The New Norm
August 24-30, 2020
Will America ever be the same?
By Cait Smith
caitlin@dailydata.com
For this week’s column, instead of sharing the impacts COVID-19 has caused to several Arkansans, I am taking a break to tell you all about an extensive experience a foreigner had to endure. As I listened to this story, the so-called steps America is taking to keep its citizens safe begun to wander in the back of my mind.
In this YouTube video, Adelaide Kane explained in great detail how the travel back to her hometown of Perth, Australia was not only extensive but exhausting and long. In the first round of her trip – boarding from LA – Kane noted how the plane was so empty, all the passengers could have entire rows to themselves. Of course, masks and social distancing was involved, but the precautions didn’t stop there.
Once Kane landed in Sydney, Australia, she had to go through a period of tests – one of the first being the COVID-19 test. Her and all the other passengers that landed were then immediately directed to a hotel where they had to quarantine for 14 days.
She explained how during this time, it took her nearly five tries to be cleared of a G2G pass – a pass required for travelers coming in and out of Australia. Apparently this pass is so exclusive and hard to obtain, Kane needed proof from family members to show that she is in fact an Australian.
The restrictions continued when she finally arrived in Perth. She had to take another COVID-19 test as well as another 14 days of isolation in her family’s home. After those days are up, she will then have to take another COVID-19 test before she is cleared to be in close contact with her family. Because as it turns out, Perth is coronavirus free. Kane said seeing people without masks on was a surreal moment.
America COVID-19 free … could you imagine? I know I sure can’t. Quite frankly, I don’t think we’ll get there by this fall. With the amount of people refusing to practice social distancing and wearing masks, we are bound to endure this well into the next year.
Listening to Kane’s tale of precautions she went through had me thinking how inextensive America’s precautions are. I have seen plenty of people still travelling, parties are still being had, and even bars are packed. As a country, we’re getting away with a lot of stuff through this pandemic. And because of it we’re suffering the consequences.
But who knows, maybe I’m just looking too deep into it. If interested, check out Kane’s story time by visiting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd8-lDnhgkY.
