Victorian mother in lockdown calls for unity amongst all Australians
A Melbourne mum in lockdown with her two children said she feels Victoria has been made to feel like the "naughty state" amid a surge in coronavirus cases.
Daniela Mezinec, a school counseller living in Glenroy, in the city's north, is one of the five million Melbourne residents plunged back into a stage-three lockdown for six weeks, as the government attempts to curb a startling increase in community transmission.
There is uncertainty over whether students will return to face-to-face learning after an extra week of school holidays was announce.
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Ms Mezinec is now facing the daunting prospect of home-schooling her two children and doesn't know when she herself will be able to resume work.
READ MORE: Melbourne wakes to lockdown
As Melburnians woke to a ring of police enforcing the new stay at home measures this morning, Ms Mezinec told Today Victorians needs the nation's support more than ever.
The Melbourne mother told Today all of her relatives are interstate. Today
"It's our state today. It could be another state tomorrow. We are one country after all," she said.
"We came together for the fires and that was wonderful because we felt a sense of solidarity. But now there's this segregation that's going on which is causing problems.
"Now it's sort of like an us versus them mentality, especially with the suburbs that were locked down initially.
"We even felt stigmatised in our own suburbs and state."
The entirety of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire will be locked down for six weeks from tomorrow midnight. Graphic: Tara Blancato
Ms Mezinec said the isolation is emphasised by the fact Victoria is the only state under a harsh lockdown.
"We do feel like we're the naughty state," she said.
"We're the Victorians that did something wrong, and to be honest with you, I don't think that's the case.
Ms Mezinec said the next six-weeks will be tough for her family, as all of her relatives are interstate and her mother is unwell.
A woman looks out a window from a locked-down public housing tower in Melbourne. AP
"It's tough. I mean, it really is tough," she said.
"My mum, she's been unwell, had to have heart surgery, I couldn't be there for her.
"She wanted to come up last week and actually spend some time with us. Unfortunately, it's just too dangerous and now we're just stuck here again on our own.
"I don't even know if I can get to work or not. I just have to see how it plays out," she said.
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