Early news reports: By 6 January 2020, Australian media were reporting a mystery illness in Wuhan. www.sbs.com.au
First confirmed cases in Australia: 25 January 2020—one in Victoria, followed by three in NSW that day. www.health.gov.au
COVID declared a pandemic: 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization. Pan American Health Organization
International borders close to most foreign travellers: 20 March 2020. Australians could still return, although flights became scarce. minister.homeaffairs.gov.au
Mandatory hotel quarantine begins for international arrivals: 29 March 2020. sydneyairport.com.au
First Sydney lockdown: 31 March–15 May 2020 (45 days)—using the formal stay-at-home order and its substantial easing as the boundaries. Restrictions continued afterwards. Crown Solicitor's Office
Northern Beaches Christmas lockdown begins: 19 December 2020, disrupting Christmas plans; this was a local lockdown rather than a Sydney-wide one. Northern Beaches Council
Vaccine rollout begins: 22 February 2021, initially for priority groups. www.anao.gov.au
Vaccinations open to everyone aged 50 and over: 3 May 2021, expanding to participating GPs on 17 May. www.health.gov.au
Second Sydney-wide lockdown: 26 June–11 October 2021 (107 days), during the Delta outbreak. Audit Office of New South Wales
Overseas travel resumes for fully vaccinated Australians without an exemption: 1 November 2021. NSW also removes quarantine for fully vaccinated international arrivals. health.gov.au
First Omicron cases confirmed in NSW: 28 November 2021. health.nsw.gov.au
Australia reopens to all fully vaccinated visa holders, including tourists: 21 February 2022.
Memories
The sudden quiet of Sydney’s streets and roads.
Watching daily press conferences and waiting for the latest case numbers.
Staying home, cancelling plans and wondering how long it would all last.
Walking around Waverton and the harbour, appreciating the nature close to home.
Familiar local walks becoming a highlight of the day.
The eerie sight of an almost deserted Circular Quay or CBD.
Empty trains and ferries, and wondering whether it was safe to catch them.
Teddy bears in windows and chalk messages on footpaths.
Hand sanitiser at every entrance—and its smell becoming part of everyday life.
Wondering whether a sore throat was just hay fever or something more.
Becoming very conscious of anyone coughing nearby.
Glasses fogging up above your mask.
Recognising people by their eyes when the rest of their face was covered.
Long queues for COVID tests.
The discomfort of a nasal swab and waiting for the result by text.
Scrambling to find rapid antigen tests.
Learning a whole new vocabulary: “close contact,” “flatten the curve” and “social distancing.”
Hearing “unprecedented” so often it began to lose its meaning.
Trying to understand the latest rules about visitors, exercise and travel.
Meeting Xenia with Mackie in tow regularly in Milson's Park during lockdown.
Not being able to go more than 5 km from home.
Checking how far you could go from home.
Birthdays and celebrations passing with little fanfare.
Missing hugs and ordinary physical closeness.
Waving to someone instead of shaking their hand.
Conversations with strangers feeling unusually precious.
Doorstep deliveries and contactless drop-offs.
Cooking more at home and getting tired of your own meals.
Watching other people take up sourdough, home workouts or new hobbies.
Hair growing longer while hairdressers were closed.
Living in comfortable clothes and rarely having a reason to dress up.
Days blurring together and sometimes forgetting what day it was.
Then discovering how much you missed having something to look forward to.
Binge-watching shows or rediscovering favourite films.
Sorting old photographs and revisiting past adventures.
Looking at travel photos and wondering when you would go overseas again.
Worrying about loved ones far away and being unable to reach them easily.
Feeling grateful for your home and nearby harbour walks.
Feeling restless despite knowing you were fortunate.
Having very different views from friends about restrictions or risk.
The excitement of finally sitting in a café again.
Your first proper hug or gathering after a long separation.
Finding crowds strangely overwhelming when normal life returned.
Realising how extraordinary ordinary freedom had been.
Elbow bumping instead of shaking hands.
Keeping your distance from people on footpaths.
Wearing masks and sometimes forgetting to bring one.
Checking in with QR codes everywhere you went.
Empty supermarket shelves and the rush for toilet paper.
Zoom catch-ups with friends and family.
Missing your mum, sister and friends in South Africa, with overseas travel suddenly uncertain.
The strange feeling of Australia being cut off from the world.
Takeaway coffees becoming a small daily pleasure.
Hearing about exposure sites and checking whether you had visited any.
Getting vaccinated and the prospect of greater freedom.
The mixture of anxiety, boredom and unexpected peacefulness.
Having more time for photos, your blog, reading or reflection.
That first reunion, meal out or trip away when restrictions eased.
