This week I've noticed a couple of mistakes Dan Andrews has made with his communication that is certainly impacting the morale of the Victorian citizens, but in another area creating confusion which could lead to people getting fined.
The first is the hype during the week from the press leading people to expect on Sunday the 25th of October we could hear a significant announcement, yet it didn't happen. Supposedly it didn't happen because of two days with the days cases being 7 each day. The problem is this doesn't look good. On the one hand the government is saying we'll average cases over a 14 day period (ending an additional 2 days ago) and if the figure reaches an average of 5 cases per day with 5 mystery cases the target has been reached. Yet there's been a knee jerk reaction because of the two last days. You can't, or shouldn't create a perception of a target that is averaged over a longer period of time, just to change path because of the cases number for two days. The case numbers are largely from a single known outbreak. With the number of mystery cases being 9, that's so close to 5 most people wouldn't consider the difference significant, yet the government flips as though they are in panic mode.
The problem is the government isn't taking small incremental steps. Today, even with the higher numbers, some announcements could have been made. But it wasn't and that's a concern as it indicates the government doesn't have the knowledge or skill/technology to make that happen. As a citizen that's a concern.
Even taking into account the last two days case numbers, the rolling average will still be going down. We'd need the higher case numbers to continue for probably 3-5 days for the average to start going up.
The second issue is the 25km Radius announcement the government made. I can say the extra distance is probably welcome by most people. However the four reasons to leave home appears to have been lost on people. People don't realise the four reasons still apply.
Many people don't realise you just can't go out travelling up to 25km without complying with the four reasons.
Many people don't realise that you can socialise outside with another person, just as you can exercise.
Many people don't realise the 25km radius also applies places of permitted work, where workers can use their workplace as the centre of the 25km radius.
People don't realise the going to other places hasn't started in the metro area and has only started in the regional areas.
The 25km radius message was so strong it overwhelmed the additional conditions of the four reason.
All of this means the communication from the government is failing and people are getting the wrong message.
I am constantly talking with people and letting people know what they can and can't do. These are well educated people. People with their first language as English. If these people don't know what their responsibilities and obligations are, then something is going wrong. The government needs to make sure their message is as clear as possible.
Kelvin Eldridge
www.Mapz.com.au/coronavirusvictoria/
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