Over the past week we’ve seen most of the country impacted by either extended or newly imposed COVID-19 restrictions. For most it has sadly been a case of “déjà vu all over again”.
The rest of NSW has joined Sydney in lockdown, Victoria has introduced some of the toughest restrictions yet, and the ACT and Darwin are now both in lockdowns.
The Property Council’s thoughts are with our members as together we tackle the daily challenges thrown up by these delta strain outbreaks.
While the light at the end of the tunnel can seem distant, we should have confidence that it is there and we are moving closer to it. It’s confidence that is not merely based on a political promise – it’s based on the best available science and the reality of a vaccination roll out that is gathering momentum.
The National Cabinet has agreed to an updated National Plan to shift Australia’s COVID-19 response to a new normal with fewer lockdowns and less disruptions. To get to this point health modelling shows we need a vaccination rate of 80% of the eligible population.
Both doses of vaccine have now been administered to 26% of the eligible population. We have a long way to go, but last week a million doses were administered in just three days. That’s a vast improvement from the 45 days it took for Australia to deliver its first million doses.
And we can see that it works. Statistics from NSW Health reveal that nearly all the patients receiving ICU treatment for COVID are individuals who have not yet been vaccinated. This is consistent with the experience we are seeing in recently ‘opened-up’ developed nations, where vaccinations are also helping to suppress transmission.
The Property Council is encouraging members to help promote the importance of COVID-19 vaccination through your networks by using a set of resources developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health.
If the Property Council team can be of any assistance to you as you navigate the ever-changing regulations and restrictions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Stay strong!