Isolation diaries 23: Goodbye, farewell and amen

By Andrew Johnston

Dec 1, 2020

I HOPE this one doesn't come back and bite me.

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But, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final isolation diary.

After writing a few editions in Tassie, I have been writing this piece since the week I had my COVID test, which was at what seemed at the time to be the peak of the Victorian second wave.

It wasn't though - things got a lot worse.

So, this has been something I've done for the past 17 weeks.

And, thankfully, I don't need to anymore.

What's the point in writing a diary about being trapped when you're not in isolation?

For me, it really ended on the weekend.

I went to Wagga Wagga for a few days to see my sister and her fiancé who I haven't seen since June.

And, of course, their dog.

This is the furthest I have been since June. Since then I have basically not left Echuca-Moama.

I've been something of a homebody since, mostly because of the pandemic. And since I have been able to move around freely, people have typically come to Echuca rather than me travelling to see them.

So for me, isolation is now well and truly over.

While I was in Wagga, we reached the milestone of all milestones as Victoria passed 28 days without a new case, meaning we had eradicated the virus from the state.

Can anyone honestly say this ever felt like a possibility?

When we first saw the roadmap, we were all stunned that 28 days without a case meant COVID normal, because it felt like it wasn't possible.

Well, in the end it was indeed possible.

We're passed that requirement now and are still going strongly, and while it is natural for us to be cautious going forwards, it's a nice place to be in.

As Victorians we can go where we want to, we don't have to wear masks outside, and every passing day we get closer to what normality is going to look like.

Soon we will be back at sporting events and concerts, doing the things we love.

And, hopefully, we will be seeing our loved ones at Christmas time.

Isolation is no longer a thing.

But, that's more reason than ever to do the right thing.

The last few months have been some of the worst we have been through in a long time.

We've seen how bad things can be if the virus gets on top of us again.

So, the lesson is still there to learn, because I don't know about you, but I don't want to have to do this stuff again.

It was awful and we all want to avoid it happening again.

So, hopefully for the last time, I sign this off by saying enjoy your freedom but keep doing the right thing.

Let's hope I never write another one of these again.

Isolation diaries

Isolation diaries part 22: Across the river