Update

In comparison to much of the rest of the world Australia has done pretty well in handling the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. There have been miss-steps - the Ruby Princess debacle for one - but the Federal and state governments have generally been working together to contain the virus and that's why where I live in Western Australia we are close to back to normal. The only active cases are those brought in by returnees and are under strict quarantine and our state borders remain tightly closed with anyone coming in whether they test positive or not required to go into quarantine for fourteen days. There are exemptions for long distance truck drivers but even they are checked at the border. Our state government along with several others has resisted Federal government pressure to reopen the borders. While the Federal government's stance is understandable - they wanted to get the economy moving again as we all head into the inevitable depression that all these lockdowns are going to cause - our state government has preferred to take the more cautious approach and very few of the locals disagree with this.

Just as well they did make this decision as it turns out because we now have Victoria - one of the states which relaxed restrictions - having to backtrack with a surge in cases and deaths. The daily figures of 400 plus new cases in Victoria may not seem many compared with other countries but they are the worst we've had and the Victorian government has made wearing masks mandatory and imposed stay at home restrictions in the city of Melbourne and much of the rest of that state.

Just how contagious this virus is has been brought home to us with one man, who came into NSW from Victoria before the most recent border closures and was unaware that he had been exposed to the virus, causing an outbreak which has affected many after he visited a workplace, a local hotel and various other venues. While the health authorities have acted quickly to contain it no-one can afford to be complacent. This virus is a killer and we're only just beginning to see the after-effects it leaves in its wake for many who survive it. This is not just a case of catch the virus, be ill for a few days, recover and get on with life.

While so far we're free of community transmission of the virus in Western Australia it will only take one infected person for us to have to deal with an outbreak. Like many others I think we need to be prepared in case the worst happens and while I hope we're not going to have an outbreak of the panic buying from the beginning of the outbreak I suspect that most of us are trying to make sure we have a cushion in case things go badly wrong. This was brought home to us when the Victorian government without warning locked down several tower blocks leaving many of the residents in need of food and medicines and unable to go out to get them. While the community stepped up delivering food and ensuring they got the supplies they needed no-one wants to end up in that situation.

If we were to be locked down Pisces and I are better off than many because even in normal times I try to keep us supplied with what food and other essential items we need for at least a fortnight so that if I have a flare up of any of my chronic illnesses we will at least be able to eat. As Pisces is not the greatest of cooks this includes keeping the freezer stocked with ready prepared meals that only need reheating. Who'd have thought there could be any positives associated with chronic illness.  I certainly didn't but there you go. And that, my friends, is my Pollyanna moment for today.