West Australia has opened its borders to the east and birth rates are rising
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325348)
Rockingham, Australia
January 29, 2021 11:46pm CST
In my state of Western Australia, we have had very low rates of COVID-19, and count ourselves very fortunate to have had a lockdown in place at the very beginning of the pandemic. Now that rates in the other states are very low, we have now opened our borders to all bar one state.
By that I mean one state still has to quarantine for a fortnight when they come here but other states simply have to say they have no symptoms, haven’t been in contact with positive cases, etc. I think they also have to state where they have been for the past fortnight. This is the point where we could see an upsurge of cases. Let’s hope not.
In other COVID related news, the birth rate in the holiday town of Busselton have nearly doubled nine months after the start of the lockdowns and isolation. Rates in the Pilbara (far north of WA) are up 48% and those in the wheatbelt up 33%. Looks like we’ll need more childcare, kindergartens and schools in a few years’ time. 
Photo is of the jetty at Busselton.
Photo is of the jetty at Busselton.31 people like this
28 responses
@LadyDuck (457413)
• Switzerland
30 Jan 21
The birth rate has dropped all over Europe. Couples are too scared to lose their jobs, they do not want to have a kid to feed. Many couples split because of the lockdown, they could not stand to live together 24 hours a day.
The divorce lawyers are making a lot of money.
The divorce lawyers are making a lot of money.5 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45419)
• India
30 Jan 21
In some countries and regions within different countries, birth rates increased but in many, people put off child plans due to increased economic struggles or uncertainty.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
30 Jan 21
Hmmm... I wonder why the birthrate has increased since lockdown? 
5 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
30 Jan 21
@JudyEv I keep telling you I'm 
sweet and innocent. I don't even know how I got Pretty, let alone how other people do that. 
sweet and innocent. I don't even know how I got Pretty, let alone how other people do that. 1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
30 Jan 21
It seems there is a baby boom everywhere. Even india has recorded a high birth numbers in this lockdown. I know of few couples who planned for a baby during this period. All these years they had no time to plan in this fast paced working life.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (36391)
• Toccoa, Georgia
1 Feb 21
@JudyEv I am so glad to be past child bearing age at this time.
2 people like this
@JimBo452020 (42629)
• United Kingdom
30 Jan 21
Every other country which has congratulated themselves on how they have contained the virus has had a sting in the tail.
Any opening up at all will cause an increase,
But Australia is in a good position to cope.
As for the birthrate, bonzer.
5 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45419)
• India
30 Jan 21
@JimBo452020
Opening up does increases cases to some extent. The key is to keep them under check.
I am surprised to see some people here who look to be getting more lenient as they say that vaccines are already there.
Even with coming of vaccines, we need to be careful.
3 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45419)
• India
30 Jan 21
@JudyEv
Tracking and contact tracing needs to be strong.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (57366)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Jan 21
Sounds like another generation of baby boomers because people haven't had anything else to do.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (57366)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
30 Jan 21
@JudyEv That's really a sad thing, don't you think.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan 21
@kaylachan Yes, it is indeed.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86514)
• United States
30 Jan 21
Yes it is a see saw with the virus everywhere Judy..lets hope you dont be getting more of it there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Jan 21
@RebeccasFarm We're going into lockdown this evening but you can't say opening the borders is to blame. A security guard has contracted the virus.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
30 Mar 21
if'n the u.s. 'd taken such more serious'n the beginnin', we'd been a whole lot better off. not certain 'bout birth rates, but presume such to be high here's well. our county 'tis finally'n the 'green', thingies startin' to re-open. not that folks 'bided the restrictions, which caused great losses.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
31 Mar 21
@JudyEv oh no! i so hope such'll be so, hon. i cringe here since i've been havin' to go 'nto town. those that're wearin' masks 're not doin' so correctly (mouth covered, nose 'xposed. perhaps they aint comprehendin' where the virus enters'n starts 'ts 'ttack?) nor do they keep their distance. 't the grocery store the other day they'd jest 2 lanes open (i refuse to self-check without a discount) - side by side! not e'en 2 foot 'twixt customers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Mar 21
@crazyhorseladycx Some people just don't get it, do they? 
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
3 Feb 21
The next problem after covid would be population explosion because of the stay at home policy :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 21
Yes, that's very true. But more babies would mean more employment for teachers, childcare workers, etc.
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
30 Jan 21
good that things are going well in Australia, we are still struggling with the reality in the US.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan 21
@DocAndersen I check the figures every morning - US, Britain, Canada, Ireland (where our son lives), and Austria (we have a friend there). And Australia first, of course.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
30 Jan 21
@JudyEv it is really bad in the us
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
3 Feb 21
Not happening here, I think we have a lot of birth control or people just don't like their significant other lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jan 21
I said right from the beginning that the birthrate is going to rise due to the pandemic, with so many people stuck at home with nothing else to do but procreate.
But of course, the opposite could have happened as well, with the birthrate dropping due to people being afraid to touch or kiss each other over fears of getting Covid. But it looks like human nature in the first scenario is winning out over virus fears in the second scenario.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118365)
• Gainesville, Florida
30 Jan 21
@JudyEv That is true. But I remember the early days of the pandemic, couples were afraid to even kiss each other for fears of contacting the virus. That sure didn't last long though, as couples residing in the same home figured they would get the virus from one or the other regardless of how many precautions they took!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325348)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Jan 21
@moffittjc When there is just the two of us here and we haven't been anywhere, we're not forever washing our hands, etc, either. We use sanitiser when we get home perhaps but there won't be any virus in the house.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155565)
• United States
30 Jan 21
Birth rates are actually down here in the States in spite of the lockdowns. COVID-19 is still running rampant in the US...and now we have the variants to deal with. Vaccination appointments are not available for some of those that need it the most (such as my husband and myself); and we have no idea when we will get the shots. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
