A story of 2 states -Victoria, Australia , and Indiana, USA had similar COVID case numbers back in July... Aussies did the hard work of an organized response. They've been at 0 new cases for a week. In Indiana, yesterday we had 6,664 new cases. 1/

The population of Indiana and Victoria is roughly similar. There's also a strong urban density (Melbourne, Indianapolis) and rural spread. Victorian measures were a swift and stick response to the situation. Fines were imposed for non-compliance. 2/

Borders between states in Australia have been literally closed. There's been some public debate about the management in various states in Australia, including the strict measures seen in Victoria, but overall - IT WORKED. Lives have been saved there. 3/

Here in Indy we just got word today that my son goes back to online learning next week. He was able to attend the Hybrid Session for two whole days. There's panic buying in the news again. The death toll rises daily. People we know are sick. He's anxious, I am too. 4/

I miss being able to travel to Australia so much. I miss my family. I miss the sensibility of normalizing care for one another that could have reduced our caseload here in Indiana. It DIDN'T HAVE TO BE LIKE THIS. We could have had the Aussie response- it would have been hard. 5/

It would have been hard, but as we can see IT WAS POSSIBLE, another way really was possible. In Aussie news today, in Victoria, they're talking about setting up funding for an Australian Institute of Infectious Disease, based in Melbourne. 6/

In Indiana, I still can't buy more than one package of anti-bacterial wipes at a time IF there's even any on the shelf at Target when I go. It's been like that since March. How do we decide collectively that we value the idea of getting back to "normal"? 7/

How bad will things get here before we decide we want what we've seen is possible? By that time will it be too late? Is it too late already? It's going to be a long dark winter here while we figure this out. 8/8