27 —Masks off

We chat about Melbourne's return to city-wide lockdown and the ongoing police presence at the nine inner-city public housing blocks. Then we get personal, talking about our own paths to radical politics.

Lockdowns and masks

• Coronavirus safety information wasn’t translated into non-english languages for months after the outbreak.
• Victorian state government advice has changed to recommend the wearing of masks in situations where you can’t socially distance.
• Hours later Federal Health Minister released an information sheet saying “no”, you don’t need to wear a mask.
• The WHO released guidance a month ago recommending the use of masks.
• NSW Government is going to charge people $3000 to be quarantined in hotels. Commentator Peter Van Onsenlen this this is a good idea.
• The hard lockdown for 7 of the 9 public housing towers is “over”, though still with heavy police presence.

App bad

• App bad.
• The government has no intention to switch to the Google/Apple contact tracing API.
• Business consortium LetUsPlay is trying to get Zoomers to get on the app.

Shoutouts

• Read McLean’s radicalising book, When Did You Last Wash Your Feet by Michael Rosen
• Follow the people reporting from inside the locked-down towers: Tigist Kebede, Ayan Shirwa, Idil Ali and _h1.ba