'Wake-up call' for all

Friday October 15, 2021

MOUNT Gambier’s mayor believes the community has been fortunate to avoid serious ramifications from the Covid-19 scare last week.

Mayor Lynette Martin said the incident was a “wake-up call” for the Mount Gambier community.

Last week, increased Covid-19 restrictions were implemented following a case where a Mount Gambier woman, who travelled from Victoria, returned to the city with the disease.

As a result, Ms Martin said it is crucial for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“We can’t force people to have a vaccination but we can certainly encourage it,” Ms Martin said.

“The science tells us getting vaccinated is the way out of having to face lockdowns in the future.

“It’s not going to prevent you from getting Covid but potentially will assist you in not getting seriously ill and dying.

“So I certainly do encourage people to get vaccinated.

“If they are uncertain, they should seek information from reliable sources – talk to their doctor or read information on the SA Health web site – so they can make a decision,” she said.

“In Mount Gambier we have been fortunate – we only had those early cases last year and they were returned travellers right at the beginning of the Covid outbreak.

“I think people have got complacent although I compliment our community for being disciplined throughout the pandemic – proof of that is that we have been relatively Covid free.”

“Given our geographic location with the border, I think it speaks volumes about the cross-border community and our community on how they have observed the restrictions and requirements of SA Health.”

She said Covid-19 restrictions have hit our border communities hard.

“They [Victorians] are so much of our economic, social and day to day business here,” Ms Martin said.

She said the eventual opening up of borders would be welcomed.

“I am looking forward to it, so hopefully we can start to resume a relatively normal life, although in saying that, we have had a relatively normal life throughout the pandemic,” she said.

“We do have great visitation from the eastern states, and it would be good to have that happen again.

“It’s a double-edged sword – it’s going to bring challenges.

“We are going to be welcoming people into our state from other areas, but I understand that they won’t be accepting people from Covid hotspots.

“We have to take this step to open the borders so that we have Australians living as one to keep our economy strong.”

Ms Martin said level three restrictions last week hit the hospitality industry hard and she welcomed the state government financial assistance for businesses.

“With density requirements, they [the hospitality industry] have been the sector hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” she said.

“Given we weren’t in lockdown, the announcement of financial support was welcomed.”

MOUNT Gambier’s mayor believes the community has been fortunate to avoid serious ramifications from the Covid-19 scare last week.

Mayor Lynette Martin said the incident was a “wake-up call” for the Mount Gambier community.

Last week, increased Covid-19 restrictions were implemented following a case where a Mount Gambier woman, who travelled from Victoria, returned to the city with the disease.

As a result, Ms Martin said it is crucial for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

“We can’t force people to have a vaccination but we can certainly encourage it,” Ms Martin said.

“The science tells us getting vaccinated is the way out of having to face lockdowns in the future.

“It’s not going to prevent you from getting Covid but potentially will assist you in not getting seriously ill and dying.

“So I certainly do encourage people to get vaccinated.

“If they are uncertain, they should seek information from reliable sources – talk to their doctor or read information on the SA Health web site – so they can make a decision,” she said.

“In Mount Gambier we have been fortunate – we only had those early cases last year and they were returned travellers right at the beginning of the Covid outbreak.

“I think people have got complacent although I compliment our community for being disciplined throughout the pandemic – proof of that is that we have been relatively Covid free.”

“Given our geographic location with the border, I think it speaks volumes about the cross-border community and our community on how they have observed the restrictions and requirements of SA Health.”

She said Covid-19 restrictions have hit our border communities hard.

“They [Victorians] are so much of our economic, social and day to day business here,” Ms Martin said.

She said the eventual opening up of borders would be welcomed.

“I am looking forward to it, so hopefully we can start to resume a relatively normal life, although in saying that, we have had a relatively normal life throughout the pandemic,” she said.

“We do have great visitation from the eastern states, and it would be good to have that happen again.

“It’s a double-edged sword – it’s going to bring challenges.

“We are going to be welcoming people into our state from other areas, but I understand that they won’t be accepting people from Covid hotspots.

“We have to take this step to open the borders so that we have Australians living as one to keep our economy strong.”

Ms Martin said level three restrictions last week hit the hospitality industry hard and she welcomed the state government financial assistance for businesses.

“With density requirements, they [the hospitality industry] have been the sector hardest hit throughout the pandemic,” she said.

“Given we weren’t in lockdown, the announcement of financial support was welcomed.”