Exceptionalism

Sunrise over Terrigal Lagoon

The day started with an exceptional sunrise as I finished my 6km plod around Terrigal Lagoon, still injured and still finding it very hard work.

Exceptionalism seems to be both prevalent and a risk amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.  Whether it is doctors returning from South America who think quarantine regulations don't apply to them, or the people apparently partying in the street outside our house at 2:00am this morning, there are people who view themselves as somehow different to everybody else.

The same can apply to countries (usually the US), and I find it a little troubling that after a few days of better figures, the Australian authorities are already talking about the "curve flattening". 

As a country, we do seem to be doing quite well, but as we have recently tightened the restrictions on returning international travellers, it seems logical that growth of infections from that source would slow after the debacle of the Ruby Princess cruise ship which now accounts for upwards of 300 infections.

I would like to see how the curve of community-based transmissions is looking before getting too excited.  Despite the hype about how bad this is going to get, I'm beginning to sense a quiet confidence on the part of the authorities that Australia is going to handle the peak of infections as well as anywhere in the world.  I hope they are correct ...... and not just being exceptionalist.