There are 868 ICU beds in NSW and 444 of these are already taken up - that is over 51%. These beds need specialised staff who quickly become exhausted (using/wearing PPE, stress etc).

So our hospitals are very soon going to be overwhelmed.

I think everyone needs to understand how serious this situation is.

What alternatives to lockdowns and vaccination are there?

I know it's tough but these are perilous times.

i am not sure lockdowns have worked so well but i support the govt rules.
I want everyone to be safe. we aren't medical practitioners (except for some of the lovely ppl on this thread who have mentioned they have had medical training.... thank u to them) so i guess we don't make the decisions.
It's human though to vent about it and i'm okay with ppl sharing here and helpign one anoher...

if someone doesn't want to be vaccinated etc that is still their choice although i know it upsets ppl to read who are very pro vacciations, but I think it's still really important to give spcae to all the difficult feelings around this particularly for MH consumers (hate that word! have been called it twice today by my mental health team... i'm now a consumer...)

sorry Anne with an e that sound triggering and difficult .

We are here for you as a community.

Lockdowns are really destabilising, and so many of us don't know when the end of this all will come.... i was so naive, i really thought it would be a short snap lockdown. I guess I underestimated how different this new variant is.

I think you're all doing amazing writing here ur feelings. Thank u for sharing.

hi rx, when dan was elected i was a big fan. I also loved his wife (is it chloe? Kate?

She seemed like an adorable mum and they looked like a lovely little family.

I don't hate him now, I have no energy for hate, this isn't anyone's "fault" i guess, my mind doeesn't work taht way. But maybe i'm just unable to process political information atm. My life is just about survival. One day at a time. Hating Dan won't help me with that. But if it did, maybe I would... I dunno.

I'm sorry the presser today was so disappointing. Making ppl scared is not okay.... threats etc...I hope we will find a more hopeful tone soon.

The only problem I have with people who do not get vaccinated is that they will clog up the health care system when they get sick. Otherwise it's their choice and they need to understand if they get sick that's their call.

ICUs don't just treat covid cases. They care for your child with acute meningitis, your friend/partner/brother/sister/child after a car accident.

What happens to them if the ICU units are full up?

There are no easy solutions to this situation.

Hi Paul...even here in Q where we seem to have it "so good"at the moment..our leaders especially Premier and Health Officer have been speaking to us like children since Day One. while refusing to give any hope even though we have had zero cases these past few days. still no hope for better days to come......of course our borders are closed tight with army and police to stop anyone from crossing...even those who live on the other side of the street in NSW from their neighbours in Q {at the Tweed/Coolangatta "twin towns" what a joke!!)

even if we reach the agreed upon 70to 80% vaccination....she said "just one case can turn into thousands, when we have any in the future, then all bets are off".......{the Health Officer's favourite phrase is "we're not out of the woods yet"...{???)....

I admit defeat. Control me, threaten me, punish me...tell me when I can go out, come in, meet my friends, take my mask off, how far I can walk....when I can breathe in, when I can breathe out.....you have broken my spirit...I am done....

Dear Sleepy

I read your posts intently, because I feel a kindred spirit with you and what you're expressing also.

It'd be lovely if everyone "felt safe" to express their POVs here.

I know that I don't need to tell anyone anything about my views on these experimental vaccination roll outs, the fact that so many ppl in ICU are vaccinated, that ppl think they can't transfer the virus just because of jabs blah blah blah.... or any reactions I have to politicians et al. My views are WAY stronger than that lol.

I avoid the News like the plague lol! It's a threat to my MH.

I have 3 trusted sources for my Health Orders / Restrictions update:
~ my Govt Dept emails updating us on constant changes
~ my friend because we walk together on Sundays - she's a Nurse and is all over it
~ my eldest d - she's keeping up to date with increasing restrictions on us and letting me know.
That's enough right there!

I EXPECT to be on very opposite sides of the fence with all my friends on perhaps every possible viewpoint, IDK.
The beautiful thing between us though, is RESPECT.
Not one of my dear friends, nor I, have 'lost our split' at each other for the entire 18 months over Covid stuff.
It's because we are tempering our emotions (whilst others are losing grip on theirs - understandably so), RESPECT and love each other.
We VALUE each other and intend to be friends during this whole new pandemic. It ain't going away.

It'd be nice if a person had one other person who understood them.
I understand you Sleepy & Ezzi.
I hear you and completely respect every word you're saying.

Others may prefer a resounding VOTE by all for their viewpoints, IDK.
I think that could be what some ppl are seeking.

Btw we're following ALL Public Health Orders & extreme restrictions on just about everything in our continuing lock down within my household - what we CAN manage and control. Not outside.

I agree Sleepy. Whether I agree or disagree with anything, it is how it is right now.
It's "how we do this" that matters most to me!!

Coming at ppl and carrying on at them doesn't resonate with me either.

Thankyou for expressing yourself. I admire your courage and persistence.

I'm just "talk to the hand" lol.
Boundaries.

Love always EM

Hi Everyone,

It's been a very, very long time since I've been here, yet here we are. I know when I can't do things by myself anymore and sadly I need help and advice.

I'm in NSW for work so don't have a support network at all over here and this latest lockdown is really taking its toll. There have been days where I've burst into tears and I don't even know why. It's not something that ever happens to me.

I have tried to do the right thing since the start of Covid and while I know this isn't true, it feels like I'm the only one staying home. For example, people at work have been saying thing like what new places have you discovered in your local area and I'll I could think is that now isn't the time to be moving around unnecessarily!

It has been 2 months to the day where the only time I have left my house is to pick up groceries. I would love to see other people too or even go out again but am trying to do my best not to contribute to the spread - now at the expense of my own MH.

Even now when I do go to the shops, I see so many people still out and about as if nothing is happening and I'm asking myself have I had this wrong the whole time?

Do you think it's ok to not be at home to exercise (yes, actually exercising and not loitering) despite what's happening around us?

PS. I am not vaccinated yet but have been trying to find an appointment near me well before the numbers reached this level

Dear Moon,

Me too. My spirit, my heart and almost my relationship I fear.

It's too much. I can't deal with those who think the rules don't apply to them. Who convince me Vax is the only way out (which I gave in and did today) yet they have someone drop something off to their house then take it to someone else's house. No going inside just a drop off, but still the rule is no going to other people's houses. It was a kick in the guts to hear that, especially after expressing my feelings about getting the Vax before I'm ready. Especially when I'm told we need to get it for kids to return to school, for small business, then to just blatantly break the rules 4 weeks in a row that I know off. It's hurtful. On top of that, when I vented my disappointment I was told to move on.

This pandemic is destroying lives, businesses and relationships.

I'm so sad.

Cmf x

Nah of course l don't hate him either sleepy, wasn't saying that. And what would the other guy be doing any different anyway , the whole country go the same way. They all use the same tactics and sprout the same crap no matter which side, seems to be their chosen path to keep us all under control doesn't it.

Vaxing , l can understand some not wanting to have it , lot of reasons. My gf doesn't want to have it she doesn't trust it that's just how she feels. l think she'll probably get it in the end though l mean she's in NSW sooo. l've decided to myself now. For me it was a combo didn't really think l'd need it up where l live and probably wouldn't , haven't trusted it either and l also just don't like taking anything l don't need. l've been thinking just lately cases going up again and all though, l may as well. And they're telling us vaxing's the way out so ok , l'll do my bit.

rx

Hey sleepy , ahhh, no worries at all, should hear me when l;m tired.

Hope your ok and get some sleep tonight .

rx

Hi everyone,

We have had our first cases of this years outbreak in town this weekend. Six people diagnosed positive. The authorities are calling for us to all to go get tested. However my husband & I have not stepped outside of home for two weeks nor have we been near any of the contact places, so I don’t think we need to go

We are lucky our chemist delivers for free & we are having our groceries delivered tomorrow so we have no need to go out.

But, oh, can I say the thought of this lockdown continuing even longer weighs heavy. It’s such a depressing situation. And I can get depressed all by myself without any help from lockdowns!

I feel so sorry for all the people who’ve been in lockdown so much longer than us. It makes me wonder where all of this will end but then I don’t want to go there cause it might be worse than now. I hope not though.

Please know I’m thinking of you all. It’s so lovely to be able to come here & be among people who care.

Look after yourselves, T.

Does anyone else think that this new variant and the combination of lockdown fatigue (200+ days for Melbourne and counting) is making lockdowns less effective?

I mean NZ seems to be a bit out of control right now, who knows what's happening there, although seems to all be linked.

We may never see 0 Covid on the East coast as well as NZ, which it's why I think vaccinating is just so important! My whole family is vaccinated and I couldn't be more relieved. My dad loves his Covid Digital Certificate, I think he wants to make it a flag size and wave it lol! From my perspective it suddenly makes Covid a lot less scary and people going around without a mask don't freak us out as much anymore

For out this situation is depressing

I may get tested myself as I have a cold , tend to panic when cases increase and start having I,gained symptoms,s. The panic ATM is scary and affects mood. I am most badly affected when it's a depressing, dark day. That combined with lockdowns feels suffocating.

Hey topsy, how are are you today! Are you and your h okay?Scary to have cases nearby, but love your attitude. Stay safe x

Does anyone want to to talk about something other than lockdowns?

I have found Ted talks again and I like the range of topics.

Yes please quirky! lol.

Which Ted Talks have you enjoyed? Gosh there are so many aren't there?
My fave is any of Brene Brown's ones again.

My latest hero as of last night lol, is Rob Greenfield.
I found him on YouTube but saw he had a Ted Talk too.
He has so many clips on his YT channel and I love all of them.

Funny we see so many people with surnames that define their chosen paths or passions.
GREEN field and he's a greeny.
Before my nap, I saw something of his that said he was an ex substance abuser / recovering alcoholic.
I find these people VERY interesting indeed.
I like to know WHAT led them to their path of recovery.

We had a floor polisher once a long time ago and his name was Ben SHINE. Lol wow.

EMxxxx

The presser was literally painful to watch today. Not that you sit there right through it you only need 5mins if that to see what's going on. But tbh , l dunno if these guys talk to us the way the do or it;s the media that need the repetition . My God Dan must've repeated numbers and vax details 10 times, maybe more , then the media turn round and ask him about the exact thing he's just repeated 10 or more times. And they just keep it goin , if you ever sit through 30mins of it , they have the chance to ask the premier of a state something worthwhile but yet, instead they just bang on asking the same damn things he's just spent 15mins explaining and repeating as if talking to a kindergarten . l mean they're practically the terms they explain thing in, yet these damn media still can't understand it.

All l can say is thank the Gods it's not the peoples taxes paying media .

rx

Ben Shine the floor polisher eh , classic.

When l was a painter and l still yet to this day, always thought Picasso's name was literally birthed sometime moons before, for the man himself. l envied it so much. l mean if you were a painter could you even dream of such a name that just says something like Picasso does. Well , apart from say Vincent Van Gough, what a name, or Mikael Angelo, but Picasso !

rx

Bit of a gripe and also a worry , and l'm sorry if that sets others anxiety off, l don't want to do that that's for sure , but where else can l talk about it.

Firstly , wth are we even locked down up in the sth west anyway, the nearest case is 200k away. Screams overkill.

But l'm in so 2 minds now too. PM banging on about opening up and living with it after we're vaxed. Yeah l've watch other countries doing just that 8mths now , some even last yr refusing to lock down. And tbh if lock downs don't fix it after once or twice then many a time l've thought yeah to hell with it , l'd rather we're free again and we live with it.

l dunno though just lately , maybe it's having our people use their scare tactics so long now and with all our lock downs , we've been sheltered from the reality these days of actually living with it , it's all gotten into our psyche's but, l must admit, not all that crazy about the living with it idea anymore, vaxed or not.But l've had enough of damn lock downs too.

rx