Many Australians have been left baffled by new coronavirus restrictions, questioning why it’s acceptable to get a haircut or go to a fitness boot camp as cases continue to surge.
Risk communication experts say the confusion isn’t necessarily due to the government’s COVID-19 policy, but a breakdown in communication that means members of the public do not understand the rationale behind these decisions.
In a late-night address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Australians to stay home unless it was “absolutely necessary” that they go out but then proceeded to list a number of non-essential services that would be allowed to operate.
These included hairdressers, but customers are restricted to 30 minutes within the salon, fitness boot camps with a maximum of 10 participants, and outlets selling goods such as clothes and electronics, in shopping centres.
Weddings will also be permitted to go ahead, but only with five people; the couple, the celebrant and two guests.
The public was quick to react on social media, with many expressing confusion over what they were allowed to do or calling for a complete lockdown of non-essential services.
“Can you double your wedding attendees by getting married in a park and making everyone jog on the spot,” one Twitter user wrote.
Others questioned why the government’s position was that it is “safe to send your children to school” at the same time they urged against socialising in groups.
But Mr Morrison has defended the government's approach.
This is now too many people for a wedding. Source: AAP
“If it's not believed to be necessary based on the medical expert advice, I'm not going to be cavalier about people's jobs and their businesses,” Mr Morrison said.
He also said “Sunday barbeques” should be cancelled but added that Australians should exercise their “common sense” on what social contact with friends and family is acceptable.
An expert in risk communication at the University of Sydney, Claire Hooker, told SBS News the key to a successful information campaign during a crisis, like the coronavirus pandemic, is trust.
“People only listen to those that they trust, otherwise they have no reason to agree to the requests to monitor their own behaviour or take certain actions that are being made of them,” she said.
“If you are going to be able to communicate effectively through the entire period of the crisis, then you need to be able to admit you were wrong and change tact … and you can only do that if you have people's trust.”
Boot camps involving up to 10 people will still be allowed. Source: AAP
A new COVID-19 text messaging campaign, announced by the government on Wednesday, caused further consternation after the first message failed to include the most recent advice to stay home unless “absolutely necessary”.
Instead, the text message to be sent to every Australian mobile phone reads: “To stop the spread, stay 1.5 metres from others, follow rules on social gatherings, wash hands, stay home if sick”.
Given the unprecedented nature of the crisis, Dr Hooker said the government was going to have to make decisions that may be incorrect in hindsight but that it was important for the public to understand why they were being made.
For this, the government needed to approach the public with understanding and empathy for their reaction to the uncertainty, she said, and not aggression.
“The prime minister’s first problem is that he often sounds angry and frustrated with the public … it doesn’t make people feel respected or involved with the decision making,” Dr Hooker added.
She compared the public’s reaction to the pandemic to their response to New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons during this summer’s bushfire crisis.
“We need a Shane Fitzsimmons right now … he was very authentic and we felt that he was completely genuine,” she said. “And he was very clear in his communication as well.”
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons performance during the bushfire crisis has been praised. Source: AAP
Clarity in communication during crisis situations is particularly important in Australia where we have high numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse communities, according to Swinburne University health communication researcher Ben O’Marra.
“The government’s mixed messaging on COVID-19 based on the evidence makes it harder for the large and diverse range of Australian communities to understand the current health risks,” he told SBS News.
“There are some real practical steps we can take to improve that messaging … like making sure the message is consistent and staying in line with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations.”
The WHO’s guidelines for effective communication draws on six principles: accessible, actionable, credible and trusted, relevant, timely, and understandable.
When questioned on the discrepancy in advice for different situations during Tuesday night’s press conference, Mr Morrison said it was not “complicated to understand” why there would be different restrictions on a wedding compared to a boot camp.
“A wedding, in an enclosed venue, that would be a necessary restriction - I think that’s fairly straightforward,” he said.
As of Wednesday afternoon, 2,252 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Australia, including eight deaths.
Current Federal Government guidelines, as per the Department of Health website, urge Australians to stay 1.5 metres away from other people, to allow for one person per four square metres in businesses and frequent hand washing.
Coronavirus symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia, according to the Federal Government's website, and can include a fever, coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath.
Only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are currently advised to be tested.
But on Monday night, Australia's deputy chief medical officer told ABC's Q+A that the guidelines for COVID-19 testing were likely to be expanded this week due to the strict limits on overseas travel.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
