Flat Dweller's Suffer Second Lockdown in Australia

On Sunday, The Victorian Premiere announced a warning that two postcodes would be added to the stay-at-home order and were given until midnight to prepare lockdown. This included the chance to leave their homes during lockdown to go to work, school, get supplies and exercise. On the same day, nine public housing units were put on ‘hard-lockdown’ and were ordered not to leave under any circumstances. They were given no notice or time to prepare. Police officers were stationed on every floor for the 5 day duration of the lockdown. Food delivered to rooms was not of high value and, in some cases, was either expired or ignorant of the tenants’ dietary requirements. The residents of the public housing towers are mostly immigrants and people of colour. Despite some towers having no cases, hard-lockdown was enforced while other residential buildings 20 metres away did not undergo the same conditions. Residents have said that they feel like prisoners being told over loudspeakers that “they needed to be tested in order to be released”. Australians understand the need for lockdowns and quarantine but the stark differences between how wealthier and whiter districts are treated in comparison has not gone unnoticed.