Expectations that there could very well be worst to come have been a constant throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
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We are continually being exhorted to do the right thing, for obvious reasons, but equally are being reminded from many quarters that this thing could deteriorate.
Given that the most recent indications are that a genuine vaccine won't be available for up to 12 to 18 months, the every day threat remains with us for now.
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Melbourne's stage 4 lockdown tells this very story.
While the daily diagnosis count remains in the several hundred, with many losing their lives, it is minuscule when compared with the experience of countries such as the US, Italy, Spain and India.
Nevertheless, any death is tragic and should people not adhere to the rules set by health authorities, the numbers could rapidly rise.
These are the real-life scenarios playing out daily before our eyes, so it is no wonder the pandemic is also impacting greatly on the mental health of so many, both because of the rigors of isolation and the uncertainties created by this invisible, existential threat.
While the virus might be a shadow in our lives, the pandemic is also creating something far more real in areas such as the Border region where case numbers have varied from non-existent to a mere handful.
The Border's largest emergency food rescue and relief charity has raised concern about what it sees as the likely growing spectre of a poverty created by COVID-19.
Albury-Wodonga Regional FoodShare says the crunch time will come when the government payments introduced to help people through the crisis because of widespread job loses and the closure of businesses are removed.
The JobKeeper and JobSeeker allowances will eventually be removed, board chairman Simon Welsh says, and that is when his organisation predicts the economic pain will truly hit.
This will place enormous additional pressure on organisations such as FoodShare, but also highlights the absolute necessity for government to get to work now on creating new safety nets.
