We've already learned to live with the virus, and it adversely impacts our quality of life. Better to eliminate the virus so we can get back to normal ASAP.

I just see it as more of the same from the ever expanding regulation state loved by rent-seekers and the impractical alike.
Always imposing cost and control for no productive benefit.
Well no benefit other than an income for themselves. Which is why they'll never admit their mistakes.
Everything's so regulated now we don't really have an economy any more. I'm calling it a regonomy now.

Unfortunately so many believe the fear porn and propaganda the news entertainment industry spew out.

It's said the Chernobyl disaster helped in finally exposing the corruption and incompetence of the soviet regonomy.
Maybe this will be our meltdown.

Dear Yuyutsu,
I do not wish to interfere in your life. The thing is you can perfectly protect yourself from this virus without interfering with my life. If you wish to remain at home and avoid catching this virus then that is absolutely fine by me. You staying home does not require me to stay home too. It is the fearful people like yourself who wish to lock me away to protect you. you say we are the envy of the world. I don't think Melbournians would be in this category.
I am merely pointing out that the dangerousness of this virus to most people has been grossly overstated. It is not harmful to the vast majority of the population. Almost all those who may die from it are already at the very end of their life and are vulnerable to almost any illness, including flu, bed sores, a fall or slip in the shower. If we had protected these vulnerable people in the first place and allowed the rest of us to deal with this infection in the usual way, it would have mostly been over by now and the restrictions on nursing homes could have been lifted. Despite the extraordinary response to this virus, this is the one group of people we have failed to protect. Furthermore, This has been the case almost everywhere in the world. As I said in the article, 75% of Australian deaths are nursing home residents, despite them making up only a very small portion of those infected. They can be perfectly well protected without destroying the lives of the rest of society. Whats more, the sooner we allow the healthy portion of the population to catch the virus, the sooner we can remove the restrictions on nursing homes. I find it horrifying that nursing home residents are being denied the right to see their families in their final years and months. The sooner we get it over the better for everyone, including the vulnerable.

Dear Rhys,

Of course I have no wish to lock you: if you can come up with creative, ingenious ideas on how you can live your normal life without infecting me and the rest (in fact the majority) of us who fear the virus, then by all means, I would support that. So far the simplest idea I can come with is that you get yourself infected, isolate for the necessary period, then come out and do what you like.

Your key statement is: "the sooner we allow the healthy portion of the population to catch the virus, the sooner..." and I definitely agree, but your word should remain ALLOW, not INFECT, against people's will. Most people, I believe, would not grab that option, but you are welcome to try and persuade them.

I also find it horrifying when nursing home residents are being denied the right to see their families, but this is not the case in Australia... apart from Victoria. Residents do not get to see as many visitors as often as they like, but the compromise is reasonable under the circumstances, in most states.

I am not that sadistic, punitive premier who made Victoria his special case, overtly jeopardising all recovery efforts there. I take no pleasure in other's sufferings and have no perverse need to feel in control. The rest of us have done very well.

I also find it horrifying when people are denied elective surgery or have tooth-ache for months and only offered pain-killers. There are however countries where even though surgery is not legally prohibited, doctors and hospitals are just so overwhelmed that they do not perform any.

Now why would you suggest that I stay at home after all this effort?
I already stayed at home as was necessary, had my share of pain, it was hard, but we earned our freedom so now my life has resumed 80% back to normal, soon even 90%. Would you like us to stop entertaining the old people in nursing homes?

[continued...]

[...continued]

Now for the disease: death is my last concern, for the dead suffer no more. The living do. Many describe the acute illness and pain as "worse than anything I ever had", then a large portion have lasting chronic problems as the virus can attack any parts of the body, not just the lungs. Scans show that many have holes in their lungs following COVID that reduce their breathing capacity and some remain short-breathed for life even after talking or climbing stairs. Others have heart damage, or brain-fog or never regained their full eye-sight. Research indicates that COVID increases the chances of diabetes and Parkinson disease. I don't want to take the chance.

Yes, I totally agree. Commonsense at last!

So get out there and start living with the virus and if you just happen to be one of the unlucky ones who gets it (because somebody will!) and die then you will just have to live with it!