Personally, and as a doctor with many colleagues who are treating patients in this outbreak, we’ve had like 2800 positive cases (with a test positivity rate of ~0.01%, so we can be fairly confident we are reporting most of the cases) but have 150 patients in hospital and 58 in ICU at present including quite a scary number under 50.
So, it’s warranted in my view, and for me personally, I’m 5 minutes walk to the beach and a swim every day in the middle of winter (there are no limits on hours of exercise) is quite a good life, but I’d like to be more free than I am now.
However my livelihood hasn’t been affected, and it’s not overly affecting my mental health, and I sympathise with those who are at risk of losing their business or who are doing it hard psychologically (or trapped in abusive relationships).
I should also point out that there is a fair bit of government support, but it’s been a bit slow coming and is being unevenly applied (ie Melbourne’s last lockdown basically got told to go suck it, liberal governments playing favourites).
Generally, there is a lot of anger at the government’s bungling of the vaccine rollout which probably would have meant this whole thing didn’t have to happen
NSW has terrible leadership that has blundered the entire thing. The “lockdown” in Sydney is an absolute joke compared to what other states have been doing, and the proof is in the numbers.
I’d much rather have strict enforced shorter lockdowns that actually stops the spread (like VIC/etc), than this bollocks half-arsed political-stunt stuff that ends up not containing anything and dragging on forever.
Not to mention the costs involved that could’ve gone towards immunisations. People WANT to get immunised. The immunisation hubs have queues of people wanting it but the Government just isn’t willing to pay for it.
I know a few people who're unhappy because the lockdowns have disrupted their business, but for the most part everyone I know understands that it's necessary to prevent outbreaks like Victoria have been suffering, or a complete disaster like the USA. SA has only had 4 deaths so far, less that 900 cases total, so we're doing quite well overall.
That said there is probably some bias as myself and most of my social circle are in essential industry and have been busier than ever. You'd probably get a significantly different response from someone in the hospitality sector or similar.
NSW is really fucking this up.
We also need to drive vaccination rates up. Too much hesitation around either vax option (Pfizer/AZ).
I have not seen my family in 2 years now, and with the current attitude of this government it looks like it will be another year before there is movement....
we do however need to financially support the hardest hit industries (hospitality) better. lots of casual work in that spce and those people need their work to survive.