
Tasmanians have continued to be tested when showing cold or flu symptoms, with about 500 people a day doing the right thing.
But there are some rules that are hard to reconcile and therefore easy to forget.
The 20- person gathering rule is one such rule as is a restriction that stipulates you are not allowed to drink alcohol while standing up.
If the government wants to keep the public onside and to stick to the guidelines, the public health advice needs to follow logic.
When the borders open next Monday, we will need to remember that while there is a very slight chance of a positive coronavirus case coming into the state, there is still an increased risk.
And as Dr Veitch said, regardless of the statistics, if community transmission occurs and the government fails to track and trace it, the statistics go out the window.
The important rule that the general public absolutely needs to pay attention to is that if you have any symptoms, you must get tested and isolate and, under no circumstances should you turn up to work or be out and about.
It sounds easy to follow but most Australians hate taking a sick day. We either don’t want to let our colleagues down or worry about the financial implications of doing so — but there is monetary support available for people to do the right thing and employers needs to be supportive for the greater good. It’s the only way to stop the spread without being forced into another government lockdown like that experienced in Victoria or even here in Tasmania earlier this year.
We look to NSW and hope that it continues to contain the spread of coronavirus because if it continues its current record, it’s fair to say that state has cracked the code of allowing residents to enjoy a next- to- normal existence while effectively managing the spread of COVID- 19.
And we hope that very soon we can welcome residents of that state back to our shores — as well as Victorians, given the cases are by and large under control there too now.