COVID-19's effects linger five years later

Five years after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, its effects remain significant for many. Major cities like Melbourne faced extensive lockdowns, with residents confined for nearly nine months. Queensland enforced border checks for 471 days, while Western Australia had closures lasting 679 days. The Delta variant caused over 50,000 infections and 439 deaths in New South Wales. The World Health Organization declared the end of the pandemic phase in May 2023, but the societal impacts continue to be felt.