In recent weeks during the trying and worrying conditions imposed on the Australian community by the Covid-19 pandemic it has been evident that most of the population have shown a remarkably high level of patience and understanding about the new conditions under which we have been forced to live.

Social distancing, self and family isolation, shortages and rationing, uncertainty and stress resulting from fears for loved ones and friends, and, of course, the shock of sudden unemployment and the obvious concerns about how the future will unfold; these are the issues that the bulk of the Australian population is facing.

Even though the drastic measures taken by governments and health authorities have been shown to have promise for Australia the picture in some countries around the world is alarming.

At the individual and household levels the stresses being placed on the population are huge.

Even in the best prepared and best-equipped households the pressures on normal life are strong.

Fortunately, most of us are managing to devise ways and means of coping … somehow.

Keeping children at home and focussed on managing the different circumstances is especially hard for parents with children who are still too young to appreciate the complexities and demands of a new way of life.

Remarkably, there has been a flowering of suggestions and opportunities for ways and means of keeping busy and interested during the tough times of isolation and the disciplines of social distancing.

But, it is clear that ‘cabin-fever’ and stress are problems that many, many former busy men and women are facing as the days of isolation.

Minor meltdowns enable some to reset their balance but for others the strain builds without an adequate outlet. Such situations demand levels of understanding, and tolerance within families.

Regrettably, there are some examples emerging on a daily basis of how people not equipped with the basic elements of mannered social interaction and armed with arrogance that has been born of ignorance are making life unpleasant – and perhaps dangerous – for others.

Apart from those who don’t clearly understand the new social environment there are those whose personalities lead them to abuse and shun hard-working health workers travelling to and from work, verbally (and sometimes, physically) attack pharmacists, doctors’ receptionists, supermarket store staff and others
because their immediate needs cannot be satisfied.

Then, there are those whose ignorance and previously exhibited lack of self-control leads them to assault partners and children.

Cases of people deliberately coughing or spitting on others to get their way have been well documented.

In this situation spare a thought for the difficult extra role our police services have been given to ensure that the government-imposed social restrictions are observed – in addition to their normal workloads.

This is not a task that the police have sought – rather, our police officers are expected to exhibit the wisdom of Solomon in determining whether or not ordinary people are observing the required isolation and social distancing.

The gamut of social/family practices which may, in a police officer’s opinion, breach the new regulations, is huge and contains circumstances which otherwise would not raise a comment: a couple sitting in a park, a grandfather driving a teenager to an appointment, a person checking on an aged relative, are just some possible areas of uncertainty.

The upshot is this: We currently live in a most difficult period.

However, there are signs that our national effort to contain the COVID-19 virus is working.

There is, however, some distance left to travel before we begin to return to normal life.

In the weeks that lie ahead we should strive to continue to maintain and extend those qualities of civility, kindness and tolerance which most of us have shown up to the present.

In this way we can all help defeat the mindless virus that is causing us so much harm.

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