THE decision to allow tennis great Novak Djokovic an exemption to defend his title at the Australian Open later this month, just to deny him entry to the country, highlights the confusion that continues to reign throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
After almost two years, we are still second-guessing what we are or aren’t supposed to be doing, and Djokovic is a prime example of that.
Djokovic arrived at a Melbourne airport this week, having been granted a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination, only to be told that he had failed to provide sufficient proof.
So what, if anything, changed while he was mid-flight?
Whether it be a sporting superstar or a blue-collar worker, you could ask the same question and get the same blank look in return.
I questioned several people this week about the current coronavirus rules and restrictions and the response.
“Ummm … I think … but that might have changed!”
Fresh rule changes imposed this week, while welcomed by local health authorities, will further befuddle anyone even remotely impacted by the COVID curse.
We do need to release the demand on the health sector and the workers who have been doing an amazing job under immense pressure.
But if we simply can’t get a grip on the ever-changing rules and restrictions, the current explosions of cases (including Mildura and wider Sunraysia) is not going to stop any time soon.
No longer are we seeing everyone masked up in retail settings; the entry check on double vaxxers has largely gone; QR coding is seen as irrelevant without contract tracing; and events like the current Test cricket series between Australia and England are being opened up to tens of thousands of people daily, virtually all of whom are not wearing a mask.
Changes this week to PCR and rapid antigen testing requirements threw yet another curve ball into the mix as demand on the health sector grew, despite a scarcity of rapid test kits.
Before Christmas we were told that easing of restrictions would not happen until case numbers were reduced; now we’re told the numbers don’t matter.
Tell that to the health workers!
Mildura Base Public Hospital chief executive Terry Welch this week rightly raised serious concerns about the state of COVID-19 in the region over coming weeks.
Those concerns should be reflected in our everyday attitude and how we conduct ourselves. No doubt the vast majority of people are doing (or want to do) the right thing, but when organisations like the Society of St Vincent de Paul criticise the current arrangements as constituting “poor public policy and poor economic management”, something is terribly wrong.
As daily numbers in the region and across the country break record after record, we need someone to step up to the plate.
This can, and should, start with every individual because no one is going to help us if we don’t help ourselves.
Clear and concise directions and strong leadership would be a good start.
