This is wickedly difficult decision making for Governments. Victorians have been in lockdowns for over 200 days now, and people are pretty sick of it, with growing concerns about the mental health impacts of lockdowns and the economic carnage. But then the questions remains for how long? We could hang tough and keep the number of infections as low as possible by staying in hard lockdown longer.

ItвЂ™s about picking the least harmful course of action. If the hard restrictions in Victoria donвЂ™t see a dramatic improvement by 2 September, such as new infections running at less than five cases per day (which seems very unlikely), what should we do? This is wickedly difficult decision making for Governments. Ideally, at something like 80 per cent adult vaccination coverage вЂ“ although personally, I would prefer that to include children as well.Д«ut the virus may be forcing our hand earlier than we planned.

The elimination strategy always had, and continues to have, a planned pivot to living with the virus once we are ready. It would be so great to re-eliminate the virus and wish for a near normal life until the end of the year. Straightforward answers to your COVID-19 vaccine questions I strongly support the Victorian GovernmentвЂ™s decision to go вЂreally hardвЂ™ by Australian standards with curfews, the closure of playgrounds and childcare, and further reducing essential workplaces. When there are mystery cases, there will be future cases in the community by definition. Even worse is the constant stream of mystery cases that are driving this bad trend. In fact, the majority of cases that have been found have been infectious out in the community and arenвЂ™t reducing over time вЂ“ but rather going up. Victoria has gone вЂreally hardвЂ™ by Australian standards with curfews, the closure of playgrounds and childcare.

Victoria cannot seem to tip the balance despite even stricter restrictions. Outbreak occurred, contact tracing swung into action, cases were found and, over time, the number of daily cases infectious in the community diminished to zero for three days and we emerged from lockdown.

Victoria 2 won t launch