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There are many important aspects to this COVID-19 outbreak in Palm Beach NSW, and the way it's being reported. Let's talk public health, race, and class
A wealthy couple did not follow self-isolation rules, which have been in place for months
Thread 1/ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/mystery-outbreak-in-sydneys-elite-palm-beach-triggers-alert/news-story/e32981807c8f500bdf1b994972d41950
A wealthy couple did not follow self-isolation rules, which have been in place for months
Thread 1/ https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/mystery-outbreak-in-sydneys-elite-palm-beach-triggers-alert/news-story/e32981807c8f500bdf1b994972d41950
It's an ongoing issue that people don't understand self isolation after all this time. Nevertheless, every testing clinic reinforces that EVERYONE* tested for COVID-19 MUST self-isolate until they get their results. It is the law
But a wealthy couple did not follow this advice
But a wealthy couple did not follow this advice
One of the couple is in his 70s - at high risk of COVID-19. And yet they still visited multiple public sites, including businesses now forced to close. There are public health, economic and social consequences to defying health advice. But a wealthy couple will never face these
It is almost a certainty that this couple is white. The Australian quotes an unnamed "official" who casually codes them as white, by saying: "They’re a classic Avalon couple..." ABS statistics show the biggest ethnic groups in the area are White (and their numbers have grown)
The Australian, & most other major news sites, have reported COVID-19 through a racial lens: choosing to name individuals and their race & ethnicity when they are "undesirable" working class minorities (Black, Spanish), & choosing to omit this when they are middle class white...
... NO ONE should have their privacy violated by being "named & shamed" in reporting, however, note the deliberate racial choices that news sites make. Even when a white person goes out of their way to defy public health, their whiteness is never fixated on, nor commented on
This case in Avalon, like every COVID-19 outbreak, is deeply concerning. We can focus on promoting the importance of testing and self isolation, without losing focus on the racial and class dynamics that continue to lead to disparate outcomes during the pandemic...
Today, when the Victorian Ombudsman has delivered her report showing racial stetetypes were used to deny human rights to refugees and migrants in the 9 towers...
...& refugees & asylum seekers are being mercilessly detained in endless quarantine, without proper care & rights...
...& refugees & asylum seekers are being mercilessly detained in endless quarantine, without proper care & rights...
Middle class white people will never be treated as second class during this pandemic, nor ever. They'll never have to worry that their names & faces will end up on national news. They'll never be placed on "hard lockdown" without access to medicine, appropriate food & legal help
Nothing will change until we collectively stop consuming media without critical thinking and action about racial, class & other inequalities
At the very least, the next time we read a news report, let's consider whether race and class are mentioned. If yes, why? If not, why not?
At the very least, the next time we read a news report, let's consider whether race and class are mentioned. If yes, why? If not, why not?
*NB. A small proportion of people can qualify for exemption from self isolation following COVID-19 testing, in industries that undergo routine weekly or fortnightly testing. That's not the case with this couple in Avalon.
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