It is indeed a great challenge of the current times to strike a balance between preventing Covid-19 from spreading and reopening the economy. The fact is, while a lockdown seems like a short-term solution, the long-term costs of it are prohibitive.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s exhorting the states to open up, rather than shut down, at the current juncture, therefore, is valid. And a phased and planned reopening rather than restricting movement altogether is a viable option.
Lockdowns, in the early stages of the virus, were a rather stop-gap solution. But the fact that the virus has a way of striking back with a vengeance does not make lockdowns a plausible solution any longer. The cost to the Australian economy and to the mental well-being of the populace is daunting. It is indeed a foolish proposition to impose a lockdown each time there is an outbreak, and no one can afford it any longer.
In 2020-21, $34.1 billion was spent in job-seeker payments by the federal government, and $17.3 billion is slated for 2021-22, besides the $130 billion announced for job-keeper. This kind of expenditure is unsustainable and, can’t be undertaken each time individual states decide to have a lockdown.
There were about 1,195 deaths in road accidents in Australia in 2019. Suggesting a lockdown, is comparable to suggesting a shutdown of our roads to prevent deaths from road accidents.
50,000 people died of cancer in 2019. The death toll from influenza was 486 in 2019 and 1,181 in 2017. Disease and illnesses are a perennial problem of humanity. Is it justifiable, therefore, that we stop the wheels of humanity’s progress, because of a pandemic, that has claimed just around 1,039 lives in Australia so far? Death and disease arise from the hand of destiny. While we can fight disease, it has never been human endeavour to lock its progress because of death.
Poverty, starvation and homelessness can be major costs to society because of these lockdowns…costs we can ill-afford. Besides, the long-term effects of mental illness to countries and economies will be incredibly burdensome.
Paedetric hospitals in Australia have reported a 100 percent increase in admissions for mental health problems since the pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. There has been a 200 percent rise in admissions for substance abuse and suicide attempts. 70 percent of children and youth have indicated that the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have affected their mental health.
It would do well for the Premiers of individual states, who are panicking at the prospect of reopening and the end to lockdowns, to weigh these costs to the Australian population and economy. The long-term costs far outweigh the safety-net from a lockdown. Lockdowns are no solution to the crisis any more.
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