Lockdown disaster: Economic, social and health problems were rampant due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Australia is set to experience a new wave of COVID-19.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Though there is no talk yet of lockdowns, Australia should avoid another one at all costs.
Now a disclaimer. Like many Australians, I went along with the initial lockdown as I thought it best we figured out what we were dealing with.
But by 2021, I recognised the lockdowns were arguably equally as harmful and recent research has shown the devastating affect lockdowns have had on, among other things, health and the economy.
Health
A study on behalf of the Monash COVID-19 Mental Health Research Group, Global and Women’s Health Unit, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine found in Melbourne’s second wave in July and August 2020, rates of clinically significant depressive and anxiety symptoms were substantially and significantly higher in Victoria than in other states and territories.
Broken down, 44 per cent of Victorians reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression, compared with 32 per cent of people living in other parts of the country.
One third reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety and a further one in five experienced at least occasional thoughts that they would be better off dead (this last statistic was felt country-wide).
Even where restrictions were eased in Australia, mental health problems persisted.
Research also showed that in Victoria, people’s mental health problems were more closely linked to public health restrictions than a fear of infection.
Another study showed that children who experienced a second lockdown were reported to have significantly increased mental health difficulties with anxiety topping the list, followed by symptoms of depression and attachment seeking behaviours
Let’s not even get started on the ban on elective surgery and the scaling back of testing for diseases other than COVID-19.
For those in domestic violence situations research has shown that 49 per cent reported a higher frequency of emotionally abusive, harassing or controlling behaviours and a further 42 per cent said physical violence became more frequent and severe.
Economy
Australia is broke with rising interest rates and a cost of living crisis.
Over the course of the pandemic, Federal Government gross debt increased from $534.4 billion in March 2019 to $885.5 billion in April 2022.
This will have to be paid back by future generations and most likely in the form of higher taxes and worse public services.
The debt will also likely reduce economic activity, leading to higher unemployment, lower wages and fewer opportunities.
Furthermore, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia, small businesses were disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Deserted: Empty streets, empty shops and a destroyed economy — consequences of lockdown.
Photo by
Cath Grey
So, while Netflix and Amazon may have profited, Australian tourism, hospitality, retail and recreational businesses struggled or went under.
Now, it was completely right to provide financial support to businesses and employees who lost out due to 2020 and 2021 lockdowns.
But to do so again may destroy our economy for generations.
Conclusion
The Paul Ramsay Foundation recently did an independent review which has found that the Australian lockdowns affected the most vulnerable and were too prolonged.
Overseas, countries such as the United Kingdom are also second guessing their lockdowns.
Lockdowns may have been necessary at the start of the pandemic and they probably did result in less COVID-19-direct deaths.
But for the sake of everyone, let’s avoid another one.
28°C