JAS_OH1
Forum GOD!
- Joined
- 12 May 2020
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- 11,231
That's amazing. Many people in the US (not all) tend to do as they please and many think they are above the law (some politicians and celebrities especially). In that instance, it's more of a generational thing I think.There is a totally different approach to obeying laws in Australia. It is really expected that you do, period. I guess it's a cultural thing. We've seen a massive difference between the UK and Australia. It's hard to explain tbh. Certainly where we are, the general community approach to life is very much in accordance with obeying the law and the police. It is just expected and people do, so I guess people including family would report you.
But at the same time, there is also an understanding that restrictions such as lockdown are intended for cities and larger towns and are impossible to follow for people like ourselves living rurally. An example is during the lockdown, we were not meant to leave a 5km radius around our home. That's just not viable where we live. We wouldn't even get to the end of our road, let alone to the highway to access any service (food, doctors, chemist, fuel etc). And on the times I was challenged by police, and found to be over 50km away from home, explaining where we live, the police office would and did each time appreciate that the closest shops, petrol station, doctors, pharmacy and so on were the ones i was using. The only exception was a supermarket which was 64km away in another territory and every time we crossed the border we were challenged and allowed to pass without problem. Explaining that the IGA in xyz isn't suitable for a weekly shop usually got a smile and agreement from them and I'd get waved through.
It's just a totally different culture with a very obedient population. Plus fines are not insubstantial. My mum has told me that the UK fine is being out during lockdown was £50 ($100). Here it was $2,000 at the time.
And given how high the infections in my state alone have been since RAT tests results have been logged even before it became mandatory, it is clear that people are logging positive results. Yesterday's figures for infections were over 68,000. The previous day was higher because it as the first day of mandatory reporting which was over 92,000. The day before that was 34,000 and before that 25,000.
Plus there is a lot of help available to people who test positive, so there is quite a bit to gain in reporting a positive test. And I guess if you get ill enough to need medical help it's immediately apparent if you haven't reported it and the medical practice is obliged to report certain diseases so you'll get caught very easily. Right now there are a whole host of services available to you free if you are positive including free doctors appointments over the phone. But you have to be waiting for a result (so self isolating like we are) or positive to qualify, otherwise it's something like $100 for a phone consult if it isn't bulk billed. Some medical appointments are free, some are not and I've yet to suss it out why because 1 of my doctors charges for routine appointments such as needing a script for medication, and free for a new condition, but the head of the practice and another Dr I see do the exact reverse which makes more sense to me (charge for a new condition, free for follow up apts and scripts).
Are you feeling a bit better today, then?
