Public housing tenants stuck in the middle of an unprecedented Melbourne coronavirus lockdown have likened the experience to being trapped in a cramped prison cell.
She lives in one of the nine Melbourne public housing towers now placed under a complete lockdown for at least the next five days.Living with her mum and her 10-year-old brother in one of the North Melbourne public housing towers, she said she was concerned about her own mental health and the health of her neighbours in the towers.
“They put this lockdown on super quick and there was no preparation that they did themselves,” she said. "I think we can see other big days ahead of us, especially as we ramp up testing and focus on those areas that we know are at risk, including these towers."
That is because this is an emergency. The authorities are giving too much time to prepare in some circumstances. Where they cannot treat all people and places equally, they need to acknowledge that and explain why. Extraordinary times often call for extraordinary measures.
amynotamonds13 No prior warning, no time to prepare I must be clairvoyant, I’m sure I knew about this late morning/lunch time. Plenty of time to grab groceries/supplies etc. 🤷♂️ Full disclosure, I couldn’t be stuffed reading the article, the headline was crap enough.
People who rely on dope and meth may actually wean off that way 🤞
Disappointed with this article, its a difficult time, but its necessary please stop dividing this country we all need to stick together and help everyone out
Aged care people have been locked down, hardly seeing their families since February. Most of them dying without any visitors in the weeks and months leading up to their passing. However, this gets a big write up because it plays the race card.
Bunch of wingers.
But this us your home, you mean to say you made it look like a prison cell ? coronavirusaustralia abcnews auspol
And why precisely does this community all of a sudden deserve our sympathy?
It's sad that this occurred, but containing the outbreak is the first priority. Sorry that it occurred, but nobody can properly give assurances against the virus until its defeated.
Never a plane or 2 when you need them
They should go home.
China has disrupted the world and not faced accountability.
They applied to live in these so called prison cells on their own accord. They can get vitamin D by staying near window and eating right foods as well. They wanted cheap way to live then suck it up what comes with it you fools
I have been in lockdown with my elderly mother for months now. No family visits etc for us. Stop complaining. You are getting looked after. Start thinking of those in the units who can least afford to catch the virus
Wonder if they’ll get masks so as not to infect each other in there?
allymcleangames mrsundaymovies mrssundaymovies wikipediabrown
The left wing are milking this one..... What would they do..... let everyone there do what they want to do, and go where they want to go and spread it around Melbourne ? This is a crap thing to have to do to people, but the sensible move to take really!
Can’t get out to get ya fix. Junkies
5 days! Quit whinging! Its 5 days!
Australia 🇦🇺 is out of control w/the draconian tyranny. WuhanVirus has been weak Down Under..8449 CONFIRMED cases on a continent of 25.5M! 104 deaths...no deaths in over a week & only 2 in the last month! Dan Andrews is a despotic nutter. He’s the one out of control in Victoria!
Yes they should have been given a months written notice? FFS
Geez SBS - your newscorp is showing :/
They claim to be trapped in a cramped prison cell. I thought it was their home ? Has centrelink and the department of public housing been factual informed on just how many people should be living there? Maybe the government should be examining if there is no potential fraud.
Get on the phone to a real estate agent in two weeks and move out.
SBS managed to find someone to complain. Well done there! I’m sorry it’s come to this, but the lockdown is essential for the sake of Victoria and the rest of the country. SBS, get behind the governments of Australia for goodness sake.
As far as I knw, Australia public housing is one of the best in the world. Try to compare with other countries you will be grateful how lucky you are taken care by your government. People are dying family are tearing apart bcoz of Covid19, live with a grateful heart!
Every one is trying to keep tower residents safe..shared lift ,and stairwell ,laundry and hundreds of people sick at once would overwhelm our hospitals and put the residents at higher risk.
This is an introverts dream❤️
This article didn't even say anything about the living conditions. It's just 'We are in lockdown, it's unfair'.
More public housing to get rid of these concrete prison cells
“A lot of us are really low on vitamin D and not having that sunlight” With respect, Melbourne probably isn’t great for you in a normal year. Fly north.
What's better being in lockdown for 6 days or dying in an ICU unit alone.
Pretty sure you might have had some clue if you watched read or listened to the news.. its not like Melbourne hadn't flagged covid19 incidents/rates/increase of rates, outbreaks over the last 6mths. Peeps might just have to learn to be an informed and present member of society.
Move to America
OMG going out is the reason this virus is spreading.
I would love it if I was told to stay home and you will have your mortgage/ rent paid, food delivered AND we'll pay you $1500/fn.
Too bad think health nit death
So are you saying the authorities should have waited for a few hundred more to be infected before they acted?
Beats dying
They had the whole day to prepare before the lockdown went into force.
Poor bubbas
say some prayers it may help,not
I’m sorry for their suffering but the writing has been on the wall for over a week. The government is supplying them with everything they’ll need, comping their rent for two weeks and extra government dollars. Lack of notice prevented extra community transmission.
annaclarity1 Bonus you wouldn’t want to knock back
Shut up .. they are paying super cheap rent for generations...
Only if they’re making you wear these
Not a very grateful way of saying thank you for my free housing. If it isnt good enough for you, maybe you should return to your place of birth.
How has their unit / apartment changed since last week?
🤣🤣🤣🤣
So open up the towers and see what happens then ........... it's Sunday, many of them wouldn't have moved anyway ........
‘Cramped Prison Cell’ it’s there home any other day though.
They have to stay home for 5 days. How awful.
It’s 5 days stop giving these people a platform. Perhaps they should have complied with the social distancing etc.
But. It isn't.
It’s way overtime for a dept of social housing and construction. again. We reap what we sow, and suffer what we don’t. No thanks to Jeff Kennett.
🤣🍿
Are they not locked down in their own homes?
If you come out of Eid and celebrate by hugging and having mass get togethers without realising the consequences to the general public during this COVID pandemic then you have no sympathy from me. I didn’t have Easter
Y'all want to repeat the Bronx experience and kill a lot of people like tRump did? auspol
It’s where they usually live!!! Not saying it’s not cramped but just saying! Some of the $280 billion on submarines and missiles could surely go on public housing! Leave it with you scottyfrommarketing 🤦♂️
This is worse than the returning travelers complaining about their free stay at a 5 star hotel. Imagine complaining about getting paid to stay at home.
Public housing is meant to be temp accom is it not? Nothing more off putting than these entitled bunch, i know them, i have worked with them. In their eyes - Australia the land of freebees and racism. FFS
“A lot of us are really low on vitamin D and not having that sunlight and getting a walk in, it can be quite bad for your mental and physical health” — This girl would never survive through a Canadian winter during a pandemic. 🙄🙄 walk in place for a few days.
Excellent Prison Cells. Food, WiFi, Rent Free and $1500 from the govt for 5 days of lockdown to keep them and the community safe. Yes prison.
Nobody is pretending this is easy, but it is necessary. Overseas experience is they these sort of towers have been breeding grounds for COVID. So while these restrictions are harsh they help protect the residents of these towers and the community at large.
I assume the short notice was to avoid people avoiding it by staying away and possibly spreading the virus to other locations. Harsh but probably necessary, and now extra care of these people is required.
A Darwinian response is required, remove the lockdowns, let COVID-19 out of the bag, roll the dice, the strong will survive, over population correction.
annaclarity1 So the $750-1500 assistance is in the last paragraph. It seems as if even SBS is into vilifying Labor! AuspolSoCorrupt msm
I feel for the elderly in 159 Melrose Street who have been doing the right thing since day one, but their selfish neighbours on the estates can’t abide by the rules.
That’s sad, I guess if there was warning people might have left. If you don’t want the 2 weeks free rent, money and free food for just five days in lockdown .... I know many who would gladly take your place.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for public housing dwellers
I don’t want to blame anyone. But want to say please do it and finish your check. You don’t know how much trouble we have here simply in Balmain. I spent half day waiting in a car to have a test for me and my family.
Still I'd be willing to bet they would rather stay in the cell than go back to islamabad
What option did the government have?
Two weeks in a hotel is not the same as prison snowflake! Suck it up it’s for the good of the community!
Unfortunately, this virus doesn’t give anyone any time to prepare. Let’s all do what needs to be done. Wishing you all well and praying these five days pass quickly. You’re in your homes and you are safe and being looked after.
Five days with food and other services support....If that tips someone over the edge, their problems have nothing to do with a very short-term situation.
Imagine being a refugee
Just be grateful they haven't welded you in...yet!
LoL
For the next 5 days yes. I’m sorry but the healthy & safety of all Australians, please just take one for the team & chin up tiger
Get jobs and get off public housing.
Asher_Wolf Italy gave it's northern regions 'time to prepare' ...that went well didnt it?
Please understand that as a fellow Victorian I appreciate what you’re going through and feel for you. Please do not politicise this and divide us at a time when we need to stick together and continue to follow the medical advise to beat this.
Covid doesn’t give warnings - it just sickens & kills
Asher_Wolf This on a large scale, perpetually until we as a people refuse.
1st world problems. Stay on the sofa and watch Netflix.
There's a common thread running through all these stories - just can't put my finger on it.
Yeah cos white people don't live in public housing. Nice race bait article SBS
Umm I would love to do a prison sentence in my own home 🤦
What’s the solution let them run rife?
A taste of Communism anyone? you rely on the state and the state can do as it pleases, that's why these flats should be seen as temporary accom.
Wow, so many compassionate people commenting on here🙄
Stop complaining it’s only 6 days .Just get tested and abide by the rules .If you don’t it may happen again and again and again
Better than spreading the virus
Everyone wants to moan. I wonder what the response would be if there were serious virus outbreak at these housing estates? And an estimate of public housing making the government responsible?
Try being cooped up in a small New York apt for 3 months.. 5 days? you'll live..
It’s 5 days . Not a lifetime like it is for some people in war torn countries . Get a grip :)
That is the point . So you don’t flee
It is worthy of paying
U’d have to think some of these residents broke SD rules hence the virus got a free ride to others. Wow wat a nightmare😦😦
Chosen metaphors to weaponise an ability to push an agenda is one thing. Being in ICU, on the edge of life and death, is another. Is the Govt not acting in good faith to protect all people? Why distort the victimhood? To gain power & attention? Try ICU for real comparison.
vanbadham
Just shut up and do it. FFS
Victorian , you have a premiere who like to use Chinese Gov way to treat their people.
“Unfair”? - we are in the midst of a pandemic! and public health experts have advised our government this measure was necessary - it is 5 days! (which won’t have a huge impact on “low vitamin D” levels! - seriously)
There is also retirement villages in the affected areas these people are also in lockdown !Some are living alone! Some of these people are living with life frightening diseases! Some with Dementia like my mother inlaw she's alone and not one complaint !
Perhaps if ppl were doing what the rest of the country managed to do successfully, this wouldn’t be needed. Unfortunately some didn’t follow the rules.
It’s a crap situation but better than locking down the whole of Victoria again!! Be diligent and accept the test. Don’t refuse the test. You will make us all go backwards! CovidVic
Yes, hotel quarantined didn’t like it either. No one likes having freedoms removed. However, we are in a pandemic and the exponential slowdown growth rate of this virus ...
Goodness gracious this is the kind of stunt that’s gonna hurt people
no prior warning
Hey... Hey, Victoria...... Psssst.....
Annaleise van Diemen's health department says the BLM protest was a good boy who didn't do nothing and is gonna grow up to be a doctor like her.
Virus Survivors Could Suffer Severe Health Effects for Years ['
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Fauci says coronavirus may be mutating to become more infectious:
It’ll all be ok, chin up.
Must be a terrible feeling but as peoples lives are at risk sometimes governments do have legitimate reasons to do this sort of thing.
“These are our prison cells” - what melodrama. Seriously. It’s 5 days to prevent you or your fellow citizens dying from a disease without a cure.
Who would have thought that protesting in the midst of a global pandemic would have consequences.
Would love to see the social media outrage if Morrison or an LNP Premier did the same thing.
Waiting for the media to say that it’s racist
I believe that’s the point. Otherwise everyone would have run out to the supermarket which is precisely what was to be avoided 🙄
ComradeDan decided it's time
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