As expected the lockdown in Sydney is to be extended for another four weeks.
I figured that now is a good time to reflect on how we got to this point. Not how Golden Gladys didn’t shut down Sydney’s eastern suburbs when this outbreak started spreading, but how the virus got there in the first place.
As event managers we always work on risk analysis and contingency plans. So imagine you are tasked with managing accommodation for aircrew in Sydney. You would do a what if scenario and ask a series of questions.
Q1: How long do the aircrew need to be accommodated for?
A1: Generally overnight or up to 12 hours.
Q2: Can we accommodate them at the airport?
A2: There are a number of hotels adjacent to the international and domestic terminals.
Q3: Can we use those hotels exclusively for short term aircrew accommodation, thus separating them from those returning travellers who need to be accommodated for 14 days?
A3: Yes Minister.
Q4: Let’s assume that the aircrew are infected with COVID-19. What is the best way to transport them to that accommodation without risking transmission to the driver?
A4: In a vehicle that has a physical barrier between the driver and the passengers.
Q5: Has that been done in other countries already?
A5: Yes Minister.
Q6: Would this prevent an outbreak in Sydney?
A6: Yes Minister.
Q7: Should we get an event manager to run this operation?
A7: FFS. Yes Minister.
I don’t think its the time for the blame and the what ifs, it’s not helpful. Gladys has done her best to keep NSW moving when other States, we were doing well. Many States have opened and shut their borders many times. She’s largely going it alone. Shes taken the hit for over half the repatriation flights, send contact tracers to Victoria when they needed it and no one has assisted her when asked.
I was seeing a rebound of inquiry until this recent outbreak. – the confidence was returning.
Nobody anywhere in the World knows how to deal with this, there’s no text book. I believe Gladys is doing her best to navigate our way through this with compassion and empathy. I for one am really getting annoyed with people who feel they don’t have to toe the line, don”t want to stay at home, don’t want to restrict visitors and have parties or protests because their freedom has been taken away. Those are the people that are not helping us out of this.
Who knows if an earlier lock down would have worked? There would still be those who would have continued to defy the orders – travel around, spread the virus.
Please everyone just stay home and for goodness sake GET VACCINATED!