Recently, Sydney was thrown in disarray when a full lockdown was introduced. The subsequent extension period for the city was then extended by two weeks until July 19 2021.
Every day, the news uses terms such as 'explosion', 'dramatically', and et al. Is it just fear mongering, or is there just cause for concern?
Comparison Of Regional Infections
Let's be clear about one thing: 19 infections(which is what Sydney had yesterday) is nothing compared to the UK's more than 100k last week alone. That point is beyond debate.
However, different variants, with their unknown consequences, give ample cause for concern. Each new variant seems to make the virus more transmissible. As such, authorities are wont to take the risk of being blamed for not locking down earlier. Trading this off with the forced business closures, public anxiety, and increasing Sovereign Debt, is something that is not easily solved. The risk of actually being comparable with regions such as the USA, Brazil, or India, is not a risk that most governments will want to take.
The Role of Vaccinations
There is no doubt that there are financial benefits to vaccinations. A lot of money can be made! However, scientific evidence does show that infections do decrease, as does the severity of the disease for those who are vaccinated.
As such, there is a strong push in the media for vaccinations. This is not necessarily nefarious in motivation. It just means that financial rewards, and public safety, are not mutually exclusive.
The authorities believe, rightly or wrongly, that once sufficient numbers of vaccinations are performed, the virus will be neutered. Whether this is right or wrong..only time will tell.
So, What About Sydney?
All of this leads us back to Sydney. It is undeniable that Sydney is not as dangerous a place for the virus as other western nations.
However, the extreme measures taken in response to what is essentially, a modest outbreak, are an effort to stop that becoming the reality. Whether this is right, or too heavy handed, remains to be seen.
History is a great arbiter of decision making....
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