OPINION: Geraldton’s complacency on virus is dangerous

As I sit and type, WA has two reported new cases of “you know what” in the past four days.

This is a phenomenal result and pays credit to our State Government and the general public.

This is off the back of the announcement that effectively all our public schools will be re-opened to any student whose parents wish them to attend.

Again, on the surface this seems like great news, but there is more to the situation than this and it’s something that’s worrying me.

During the height of this virus in WA (if we can call it that), our public went out of their way to do the right thing.

We stayed home. When we went out, we did it for essential purposes and most importantly we did it without the rest of our family— solo trips to the supermarket were the order of the day.

Some supermarkets and even Bunnings seemed deserted at times.

But sadly, I have seen a change in recent days and I pray it’s not the start of a pattern.

During an essential trip today, I counted a dozen full families, (parents and multiple kids) out and about, both in supermarkets and on the foreshore.

I could understand maybe one, two or even three. But the sheer volume indicates that some people think we are over any possible problem.

I can assure you this is dangerous thinking and a recipe for a second spike in cases.

We cannot see a few days of very low or even zero new cases being enough to “get back to normal”.

There needs to be enough time to pass that assures those in charge it’s safe to start to very, very gradually ease the restrictions we have in place.

So this Pom in Oz, who calls the Mid West of WA his home, pleads with you: continue your social distancing, continue good hygiene procedures and STAY HOME, unless you have to go out.