That " Mask " Solution !

 The sight of people rioting on the streets of Melbourne simply because they are now required to wear a face mask when travelling on public transport or shopping at a supermarket is disgusting.  The fact that the reason for this disturbance is sheer self indulgence is beyond belief.   They claim mask wearing is an attack on their civil liberties.

The entire Australian economy and way of life is threatened by this pandemic.  The smaller states have managed to get coronavirus under control, but the numbers are still rampant in Victoria and Sydney is  experiencing worrying pockets that seem hard to eradicate.   Even our best economists are unable to forecast the final outcome.  In fact, there is a doubt that we may never be fully rid of this troublesome plague.

The government would be justified if it implemented war powers.  The lockdown was necessary, but the damage to our economy will be felt across all stratas  of the Australian economy.  Many long standing old companies will fail to reopen their doors because this lockdown has destroyed their capital base.  They are still responsible for repaying the debts they incurred to improve machinery and the rates and taxes that apply to factory sites are ongoing - but income has ceased.   The one thing on which the economists agree is that we will face a severe jobs shortage when - and if - this virus is vanquished.

Putting our hopes on a vaccine seems to be wishful thinking.  At best, it may become reality  sometime next year and then we will face the prospect of many of these self indulgent rioters refusing to take the needle to achieve herd protection.  It does not auger well for the future that some sections of society are rejecting the very reasonable restrictions being put in place to get the economy moving again.

When we were threatened with hostile forces advancing down the island chain to our north the government instituted rationing of food and clothing and placed severe restrictions on movement.  It would not be unreasonable to expect citizens to wear a breathing mask whenever they leave the security of their homes to avoid infecting others they come in close contact with.   The wearing of gloves could be another requirement to avoid contamination from the many contact with objects we encounter in our travels.  We are in the habit of disinfecting hands when we enter shops and disinfecting gloves would have the added advantage that wearing them reduces the tendency to touch our faces.  It would be a small imposition to improve public safety.

The fact that people ordered to isolate in their homes because they have been in proximity to infection are disobeying that instruction can not be tolerated.  Offenders need to be arrested for this breach of trust and held in maximum security until the infection period has passed.  The fact that many confined to their homes are moving freely in society is probably one of the main reasons we are seeing infection clusters break out which can not be traced.

Our entire way of life is under threat and the containment of this coronavirus is a national emergency. The longer it is allowed to continue the greater the harm it will cause.  If the government needs to assume war time powers that would be reasonable in the present circumstances  !