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Covid outbreak almost a blessing in disguise

It’s tragic that there have been additional deaths due to Covid’s recent surge through suburbs in southwestern Sydney, parts of the city that are not foremost when it comes to knowing who’s been vaccinated. I’m particularly troubled on account of these deaths, since in my personal life there has been a similar tragedy to make memorable a period of time that otherwise would’ve been notable, in my recollection, for the fact that I reached a personal goal (losing 35kg).

On the other hand it seems as though the sense of urgency that the current outbreak of Covid has produced in people is working to do what hadn’t previously been done. I wrote about the government’s need to get more people vaccinated at the beginning of May but little at all in the way of new ideas resulted when I first made those comments online. Now that people are starting to fall victim to the virus the government – and, more importantly, the people – are beginning to take steps to ensure that a larger number get the jab.

When we look overseas we see how well we’re travelling as a number of countries – including the United States of America – are dealing with significantly higher rates of infection than we are. In fact in even one state in the US the daily count of new infections is totalling in the tens of thousands, whereas in our country we’re seeing a number closer to 200 new infections a day.

I spoke with my accountant not long ago in one of our regular catch-up meetings, and this time it took place via Zoom. I’d complained that rental property income had fallen as a result of Covid, and he said that, in his view, the rents that had existed before Covid would return soon enough once the borders opened up. This had been one of the things prompting me to write that May blogpost.

Vaccines work to reduce the chance of infection and they also virtually rule out death from the virus. The NSW government’s decision to increase the number and type of location where Covid vaccinations can be secured is part of the answer, just as the federal government’s introduction of new financial support measures will help people to cope with the stresses of lockdown. A two-pronged approach gives people the space they need to organise their time so that they can make a booking with their GP or to trot down to a government-run clinic to do what has to be done so that we can return to something like normal life. 

Some things that Covid has changed will not go back to “normal”. My accountant also noted how the ability to work from home had pushed up the value of detached dwellings – people now are looking for a backyard and a spare room for an office – and we also see people moving out of the major cities to live in regional and rural towns in order to get more bang for their buck, and to beat congestion. 

Australia can even profit from the virus, if we move to get our vaccine shots. My accountant went on to say that he thought that our performance as a country in the face of the challenges Covid has brought to bear will work to ensure that people will want to come here to live.

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