I have never really known of a premier of another state. I was never interested enough to care. But I know of Daniel Andrews. I would recognise his face and voice anywhere. I watched his daily press conferences in the months following the initial outbreak of Covid-19. Everyday as I worked from home and on my lunch when I was to be in the office. I felt his initial policy response, while incredibly unpopular, was needed and the right thing to do. For every Australian. The wealthy, poor, elderly, young, those with health privilege, those without, and everyone who loves or cares for any other human in any capacity at all. It did surprise me. That Australians seemed to comply. That those who could not speak for themselves or usually had their voices drowned out, would have their lives seen as equally important in a society where it is almost always not the case.
And it surprised me that, as I thought this policy and actions reflected his belief that all life was equal and to be protected and respected, he performed a spectacular backflip to be inline with states around the country in promoting vaccines and return to ‘normal’ life. A few selfish people with extreme privilege, casually citing mental health concerns about not being able to go to a beach – as if that provides evidence of an illness requiring remedy – managed to backflip the policy that protected those that are continuing to suffer and die in unprecedented numbers today as a result of this ongoing pandemic.
Queensland Health has released statistics showing 10% of all patients that acquire Covid in public hospitals in this state, die. 1 in 10 people in hospital who get Covid there, die. And there are no specific transmission reduction protocols for Covid-19 to prevent or reduce that number.
Healthy people continue to get and spread Covid, including to their chronically ill and compromised family members. Healthy people, who have been told that it won’t kill them, it’s just like a cold or flu to a healthy person. It’s not. The cumulative affect of multiple Covid infections is incredibly damaging and lifespan reducing. And we are all assuming all ‘healthy’ people can be completely assured of their health status, and that there is no underlying susceptibility that would otherwise never surface. If there is, don’t worry. They will say you died of it, not Covid.
It is just another representation of the idea we have all so wholly embraced – pursuing good health is a positive value. Except, people pursue it as if a healthy diet and regular exercise, already a privilege of those in good health and in possession of some means, somehow makes you impervious to natural ‘fate’. Going to the gym and a fad diet won’t prevent cancer, endometriosis or MS. It won’t stop you being in a car accident that kills you. The judgement you are making that your current perceived health status protects you, though, is killing Australians everyday. People with disabilities, neurodivergence, chronic bowel inflammation, any cancer or cancer treatment, neurological conditions, blood disorders…. The list goes on for those more likely to die of COVID infection. And, unless you are a white supremacist eugenicist, there is no doubt these people are part of your loved ones.
It begins with the needs of the healthy to go to the beach lest they have FOMO, sentencing loved ones to die. Then the ongoing suggestion that drastic weight management and strength/cardio will make you impervious to death or the ravages of ill health forces millions to invest in their doomed bodies with no concept of what the future likely holds. This perceived health privilege they gain is creating a new Health Supremacy that is enabling the death of those without Health privilege immediately, and those with it sometime sooner after. Surely our time and resources can be better directed into keeping people alive, now?? Otherwise, we all buy into a scheme that keeps us busy and takes our money while we wait for the inevitable – death. A scheme so beautifully facilitated, end to end, by COVID.
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