Can Australia escape its Covid lockdown cycle?

In the early days of the pandemic, Australia was the envy of the world. The country was lauded as a model of how to handle the virus. Australian states recorded few cases; and when there were outbreaks, authorities brought them under control quickly.

All that has changed. Now, well into the second half of 2021, Australia is losing its grip on the virus. While other major cities such as New York, London, and Paris, are opening up, Sydney is under lockdown. Even outside the nation’s major cities, travel restrictions are severely limiting movement for Australians within the country.

Australia’s politicians have sought to blame the Delta variant of coronavirus. But in truth, the new strain is only part of the story. The bulk of Australia’s failure lies not in new forms of the virus, but in inept management and an outright failed policy.