There are two possible outcomes from the Perth lockdown.
Not messing around yesterday, Premier Mark McGowan initiated a Perth Lockdown from 6pm due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
How bad the COVID-19 outbreak is we don’t quite know yet, but as the situation unfolds we will soon start to realise what the end game of this 5-day lockdown will look like.
And, there are two possible outcomes from our lockdown.
Overreaction
One that we can all hope for is that McGowan and the health officials got it wrong and were too quick to shut it all down. It happened in South Australia, finger crossed it can happen here.
While they obviously had the best intentions of keeping everyone safe, no doubt the people of Perth will not be happy about having to be locked down at home for 5 days (perhaps less).
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Businesses will be furious about being shut down without warning for what may have been no reason at all – causing significant losses.
However, it is far better than the other outcome we could be facing in Perth and greater WA.
Extended Lockdown
We had it good in Perth for most of 2020.
While New South Wales and Victoria have dealt with the majority of COVID-19 outbreaks of community spread – we have been more than happy sitting out west in our island within an island going about our daily business.
Well that could all change and change quickly.
If there is an outbreak of community spread and also if this outbreak is the more contagious and harmful UK variant we could be looking at a much longer lockdown in WA.
Based on our first lockdown it would be safe to assume that if the spread within the community is significant we could be looking at a minimum 3-4 weeks of this continued hard lockdown.
The most important question is will everyone in Perth do the right thing? Will the government be able to jump on it quickly through contact tracing and stop the virus from spreading further.
What will that mean for businesses? Will businesses make it through another shutdown?
What about the schools? Will they be shutdown again with teachers taking classes back online? Will daycare be running?
Then of course there is the road back once it is under control.
In 2020 it was a long road back from the shutdown to where we were just yesterday morning – living life like COVID-19 couldn’t touch Perth.
As a state we went through many phases, providing a little more freedom and sense of normality each time.
How long will it then be until we are allowed back in bars, restaurants, gyms etc?
When will wedding be back on?
Is WA’s future now to become a face mask at all times state?
How will other states and territories react to the Perth outbreak? Will we face the same cold shoulder of a strict travel ban that WA has shown the majority of the country throughout the COVID-19 pandemic?
Lots of questions that need to be answered and no doubt we will know a lot more about this situation as more information comes forward today and in the coming days.
Need to get tested for COVID-19
Perth COVID-19 testing sites – for more information visit healthywa.wa.gov.au.
Stay up to date with latest Perth COVID-19 news and Perth news on SoPerth.com.au.
