2020: A Life On Pause

Of course 2020 couldn't end without another coronavirus outbreak in Sydney, which has resulted in around 170 new cases from community transmission in the last two weeks. It also appears that a returned traveler from New South Wales is the origin of eight new cases in Melbourne in the last 24 hours, which ended our run of two months with no local cases. In response (and with the expectation of further COVID-19 positives among close contacts) the Victorian Government has re-mandated the wearing of face masks indoors, limited gatherings in private homes from 30 to 15 people, and will close the border to all of New South Wales as of 11:59pm on 1 January 2021. Happy New Year's Eve everybody!

 

2020 has felt like a year with my life on pause. I began working from home in March and have been fairly homebound for most of the year. There were no gigs, comedy festivals, movie festivals or art gallery visits while Melbourne was in its various stages of restrictions and lockdowns during the first and second waves of the pandemic. The last two months have seen us all cautiously re-enter public spaces as things began to open up again. It's been nice to catch up with friends in person, eat at restaurants and exercise at the gym.

I have been fortunate to live here and not be facing what my family and friends are dealing with in the United States as the pandemic rages out of control. Thankfully we have a vaccine on the horizon (my brother has already gotten his first shot as a frontline worker) and hopefully things will start to return to a new normal soon. I look forward to being able to travel again at some point, but for now I will continue to wear my face mask, follow public health advice, and do my best to support artists and businesses that have done it so tough this year.