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Not a borderline issue for some

RAELENE HALLMidwest Times
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images)
Camera IconWestern Australian Premier Mark McGowan (Photo by Matt Jelonek/Getty Images) Credit: Matt Jelonek/Getty Images, Matt Jelonek

WA’s “hard border” is back.

Some South Australian residents were mid-flight at the time an outbreak was discovered in Adelaide. On arrival, instead of excitedly greeting family and friends, they were ordered to self-isolate for 14 days. Others will be refused entry at the border.

I know many in WA will shout me down because they love our Premier and his so-called “hard border”. I say “so-called” because I know of many who have crossed the “hard” border and not all of them have served their 14-day quarantine.

So why one rule for some and a different one for others?

We are told: “It is to keep you safe.” What would keep us safe is if the Government ensured we have everything in place to deal with the virus when, not if, we get it in this State. What happened to all the messages about social distancing and hygiene? Some folk don’t even wash their hands after using public toilets.

People in WA have become complacent because they believe the “hard border” will protect them. The majority of people, especially in the city and bigger centres, are living life as in pre-COVID days.

While businesses do their best to continue practising safe rules, patrons are ignoring them.

I don’t believe our contact tracing is anywhere near ready to deal with an outbreak at this stage. Where are our QR codes?

Where is all the PPE, and have hospital staff had regular training in the correct use of it?

This virus is here to stay, in my opinion. Sure, it may weaken at some point, or a vaccine that is safe may be created but until that point, are we all to be locked into our States?

Of course, we should protect those who are most vulnerable, such as the elderly and health workers with sensible precautions, but putting people’s lives on hold for an unknown period of time is neither practical nor realistic.

Constant bombardment of COVID-19 data gives us no information regarding the breakdown of the numbers.

How many are seriously ill or in hospital? How many are mildly ill? How many show no symptoms at all? Same with those who have died. Did they die “of COVID” or “with COVID”? There is a difference. It’s time health was the focus rather than politics.

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