So, how do you think Australia did, all things considered?
I think it’s worth considering the federal and state governments separately.
The federal government has been incredibly incompetent on fundamental issues like vaccinations and refusing to do anything about border quarantine.
State governments—the ones responsible for NPI policy like lockdowns—were far slower than optimal last year, but with the critical exception of NSW doing pretty well this year.
Even with delta, every state and territory has seen an outbreak and squashed it within three weeks by fast, early action. This is far cheaper than an ongoing epidemic.
The goal of zero transmission was and is clearly the best equilibrium to be in; we knew this early last year. Lockdowns suck but they work, and a fast+hard lockdown sucks a lot less than an epidemic. We went more than a year in Canberra between cases! The system works, and to be blunt if it was applied consistently COVID could have been eradicated by mid-2020… not that it could have been applied, but still.
Just keep R0≪1 !
Overall grade: C-, for an approach which was sufficient until betrayed by the combination of one particularly incompetent state and a federal government which turned down early access to Pfizer vaccines. D+ for policy, B for outcomes—we were adequate enough that good luck could make a difference.
I can’t agree more. It is such a pity that what transcends to the news is mostly the negative stuff (especially about NSW and the slow vaccination) and not the fact that we have enjoyed 100% normal lives for the most part
I think it’s worth considering the federal and state governments separately.
The federal government has been incredibly incompetent on fundamental issues like vaccinations and refusing to do anything about border quarantine.
State governments—the ones responsible for NPI policy like lockdowns—were far slower than optimal last year, but with the critical exception of NSW doing pretty well this year.
Even with delta, every state and territory has seen an outbreak and squashed it within three weeks by fast, early action. This is far cheaper than an ongoing epidemic.
The goal of zero transmission was and is clearly the best equilibrium to be in; we knew this early last year. Lockdowns suck but they work, and a fast+hard lockdown sucks a lot less than an epidemic. We went more than a year in Canberra between cases! The system works, and to be blunt if it was applied consistently COVID could have been eradicated by mid-2020… not that it could have been applied, but still.
Just keep R0≪1 !
Overall grade: C-, for an approach which was sufficient until betrayed by the combination of one particularly incompetent state and a federal government which turned down early access to Pfizer vaccines. D+ for policy, B for outcomes—we were adequate enough that good luck could make a difference.
I can’t agree more. It is such a pity that what transcends to the news is mostly the negative stuff (especially about NSW and the slow vaccination) and not the fact that we have enjoyed 100% normal lives for the most part