HARD LOCK DOWN

There's a disturbing scene in the early part of the film World War Z (Marc Forster, 2013) in which a presidential decision results in the total obliteration of an American town infected by a killer virus. With no vaccine and no appropriate treatment dropping a bomb on the town was the only way to eradicate the virus and protect other communities from possible contagion. Real life scenarios would never condone such drastic action,  however, filmic accounts of ways to identify, contain and eradicate pandemic viruses does emphasize the demand for immediate action, even if that action requires individuals sacrifice certain freedoms for the good of all other community members.

The recent surge in the numbers of those (after a near elimination of the virus in Victoria) found to be Covid-19 positive in Melbourne and the distribution of over thirty clusters over many suburbs has resulted in a return to Stage three restrictions being reinstated in ten different postcodes and more recently the 'hard lock down' of nine Public Housing towers in another two postcodes.

Feelings of worthlessness and alienation already experienced by many living in Public Housing together with stigmatization and stereotyping of residents as 'no hopers, drug addicts, alcoholics' is exacerbated not only by the fact that these people are being blamed for spreading the disease but also by the fact that isolating them will only reinforce in their minds that they are unclean, unworthy and invisible. Indeed being locked in they will be more exposed to the virus that has already infected thirty people who have been in contact with hundreds of other residents. I don't know how many times it has to be emphasized if you have high density housing with people crowded into lifts and public areas, then the virus will spread. There is a lesson here for those who live in high-rise apartments in Melbourne to be vigilant and to all other Victorians who have lapsed into a complacency and a mind set in which they believe that the virus is not dangerous and not circulating.

On that point, containment and testing is totally necessary but I feel for those in Public Housing many of whom have mental health issues, are disabled, have comorbidity and English language issue will be traumatized by lock down. My concern is that these people already dealing with often debilitating conditions and limited status and finances to enjoy the activities of those better off, have to contend with feeling like they are in jail, since five hundred police have been deployed to ensure that they do not leave the towers for an initial five days. A 'them and us' mentality is also reinforced not only by cordoning off the nine towers, but spills into the lock down of the ten other postcodes also associated with people of low socioeconomic status and varying cultural groups.