Sky News host Rita Panahi says Australians deserve to have every decision to lockdown accompanied by a full cost-benefit analysis – including the “enormous harms” inflicted on the community.
“The impact on COVID-19 numbers is well covered but what about the costs, not just the economic loss, but the societal, human and the non-COVID health costs of lockdown.
“Australians deserve to know.
“The increase in mental health issues, the missed cancer screenings and early detection of other serious ailments barely rates a mention.
“The impact on children deserves far greater coverage.
“One cannot be flippant about the toll this is taking on the young; they will never have that portion of their childhood back – and the social isolation is having a grim impact on their mental health.
“We need a better way, a more sophisticated, nuanced approach – rather than simplistic, destructive lockdowns and COVID-zero fantasies.
“Australia will remain a prison island unless we fundamentally change our mindset.”
