Been thinkin lately they've been jumping up on their box so long now they're all enjoying it these days.

Saw the qld one this morng for a few painful minutes turn it back 40mins later and nanny was still goin.Only wanted to see the rest of the damn news, gave up.

Hi everyone. Golden82, I share your view about the SA CHO 100 percent. I thought I had seen it all with some of the weird statements and explanations that have passed for "health advice" since March 2020 until the pizza box episode. I felt so sorry for the worker in that shop as it would have been quite easy for members of the public to identify him. In the end, it turned out that he had done absolutely nothing wrong, but the damage was done with respect to humiliation and reputational harm. I heard that he had also received anonymous threats. These CHO's seem to be above any ordinary standards of scrutiny and rule like medieval kings.

RandomX, I know what you mean about switching off and then on after 40 minutes, only to be shocked that it's still going on. I did this with the NSW presser as I had overload due to having watched the tedious Qld report. I suppose I keep hoping that someone in the media might ask some intelligent and probing questions in an attempt to hold these people to account, but that seems to be too much to hope for.

I look forward to the time when we are hearing daily press conferences about MH safety, and empty hope, I know.

Haaa, intelligent and media just don't seem to be in the same basket.

When Vic was at it's worst Dan would stand up there day after day going into so much detail for so long it was like he was had to talk to little kids. But then the media would just go and ask all the stuff he'd just painfully explained already for God knows how long, over and over and over . l'd think wth is wrong with these people are they deaf or what.

l use to wonder how he didn't lose it with them , think that would've been the hardest part of all.

Hi Grandy,

I too live in the Central West and the number of Sydney visitors is concerning.

We have a small business and I am constantly worrying about a traveller coming into our shop that could be potentially infectious and the mental & financial impacts it would have if we had to shut for 14 days, get tested & isolate.

Our town is so busy that most of us locals avoid going ‘down the street’ on a Saturday morning now.

Although it is has been good for businesses in one aspect after the impacts of drought & the fires, I myself find it very difficult, overwhelming and my anxiety levels are at a high.

I just wish there was definite advice regarding travel to regional towns, as nobody seems to be listening and are still freely travelling.

We simply do not have the facilities if there was an outbreak in our regional towns.

SD

Hi everyone. I agree that there should be definite advice regarding travel to regional towns as the views of those in regional towns seems to be very mixed. I'm from Sydney and we have been repeatedly encouraged to travel to regional towns to help out due to the effects of fires and now loss of business from Covid. I think the govt and the media should stop encouraging this as it's clear that lots of towns people would prefer not to have the business, being so unnerved by media reports of infection running rampant throughout Sydney, which isn't actually true. Sydney has 6 million people and even over the past couple of days, there have been no mystery cases. However, I understand why people are fearful because of the dramatic reporting that makes towns people are unnerved by our presence. For these reasons, I won't be travelling to regional NSW or anywhere else in Australia again any time soon, as I felt that when I last went in mid 2020 the welcome mat wasn't out, as we were told it was, not to mention the continual border closures and lock downs, which can happen at the drop of a hat. The media keeps making Sydney people feel guilty that they should be doing good by "supporting regional communities" but when we arrive there, we find that we have been duped by the media again as the support isn't wanted by a lot of people. So I will be staying put where I am for the foreseeable future. It's just not worth going through all the trouble.

Hi Tangney

It is such a tricky balance in regard to regional travel.

After the drought & bushfires, we are so grateful to have received the support from the City areas. The injection to accommodation providers, cafes, pubs & other local businesses has been fantastic.

On the other hand, we are worried by the number of cases in Sydney, and I understand it’s a big area, but we are concerned that our health systems in small towns would not cope if we had a local breakout.

The other thing is, if a case visited one of our shops, cafes, pubs etc, due to the small number of staff, it would mean all staff would need to isolate for the 14 days and the business would need to close over this period. The financial impacts alone for some businesses would be huge.

As I said it’s a tricky one.

Thank you for supporting regional areas, but yes we are worried as well.

SD

Hi Moonstruck. I'm so glad for you that you will be released from the full lock down later today, even though it seems like you are now stuck with almost exactly the same mask rules as Greater Sydney, for the next 10 days at least. I saw that there were zero cases again and that you will be rid of the rule regarding wearing a mask while driving in your own car from 6pm today. I think that one might've gone the same way as some of the rules we had here, earlier in 2020, regarding bans on swimming in the sea and sitting on the grass or a park bench in the open air. These bans caused a lot of difficulties for both members of the public and the authorities. These bans were, thankfully, withdrawn at some point mid last year without ever having been reimposed although there was never any admission about the rules being illogical in the first place. Oh well, at least those rules are now gone. Also, I see that the cricket will be a bit different in Brisbane to what has taken place in Sydney. The GABBA can have 50 percent capacity and masks only need to be worn in indoor areas and while moving around, but not while seated. However, at the SCG, which started off allowing 50 percent capacity crowds but then had to reduce it 25 percent capacity due to so many calls to cancel it completely, masks must be worn everywhere, including in the open air while seated. I feel that the rules imposed on fans at the SCG may also go the way of the dodo once the enforcement difficulties and inconsistency with other rules make this too much of an imposition on fans sitting in the blazing sun all day, and also for the police and security people, who must be having an awful time of trying to enforce this in the outdoors when they themselves are also being expected to wear it. The rule also seems to be driving people to drink in excess as you don't have to wear the mask while drinking. I hear that there are a lot of intoxicated people out there, which is a very bad outcome of this rule (and not good for public health, I dare say). One good thing that might come from this "go early and go hard" lockdown is that people might learn not to engage in panic buying. All the best, Moonstruck, and to all in Brisvegas.

l think you'll be pretty right sd. l'm in regional coastal Vic they all come up holidaying and were hiding out up here for mths too in their holiday houses until D stopped it. Same thing appreciate the business and support but most were thinking we'll we've gotta be practical in this and we'd rather they all stayed home for now when it was bad.

But the shops and businesses, supes , all had it pretty down pat sanitizes everywhere many were no entry without masks , distancing, always someone spraying and wiping anywhere you went. Even the girl in a servo told me yep we clean the pumps 20times a day , benches inside, door handles everything and you couldn't go in without masks . But at anyrate over a few 100k of coastal town and shops servos all sorts in this 12 mths there was only a couple of cases all up and l can't even remember any in shops at all, not even our supermarkets with 1000s of people a day.Peopl are in and out pretty quick in shops and you can leave doors open and clean 100x a day if you want so they're pretty right.

l'd say just go on with all the usual stuff for now it should be right. Thankfully there's very very little of it even about anyway so . But good luck. rx

Oh dear...more hackneyed phrases becoming even more hackneyed here in NSW. We're still "mopping up". The disease is still "bumbling along", although I think, at other times, it's been "bubbling along" depending on who is speaking about it. We need to be careful because at any moment, there could be another "super spreader event". There isn't one today BUT..."that's only for today". No wonder people are scared of Sydneysiders with these continual press conferences, even though there are only 5 cases today, two of which were reported yesterday, all linked to known sources. They are worried that people aren't getting tested. So now we are being lectured to "Go and get tested". How disappointing for them that so few people are sick or even know anyone that's EVER had the virus let alone been a close contact, especially now, with so few cases. Still, it only takes one case in the whole state to keep borders closed and to force everyone to wear masks.

Hi Tangney,

Thank you for sharing such a passionate post.

I'm so thankful that the virus isn't out of hand like in other countries, with any measures to prevent the spread of the virus I totally approve of. All Victorians are more resilient after what we went through.

Just though I'd share.

Stay smiling,

D

Doz, Resilience is an interesting and complex issue when it comes to MH. People that I know who were born and bred in Victorian, people who have never experienced MH issues, have left Victoria, sold everything, and will not be going back, such was their intolerable experience of being locked in for 5 months. People react differently, resilient or not. I also know another family from Victoria that was stranded in NSW, unable to get back, over New Year. It seems like these are more matters of fairness and practicality and that people. I doubt that I will ever develop resilience to injustice, unfairness, and unnecessary cruelty. I don't even see how these measures could possibly benefit the broader community. There has been so much pain and suffering as a result of the past year of restrictions, including restrictions on funerals and people left in small flats by themselves, that could not have any difference to the spread of Covid. Many who have gone through these awful and cruel experiences are resilient, but are still experiencing mental anguish, a normal reaction to the treatment that they have been subjected to.

l think they just talk the way they do bc they have to talk in a language 4yr olds will understand . Not the public , the bloody media.

And even then they'll still ask all the dumbest questions ovr, and over, and over, that the pollies have just turned themselves inside out explaining..

Hi Randomx. So true. I don't know how the pollies of either side stand the stupid questions that they are asked so repeatedly, day after day. It does seem geared to 4 year olds as that is the level that the media seems to direct its comments to and the level of simplicity that seems to be required for them to understand the answer that they are given to the same questions they keep asking, day after day. I have written to media outlets to give them ideas regarding some originality of thought ie. questions that haven't been asked yet that I would like to hear the answer to. Not surprisingly, they never ask my questions. I can see the frustrations of the pollies each day, regardless of which party they represent. The media has a lot to answer for regarding the behaviour they have displayed during this past year. Very irresponsible. Continually seeking out drama where it doesn't exist. They badgered everyone here in NSW to put more restrictions in. The media seemed to actually launch its own campaign for restrictions and convinced enough people through fear that more restrictions were needed. The pollies were under pressure and caved. Put more restrictions on. The very next day, when there were no cases, the media was asking when restrictions would be lifted!!! Today, there was one case attached to a known "cluster". Yet, the whole country is scared of Sydney siders and we are all forced to wear masks.

Oh l know , l don't even have the words. Sometimes when l hear one pollie say another will be very talented in some new roll or whatever other dribble , l think talent to a pollie must be about not strangling someone in the media and the ability to somehow just stay calm and keep repeating the same rubbish. And yep , that's exactly what they'd do the very next day .

Nah doubt that , but just imagine what Vic went through , we were treated like vermin. Then l hear some lady on talk back 3 or 4 wks back down from Sydney literally digging at Victoria and Melbourne saying how depressing it was everyone in masks and being all careful and all sorts of things closed well hello lady , we've just gotten through 700cases a day , ya know. Then she goes on to gloat about how things have just been life as normal up in Sydney for mths and mths , l was amazed the dj didn't boot her her off . But l don't say all that bc she was from Sydney , but just to say that eh, some people will be people, wherever they're from. But yeah , all this few cases hysteria mentality stuff around these days is just bloody Nannie'd to death though all this now public.

Still, at least we have no cases hey , we can be thankful for that right. Talk to a friend in the states a few mths back and she says ahhhh, it's not that bad , l've only known about 20people that've died everyone else has been fine - huh, only 20 eh ? The she goes , ahh, there's only 3 or 400,000 cases in Texas or whatever the crazy number was l forget now but then she says lifes still pretty well normal. What the !!!!!

rx

Hi RandomX. I think that the way Victorians were treated during the lock down was disgusting in so many ways. As I have said before, I have Vic friends and some of them were pretty upset with the sledging they were getting from interstate colleagues and others who thought they were being really funny, but were anything but. I hear what you're saying about all the media stuff. I also think the media has been very active in encouraging this "state of origin" sniping and setting people against one another. All in all, I just wish the whole thing would stop and that people would get some perspective. At least in the USA, there's a reason for the restrictions that they have to put up with. Here, the main reason touted at first was that the health system might fail, but that never happened and is never likely to if things keep going like this. We shut the international border, while many other countries didn't. I wonder what the point was of doing that if we can't get about and live normally, knowing that our health system isn't under any strain and the only sources of infection are from overseas and are being managed in quarantine. Best wishes to all.

I hope im not the only feeling really flat and questioning what I am doing vs what I should be doing.
Ever since the pandemic hit and everything got completely changed ive been feeling like there's not point to creating goals or plans as there is a high chance of them getting cancelled or completely being put on hold and forcing everything to stop and start all the time

hi Lauren57r,

Thanks for posting this, as a lot of us feel the same. I find that is the hardest thing at the moment - the uncertainty and instability of all this stop start at the drop of a hat by the premiers and CHOs. It is incredibly unnerving even for people with a 'good' life and support etc, but throw into the mix ppl like me with abuse and no family or friends, subsequent MH issues, living alone, isolated and isolating myself - trying to get out/plan/hope and then all this. Had so many groups not even started because of this. I know heaps of others are in the same - even worse boats. I agree - it makes you feel flat and that you cannot plan/hope. You are not alone in feeling this and will find good support here from some regular posters.

I hardly watch the news anymore, but it seems the only leader making any sense is NSW. She is getting gripe for it, but she is being realistic saying we cannot keep up this shut down everything etc she said ppl have lives and livelihoods. She is strong to be a sole voice of sanity! But cannot control what the others do.

I hope you can remain as positive as possible.

I hope you are getting about more Tangney re the mask situation? Do you still have to wear them in NSW? Sorry to read of your bootcamp. I agree, the online defeats the purpose for you of getting out and about.

I hope you are okay too Moon. Yes, I read about wearing a mask in car by yourself! Oh my goodness me - what is going on?? I heard they backflipped though. One would hope so. Blimey! Take care everyone.

 

Hi golden82....yes they backflipped on the wearing of masks in the car...but here's a funny thing...I wonder why when "they" change their minds about a sudden restriction, they never ever say "Oops, sorry we got it wrong, total over-reaction on our parts folks, it was a stupid idea"....no way!

You know what was sad for me just recently? Watching and listening to a person I love very much, a positive, confident person who always looked on the bright side, believed all would work out in the end, a glass half-full type of person with hopes and dreams and plans and obeyed all these rules.......well, due to sudden harsh restrictions coming in at a time when something he had planned, hoped for, worked for, was ready to go, getting excited about....all disappeared.....become dejected, lacking in motivation, sad, depressed, hopeless....

Hi everyone. Yes, some of us agreed from the start about where all this was going, that much damage would come from all this scaremongering and rules that would have nothing to do with physical illness, and that once pollies tasted the power and control that go with the various rules/restrictions, they wouldn't be giving them up easily. Even when they are caught out making inconsistent decisions that can't be justified, they never apologise or admit they were wrong or even appear to feel any regret. The reality of many people's lives has never come into the equation.

Moonstruck, regarding your friend, the common response to this sort of scenario seems to be, "Safety must be our first priority" or words to that effect, which I find to be heartlessly dismissive of what many people have lost for the sake of this so called public health emergency, as if your friend's experience doesn't matter and that it's all for the greater good, but I don't know of any public policy in the history of the western world that has adversely impacted so many for the benefit of so few. Added to this is that this stuff (restrictions on life, border closures, stopping the elderly and sick from having visitors etc) is actually popular and accepted by the majority. It's sad indeed.

Yes, Golden, we're still under the mask rules here and I have been out a bit more but am still restricting my movements as there are many aggressive people around. I'm quite depressed about it all. Like Lauren57r, I'm struggling due to the pointlessness of trying to plan anything, only to have the rug pulled out from beneath.

Hi Golden82,

i just wanted to say I’m so glad to see that you also think Gladys is the only one making sense. I live in QLD near the NSW border and I feel everyone around me doesn’t like what she’s doing but I personally believe she handled it really well.

She’s all about contact tracing and keeping the curve flat and she absolutely nailed while taking in the most international travellers. I feel everyone’s waiting for Sydney to turn into the next melbourne but the truth is, it didn’t happen and they did it without closing their borders. We have border passes to enter QLD from NSW but when brisbane had that 1 UK strain and NSW declared brisbane a hotspot, the border was still never shut and we could still travel freely to NSW (unlike the other way round) under the condition that brisbane people will be expected to self isolate.

Hi everyone. Another thing that I'm finding very triggering at the moment is the repeated lecturing about having to "Earn our freedom", even though we were free before this happened and our freedoms were unilaterally stripped from us. Apparently, we now have to "earn the right" to get the freedoms back that we possessed from birth or through citizenship until 10 months ago. I also hear people saying "We've worked really hard" etc in references to the time spent being deprived of their democratic rights. It seems like staying at home, not going anywhere, and being locked out of civic life now equals "hard work". I wish people would stop being so grateful for all these restrictions. Our health system is under utilised and our hospitals are empty.

Tangney,

You are right! I have less freedom now as an adult as I did as an infant! I still don’t have a certificate from a Doctor, so I simply don’t use public transport or go in to any shops at all.

Brenton

Because I cannot go in to any shops at all, I cannot buy any food, so I cannot eat!

Hi Brenton,

We're so sorry to hear that you are struggling with the restrictions. Please know that our community is here to support you and we will get through this.

If you feel it might be useful, we'd encourage you to chat to our Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service for some support and also advice on how to resolve the issue you're describing.

Thanks for reaching out.
 

I cannot get any medical care now either, which is discrimination on the basis of disability! I just got off the phone with a Medical Centre, and instead of catering to my specific requirements, they just told me that I couldn’t entered without a mask and threatened me with a $200 fine! 

I tried that but didn’t get any useful advice at all and just found it upsetting! I kept getting told just to wear a mask, to wear one but not over my nose, or to use a handerchief! I cannot wear a mask at all, abs wearing one not over your nose or using a handerchief is illegal! I was not referred to any charity services that could bring me food free of charge, and it was assumed that I had enough money to have a computer, printer, iPad etc., which is not the case, and was also advised to use my housemate as a personal slave and make him do all of my shopping for me because I am not allowed to enter any store now, which is discrimination on the basis of my genuine medical conditions!!!

Hi all,

Sorry to read of your situation Brenton - that stress is the last thing you need when you already have medical problems as you say. I think others are being judged too. I am glad you are still getting out sometimes Tangney, but I understand the hesitation when you are being judged or given looks etc. Sometimes it is hard enough to get out anyway with MH and that sort of stuff can make it feel impossible. I know for me...and the disruption of last year made me so much more isolated and apt/schedules all canceled or stop start - just threw everything off kilter and still not back to any form of a schedule. This for me is crucial for my MH. All this chaos, just makes things worse - the unpredictability. And then being in flat for so long - you get 'comfortable' away from the world and social anxiety rears its ugly head some more. All this is still greatly affecting me. And it is 2021. And no sign of let-ups. And really in Adelaide, at present it sounds easier than some other places. But things have changed for worse. I got judged when I didn't know how to work the Covid app. The receptionist just shot me a look like I was a trouble maker/denier/not towing the line etc. I guess she assumed that as a young person I should be up to speed with that sort of thing...assumptions left right and centre and judgments also!!

Thanks Bananie - I have read your post over on Tangney's thread. Yes, nothing is going back to how it was - any time soon at least. And it is so depressing. And we have all said many times about not comparing Aus to overseas. Funny thing is I have relies in UK who say the hospitals aren't even over-run the way it is being hyped up. They say it is mainly the very elderly and ill who were in hospital anyway with not long to live. But for everyone else - including the elderly who are in okay health - it is not a problem. But their livelihoods are wrecked with her and daughter working from an ironing board in their little flat and getting more and more depressed. Her young daughter (approx 20) cannot attend choir and other social groups that were her reason for living. But none of this seems to matter to those making the rules. Moon I agree with you re pollies never admitting to anything. We would have some respect if they did that - instead they blame shift and word salad to try and confuse. It is terrible - same with your friends/ppl you know that you mention. I am very sad for them/families. But of course, none of this seems to matter.

Hi Golden82. I agree, one hundred percent plus. I hope you are ok.

To be honest, I've had it up to here with this COVID-19 fiasco. The fact that it killed off 1 million people gave me the impression that 2020 was the worst year ever. Thankfully that year's over. But it got worse; 2 million people across the globe have flatlined, and I've gotten ridiculously anxious overtime. Is there anyway to revert this?


And by "flatlined" I mean die. Cyberpunk 2077 has it as their game over screen when V gets killed, forcing you to either load your previous checkpoint or save game.

Hi Recycle Bin,

Thanks so much for sharing here. We can hear how much you've been affected by the difficulties of the pandemic environment. We are so sorry to hear that you've become highly anxious. Please know that you're not alone in this and there is lots of support available to you. We've gotten in touch with you privately to offer some extra support.

We'd also really urge you to chat about your feelings with our friendly counsellors at our Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Service, which is available 24/7 on 1800 512 348 or also through their webchat at https://cmwssonline.beyondblue.org.au/ 

It might also be worth getting in touch with Kids Help Line. They are a confidential and anonymous, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged 25 and under.

We hope that you can find some comfort in our online community. We'd recommend starting a thread on your own if you'd like to share more of your story with the community.