You only look at Orange's high COVID numbers this week to see that we have to remain vigilant against this terrible virus.
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There is no room for complacency.
It's almost become second nature for us to walk into a pub or restaurant and have to to check-in using our QR code and then show our vaccination status.
It's strange then when this doesn't happen.
It's strange and actually pretty disconcerting.
There is at least one venue in Orange where there is no longer anyone checking people's QR code compliance and vaccinations status.
In fact you would be hard pressed to remember that there are any COVID rules and regulations at this particular place.
In a case like this in becomes up to each and every one of us to do the right thing ourselves.
Of course if you're caught doing the wrong thing you could be handed an on-the-spot fine of $1,000 for breaching a public health order. Venues which don't comply may also face a financial penalty.
It's predicted that cafes and and shopping centres will be the first to abandon mandatory QR check-ins if COVID cases continue to fall but we're not there yet.
Opportunities to interact socially have been reduced in recent months and there's no doubt many of us want to embrace our new freedoms and pretend COVID never happened.
In reality we will all have to learn to live with COVID and in the years to come its presence will impact every single part of our lives.
Strange times we just have to get used to.