Northcote Community Struggles Under Snap Five-Day Lockdown Sentence

As of Friday the 12th, at 11:59pm, the lockdown order came into effect, handed down by Dan Andrews that very same day. With the UK strain (B117 COVID-19) spreading from the Holiday Inn and over 60 different exposure sites developing across Victoria, the virus is posing an ever-increasing danger upon Melbournian’s given its 70% increased transmissibility compared to the original version of COVID-19. However, the unseen threatening danger that seems to be accompanying the coronavirus is the mental health decline that occurred during lockdowns one and two, that could only redevelop during this third lockdown. This was evident in Northcote as a quick walk-through a suburb often filled with commotion, instead resembled that of a ghost town. Places along High street usually packed with shoppers from The Plaza, and people looking forward to an exciting weekend filled with lovely dinners at its many restaurants, were replaced with the sight of empty shops and trams. Nearby roads were also empty including Punt Rd and the regularly packed eastern freeway.

On the day of the announcement, many different opinions and queries could be heard throughout Northcote High School (NHS) after dismissal at 3:11pm. In the space of a day, the freedom that the students of NHS had just began to identify as normal was snatched from them – this seemed to be the common opinion voiced by students. Complaints of the lockdown system and Dan Andrews, mixed with confusion about the situation, rung through the yard. Students were clearly disgruntled by the idea of a third lockdown, despite it being enforced for their and their families safety. The school is planned to reopen at 8:15am on Thursday 18th of February however it will wait for any advice otherwise from the DHS (Department of Health and Safety). How students will last is unknown, as their first class of home learning commences at 1:17pm on Monday the 15th. The school’s gates have been chained shut, an unnerving site for its students.

The compassion and bonds that have been created through these uncertain times between teachers and students, and amongst cohorts, may be the only thing pulling them through. It has become a great and only joy of COVID-19 that we have all become closer able to strengthen the weak links within our communities. Although these have been unprecedented times, the strength it has brought is one of the joys we’ve found while sheltered from this horrific virus.

Throughout this period people have been thrown around, given hope, and then had it taken away again. All to such a degree that another lockdown did not seem to surprise the masses, and the people of Northcote seemed to know what to do: remain calm and not panic buy (like when toilet paper became the thing to buy to fight an airborne virus that has little effect on your toilet).