Get used to a snap lockdown

Manjimup Shire Council and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry praised the community on how it handled the five-day lockdown last week, but warned it was something we might have to get used to. Manjimup Shire president Paul Omodei said despite questions as to why Manjimup was included in the lockdown, everyone reacted positively. “Whatever the reasoning is, it worked,” he said. “We respected the decision and everybody complied with the requirements of the masks and movements and all that sort of thing. “I think the lockdown worked, and we were very lucky it didn’t spread, because if it did it would have created all kinds of trouble, but having been there before we knew what to do.” Cr Omodei said the community acted responsibly but would have to be prepared for more lockdowns in the future. “We may have to do it again, because it’s almost certain that we’ll get another outbreak of something sooner or later,” he said. “But I think we’ve been able to develop some systems that actually work and I think that’s to the credit of everyone. “The co-operation between the community and the local government has been excellent.” Manjimup Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Paul Griffiths said he felt for businesses that were forced to shut down, but was thankful it was for only five days. “It clearly did have an impact, there were several businesses that needed to close because of it,” he said. “You could see the impact as you walked down the streets, with hospitality, gyms, even retail were closing. “We’re very glad that they’re able to be open again, but then the other side is obviously the delay of events like Jazz in the Jarrah and the Pinot Picnic which has logistic and knock-on effects to pretty much every other business in town. “But at least we got on to it nice and early which made it only a five-day lockdown instead of a much longer one.” Dr Griffiths said the nature of the situation was unpredictable, so short and fast lockdowns may become normal. “It’s the suddenness and the unpredictability of when it comes on, and also the duration that it’s going to be set to and everything else that always leaves us so anxious,” he said. “There’s always more that can be done in terms of hardening a business against these sorts of shutdowns, but when it comes down to it, until we’re vaccinated and back to a semblance of normality, this is something we’re going to have to get used to. “I think rolling lockdowns are going to be a fact of life for a while.”