Dear Readers,
On 28 September, the 14-day average of new coronavirus cases in Melbourne was below 20 and we have moved into step 2 of the roadmap. It is expected that step 3 will occur on or before 19 October. Premier Daniel Andrews emphasized that it is NOT the date but the number of cases that will determine when the future steps will occur.
Premier Andrews promised the government would constantly review its modelling. Let us pray that Melbourne will be free as soon as possible
A lot of Victorians are losing patience in lockdown isolation. In the past weekends, protesters came up to the city to ask for their right to be released immediately. Yes, Melbourne is now practising a strategy that is seen to be harsher than many western countries. But we do see that a second wave is emerging in Europe with the number of infection rises rapidly, where the lockdown was seen to be released too early. Melburnians have already paid the cost of losing freedom for over 8 weeks to gain this fantastic suppression of the spread of the virus. This success can be easily be forfeited if we choose to come out from the lockdown too early.
Of course, no one can prove when should be exactly the best timing for unlocking Melbourne. To be conservative is acceptable as life matters. The expression of opinions is the fundamental rights of an Australian citizen. However, this right is subject to not endangering the others. By organizing protest gatherings which help to spread the virus should not be commended nor recommended.
In this time of the pandemic, hundreds of people died and we should have learned a lesson. Human beings are not just individuals. We are united socially as a community and should be responsible, not just for ourselves but also for others. By threatening the existence of the others to insist on personal right or belief is unacceptable by society.
We should learn to give up our rights to bless the others. For example, we wear a mask to protect others from being affected by us. Or we test and isolate ourselves so that others can be protected from the possibility that we are infected. It demonstrates our love, responsibility and commitment to others in society.
It is a time that we should learn how to live in love during this pandemic.
Raymond Chow
Publisher
BlessingCALD