How has the past year been like for you? I remember that it was March last year when this pandemic has started to affect my life in the form of uncertainties, quarantines, and travel bans. Now a year later, the pandemic is still here and it’s still challenging our lives although differently depending on where you are in the world.
When this pandemic started, we were stuck in the Philippines and were home quarantined for over a month. When we arrived here in Australia I was surprised because the conditions were so different. Of course life here has changed because of the pandemic but from what I’ve seen first hand, Australia is doing a lot better compared to most countries around the world.
Pandemic Life in Australia
I was eating lunch out with my friends today (29-03-2021) when I started seeing people wearing face masks. I thought “Maybe they’re wearing masks because of the COVID-19 case in Brisbane from a few days ago?”. I found it weird because we live in a city that’s around eight hours away from Brisbane. Right after my lunch date with friends, I checked my phone and saw that my husband messaged me that I should buy some face masks because by 5PM today (29-03-2021), Queenslanders will be required to wear face masks. Apparently, there have been ten new cases overnight, four locally-acquired! I usually listen to the news everyday as part of my morning routine but I haven’t been feeling up to it the past few days.
To my disappointment, even after having walked the whole shopping centre, I didn’t find any face masks. They were all sold out! If only I listened to the news this morning, I would’ve managed to get some. Luckily, we still have a few left from the ones we brought from the Philippines and face masks would also be available in our workplaces because of the nature of our professions.
In general, I would still say that Australia is doing very well. Where I live (Central Queensland), one can barely tell that there’s still a pandemic happening. I haven’t experienced any lockdowns here although I had been quarantined in a hotel in Brisbane for fourteen days when we got here from overseas. Other than having to check in every time I dine in a restaurant, maintaining a 1.5 metres social distance, and being required to wear face masks as of today, I haven’t really noticed a big change in the everyday life. Oh but let’s not forget about the occasional panic buying and high demand of toilet paper.
Life here is still not as bad considering what’s been happening all over the world. Groceries and prescription medicine can be ordered online but we’re still pretty free to do anything we want in most cases (from what I have observed) but of course with some care.
Even so, Australia too has undeniably been affected by COVID-19, specially in its capital cities. I think it’s because they’re more densely populated and the hotel quarantines are situated in them. Small businesses are having a difficult time trying to stay afloat. Many, particularly those in the hospitality industry, have reduced staff hours or even had to let staff go. A number of people are now working or studying from home. There have been instances of snap lockdowns like the three-day one currently imposed on Greater Brisbane.
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Australia’s Response to COVID-19
From what I have seen, Australia has been consistently quick to address the risks that COVID-19 brings about. The government continues to roll out vaccines in the order of priority. It has set travel restrictions for international and some interstate travels. International travelers are screened and quarantined on arrival.
They have an effective tracing system for COVID-19 cases where they test people, monitor close contacts, and they have created fever clinics. They impose lockdowns and shut schools and businesses right away but only when it’s really necessary for the public’s health interest. Personally, I feel that Australia’s policies lean more towards those with the least economic impact. Everyone can still go out to buy their groceries but there are times where limits are put as to how much of certain items you can purchase.
Its economic response consists of schemes like the JobKeeper and the JobSeeker. The JobKeeper Payment scheme was a government subsidy for businesses that were greatly affected by the COVID-19. It has just ended yesterday, the 28th of March 2021.
The JobSeeker payment on the other hand is financial help for those who are between the ages of 22 and Age pension age who are unemployed but are looking for work, doing activities (approved) to find a job, or are not able to do their usual work or study because they are currently sick/injured. Although it was not created as a response to the unemployment caused by COVID-19, it came in at the perfect time because its introduction coincided with the beginning of this pandemic.
Public Opinion on The Country’s Response
Most Australians are a pretty reasonable bunch and they trust (for the most part) the measures that the government had laid out in response to this pandemic. People are not only worried about the health risk that COVID-19 poses but are also concerned about its impact on the economy, maybe even more than contracting the virus. Still, from what I have observed, most people follow the rules and health advice that the government gives, I notice a sense of solidarity amongst the Australian people.
How Is Australia Doing Compared To The Rest of The World?
I have experienced this pandemic in two different countries. My husband and I were in the Philippines when this whole thing started. Everything was so difficult there. Only one person was allowed to leave the house and only to get the essentials. Supermarkets quickly became low in stock because deliveries were not coming.
A high percentage of people lost their jobs. From what I’ve seen, there were barely any help from the government aside from a couple kilos of rice and maybe 3 cans of tuna and sardines — these came very late and were expected to last for weeks. There was some sort of emergency subsidy of around $200 a month for two months for low income households. This subsidy was also given very late. People have become extremely poor that some had to resort to scavenging the dirty Wet Market floors for food that aren’t too rotten to eat.
Months after, there are still some people who find it difficult to get the care that they need. Front liners are still way overworked and are definitely under compensated. Those who are wealthy and influential seem to be getting the vaccines first, way before doctors and nurses whose lives are at risk everyday.
Other countries like those in Europe and the United States are also having a hard time with long national lockdowns, rising hospitalisations and deaths. With this picture of the rest of the world in mind, I can confidently say that I feel extremely fortunate that my husband and I are living in Australia during these difficult times.
Nothing’s perfect but I think this country’s government and people have done a really good job throughout this whole thing. I didn’t have any difficulty when it comes to getting anything that I need. I can still get looked at by a doctor whenever I’d like. I also found it quite easy to find employment. Those who are having a hard time getting by can get a reasonable amount of support from the government. To me, this country possibly is the safest country to be in right now.
Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.
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