- Australians have been ‘filled with fear’ about Covid threat, policy expert warned
- Country boasts one of best vaccination rates in the world
- But study over New Year found spending rates were at a pandemic-low level
- Institute of Public Affairs said leaders ‘changed habits for good’ with lockdowns
- ‘Now they’re scratching their head that people are still doing it,’ think tank said
Aussies are living under self-imposed lockdowns because they have been ‘filled with fear’ about Covid, a policy expert has warned.
Australia has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world – with 93.5 per cent of those over the age of 16 having received at least two doses.
But despite the nation having the 99th-highest death toll from the virus globally, a recent study found many are still living as if they’re under official lockdown.
From the week to January 5, spending rates in Sydney were the lowest they have been since the start of the pandemic, ANZ Bank data showed.
University of Sydney health communications lecturer Professor Olaf Werder told Daily Mail Australia Australians would keep ‘locking themselves down’ until state and federal governments stopped giving mixed messages about the Covid threat.
He added it was no longer fear of the virus – but fear of having to go into isolation and losing income – that was making Australians stay at home.
‘People fear they could lose money because of influences they have no control over,’ he said.
‘It’s cautioned people quite a bit from living their normal lives.’
Covid Australia: Why Aussies are STILL living like hermits despite record vaccinations | Daily Mail Online
Covid Australia: Why Aussies are STILL living like hermits despite record vaccinations | Daily Mail Online
Ericson Report 