YOUR SAY: Tight squeeze at shopping centre a virus concern

Now if this is is a way to infect people of Wodonga with COVID-19 then this takes first prize. The contractor has built an archway with scaffolding approximately two metres wide which means there can be no social distancing when entering or exiting the building, as there is no other entrance.

I tried to locate a phone number to ring and report this to someone in authority. I first tried the Wodonga Council - not our problem I was told. I then found a 1800 number to report COVID-19 problems only to be told 'not really our problem but I will take your complaint'. And finally I reported the matter online to the police non-urgent reporting website,which left me wondering "who really cares".

Are the tradesmen on this job local, or are they from Melbourne and if so, are they being tested every time they arrive in town? I would hope tso.

I just believe that the contractor or centre management should be held accountable and that the situation should be rectified ASAP.

IN OTHER NEWS:

We are facing a lethal and unpredictable enemy that is impossible to eradicate. This means that most of us will be immunised with COVID-19 either from its natural spread or vaccination. Living with the virus is a new reality. We need to accept it is with us and is likely to be here for a long time.

The big question is how long does immunity last. Can we be re-infected? If that were the case then any immunisation will face the same hurdles as natural immunity and provide doubtful protection. If we don't develop a herd immunity we will see COVID-19 infections soar and the possible reintroduction of lockdowns once our borders reopen to international travellers.

A study by the University of South Australia concluded that in an Australian model based on Sweden up to 10,000 lives could be lost. These morbidity and mortality levels would prove to be much lower in Australia if we can protect aged care facilities from infection. Also, with a better prepared health system and improving treatments this figure would be reduced.

The low number of COVID-19 deaths so far is encouraging however, through fear and uncertainty people are delaying seeing their GP about other concerns. We therefore risk a far greater number of deaths because of delayed treatment for cancer, hearth disease, diabetes and respiratory diseases. Every year there are 41,800 deaths in Australia due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), 16,700 from diabetes, cancer claims 49,640 and 16,800 succumb to chronic kidney disease.

COVID-19 has been in Australia for around seven months and has claimed 481 lives to August 21. In the same time, the diseases mentioned above have taken 73,000 lives. These figures are from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's website.

Calls to Lifeline are up 25 per cent and Beyond Blue 40 per cent. Because lockdowns are destroying livelihoods and businesses we risk an extra 1500 suicides per year. We need a plan with an end game to stop this paralysis of fear and one that both minimises lives lost and allows the majority of people to be able to get on with their lives.