We have substantially lower death rates than Florida, which has a comparable population.
Florida: 3,600,000 covid cases 56,667 deaths
Melbourne: 54,470 covid cases 913 deaths
This remains true for the rest of Australia. Unfortunately, we are in a remarkable position compared to many parts of the world.
The biggest problems are a huge focus on the risks of AstraZeneca, and the overall lack of availability of Vaccines.
The vaccine rollout is progressing well, despite the rocky start and general fuckups by the federal government.
We're on track for 70% double-dosed by 24th of October, and 80% by 7th of November[1].
Those are the two major figures for rolling-back restrictions that were put in place. Individual states are varying on their own internal restrictions.
So, you can see that coercion isn't required.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/datablog/ng-inter...
Things aren't going back to normal, when Australia opens up regardless of vaccination status thousands of people will die if they are lucky and tens of thousands if they are not.
The vaccines have been a huge disappointment with constant goal post moving the only way to keep people from noticing.
“That car is running really well. Why don’t we dismantle the engine?”
My American-born kids are going to school in KN95 masks and spent most of last year doing temperature checks and health screenings.
One of these looks like "a work of mid 20th century dystopian fiction", certainly.
