Victoria is a federated state in southeast Australia with a landmass almost as large as Vermont, and a population of 6.6 million people. Its premier, Daniel Andrews caused a stir when he imposed a lock down during a recent COVID-19 surge. However, he appears entitled to claim vindication now, and we share Victoria’s targeted lock down lessons here.
A Clarion Call Behind Victoria’s Targeted Lock Down Lessons
The Victoria premier celebrated his lock down success by tweeting ‘We can do this. We are Victorians — and we will get through this as Victorians – with grit, with guts and together.’ He appears to have cause to celebrate his initiative, with 11 cases in September 2020 compared to 670 the previous month.
His bold approach is one of Victoria’s targeted lock down lessons. Daniel Andrews apparently took his lead from China’s response during the Wuhan outbreak. That lock down was intense, and lasted 76 days until new cases were barely a trickle. Wuhan is almost back to normal, and now this seems in Melbourne’s sights too.
Does This Signal a Need for Tougher Action Among Other Nations
Wuhan’s secondary waves were small-scale, and effectively controlled according to Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at China’s CDC. However James Griffiths writing for CNN World says this may have been simpler to implement in a centrally-controlled economy.
Even in Victoria some detractors accused Daniel Andrews of being ’a dictator’ and ‘trying to build a gulag’. None the less, and when all is done and dusted, Victoria’s targeted lock down lessons confirm lock down strategies work.
Although they may be politically unpleasant medicine, especially in view of what happened to New Zealand and South African economies. Talk of potential lock downs in United Kingdom and Europe is as unpopular as in North America. Only time will tell who was right, and what we might have done better.
Related
Lock down Lessons Learned from Six Countries
Leaving Lockdown, the Anxieties Return
Preview Image: Staying Apart Keeps Us Together
