COVID-19 Diaries: Menindee

A sign on the outskirts of Menindee in far west NSW urges visitors and residents to adhere to COVID-safe practices to stop the spread of the disease in this vulnerable, mostly Aboriginal community.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Traces of the COVID Crisis at Wilcannia

A community sign on the outskirts of the mainly Barkindji town of Wilcannia in far Western NSW is one of the few remaining bits evidence of the COVID crisis experienced there in late 2021.

More than 150 cases of the Delta variant were recorded during last year’s breakout in the small town of only 720 people, making it the highest rate of transmission in NSW. The outbreak has been linked to passing visitors and tourists who pass through on their way to Broken Hill.

Leaked letters suggested that the Federal Government was warned about the vulnerability of Wilcannia to COVID, yet failed to act.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Nurses Strike

Thousands of nurses, midwives and healthcare workers went on strike around NSW today, demanding better working conditions as hospitals continue to buckle under sustained pressure, resulting from a combination of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, low wages, short staffing and what some say is a deteriorating health system.

The Nurses and Midwives Association organised today’s strike, despite the government taking the matter to the Industrial Relations Commission, which ordered the action to be called off. It was the first time nurses have taken strike action in 10 years.

Part of an ongoing series, COVID-19 Diaries.

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COVID-19 Diaries: The Virus Shop

Despite government policies directed towards ‘opening up the economy’, deregulating the public health response to COVID-19 seems only to be having detrimental effects.

Even ‘The Virus Shop’ on Parramatta Road, which sells COVID-related paraphernalia - signage, see-though perspex barriers, T-shirts and other items, is up for lease.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Hospitals at Breaking Point

Patients are triaged in the emergency ambulance carpark at Prince Alfred Hospital, as the health system approaches breaking point with COVID-19 cases skyrocketing across the state of New South Wales.

Hospital capacity is nearly at ‘Amber’ alert, meaning that less than 15% of capacity remains.

Despite comments at how mild Omicron might be for some, for others, it could still mean hospitalisation, or worse.

Today, a record of more than 63,000 cases were reported in NSW, as the government continues to open up the economy, despite the rapid spread of the virus. 2,525 people were being treated in hospital across the state, including 184 people in intensive care.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Rapid Antigen Tests Replace PCR Tests

Street signs along Sydney’s roads signal a change in NSW health advice with Rapid Antigen Tests now the first line of defence against the COVID-19 virus, in place of PCR tests.

NSW has seen record cases of COVID-19 across the state and huge queues at testing stations. Hospitals are being pushed to the limit. These changes have coincided with the emergence of the Omicron variant and the relaxation of Public Health Orders announced by the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet late last year. The government has now back-pedalled on its health policy, announcing new regulations that include the banning of singing and dancing in nightclubs and a temporary suspension of elective surgeries.

To compound the issue, some COVID testing stations have closed down due to being overwhelmed, or because of staff shortages in the health system, or because RAT testing has become the de facto primary test. The real reason remains unclear.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Supermarket Supply Chain Dries Up

Supermarket supply chains are under pressure across the state, as the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus takes its toll on truck drivers, warehouse workers and other logistics and supermarket staff.

Toilet paper, meat and some vegetables are in short supply on supermarket shelves, exacerbated by some panic buying. These shortages haven’t been seen since the first COVID lockdowns of 2020, two years ago.

Government changes to isolation rules have seen some workers classified as ‘essential’, meaning that if they are deemed ‘close contacts’ and are asymptomatic, then they are expected to go to work.

Unions have raised concerns about these changes, calling them “crazy'“ and “dangerous”, because they risk further exposure to the disease to their members. On the other hand, big business is pressuring the government to go even further in relaxing isolation rules. Up to 40% of supermarket workers are currently off work due to COVID.

It is estimated that it could be weeks before shelves are able to be properly restocked.

Part of an ongoing series, COVID-19 Diaries.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Season's Greetings

2022 is heralded in by a rapidly spreading new spreading variant of the COVID-19 virus, Omicron.

While the world was hoping that it had seen the coronavirus out after the Delta variant, the new year has been met with disappointment over this new wave, which could derail plans to return to ‘normal’.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Omicron

Today marks the first day of confirmed cases in Australia of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus.

Just as the country begins to open back up after the Delta wave, Omicron is sending politicians, economists and public health officials scrambling, after many promised there would never be a lockdown again.

Not much is yet known about the new variant that is said to have originated from southern Africa. Poorer countries around the world have had far less access to vaccines, as a global divide between rich and poor becomes more and more evident.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Long COVID, Alex

Long COVID-sufferer, Alex Michael, wears a nebuliser at home, which assists with his breathing and shortness of breath.

Alex first caught COVID-19 in March 2020, when he arrived home on a plane from the U.K. He was one of Australia’s first cases of COVID-19. He was only 26 years old.

Nearly two years later, Alex is still suffering from the lingering symptoms of the disease, which has seen him land in the Intensive Care Unit numerous times. In August this year, Alex collapsed at home and was given CPR in the back of an ambulance as he was rushed to hospital. He was put on a ventilator for 15 hours, but he survived.

Alex now suffers from lung damage, asthma attacks, fatigue and blood clots, all as a result of COVID-19.

Today, Alex is trying to learn to live with the effects of long-COVID, even though it has turned his world upside down. He says he wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the doctors, nurses and healthcare workers that saved his life.

Part of an ongoing series ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Qudos Bank Arena Mass Vaccination Centre Closes

The final few people trickled through the doors of the Qudos Bank Arena Mass Vaccination Centre at Homebush today, on its final day of operation.

In an unprecedented move during the height of lockdown in September, nursing students, podiatrists, retired doctors and even heart surgeons were drafted in to supplement the short staffing of healthcare workers across the state, including at this mass vaccination centre. Since opening up 93 days ago, more than 365,000 vaccinations have been administered, mostly to Western Sydney residents. At its peak, the centre vaccinated 20,000 people per day.

NSW has almost reached 90% double dose vaccination across the state, although there are still pockets of unvaccinated, especially in Aboriginal communities and some parts of Western and South-West Sydney.

The NSW Government has announced that it will moving away from state provided vaccination, and will now rely more on local GPs and pharmacists to administer the upcoming round of booster shots.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: COVID Halloween

Medical masks, hand sanitiser and social distancing were unusual additions to this year’s Halloween - the first since COVID-19 hit Sydney almost two years ago.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: COVID Marshall

Stephen Jurd, a COVID Marshall, guards the entry to a construction site on George Street near Circular Quay. Stephen’s job is to ensure no one enters unless they are fully vaccinated and certified, and that all COVID safety protocols are met on site.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Vaccine Spruikers at Town Hall

With double dose vaccination rates in NSW now approaching 80%, authorities are making a final drive to encourage people to get fully vaccinated. Here, NSW Health staff spruik the benefits of vaccination to passers-by on George Street, in front of Town Hall, where a pop-up vaccination centre has been set up. The sign out the front of the centre reads, ‘It’s Time’.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Barber Shop Fill on First Day of Lockdown Easing

Long lines were seen outside barber shops around Sydney today on the first day of eased lockdown.

After more than three and a half months living under COVID-19 public health orders, Sydney-siders filled hair salons and barber shops and headed out to pubs and restaurants despite the state recording nearly 500 cases and 8 deaths.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: The Barber Shop

Long lines were seen outside barber shops around Sydney today on the first day of eased lockdown.

After more than three and a half months living under COVID-19 public health orders, Sydney-siders filled hair salons and barber shops and headed out to pubs and restaurants despite the state recording nearly 500 cases and 8 deaths.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Lockdown Eases After 106 Days

Lockdown measures in NSW have eased after 106 days since they were first implemented by the State Government.

When the Delta variant of COVID-19 first broke out across Sydney three and a half months ago, the initial estimation was that a two-week lockdown would be all that would be needed to quash its spread. Now, months later, State and Federal governments have declared that lockdowns are no longer economically viable and that we will need to learn to “live alongside the virus”. Ultimately, that means more cases and more deaths.

Below, two contrasting headlines - one from Day 1 of lockdown on June 27, 2021 (left), and the other (right) from today, Day 106.

More changes to public health orders are expected in coming weeks, as the path out of lockdown is accelerated by the newly installed NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, despite apprehension in some quarters that restrictions are being wound back too quickly.

Nearly 500 COVID-19 cases were today recorded and 8 deaths.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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COVID-19 Diaries: Oz Harvest

Despite the Federal Government announcing that COVID ‘disaster payments’ for individuals would cease once lockdowns end, many people are still struggling to put food on the table.

Staffed mostly by volunteers, Oz Harvest is a not-for-profit charity providing food to those who need it. They are based at the bottom of the Waterloo public housing estates, where there is currently an outbreak of COVID-19. 60% of Oz Harvest’s customers are local residents.

Part of an ongoing series, ‘COVID-19 Diaries’.

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