The extended lockdown came as a surprise on Saturday morning.
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After a week, which had seen COVID-19 cases in the city all confined to the same household, there was an expectation that Armidale's stay-at-home order would end on the weekend.
But at the Premier's press conference on Saturday, she announced it would be extended for another seven days.
In the end we weren't alone, as a few hours later it was announced the entire state would be joining us.
It came on the same day that hundreds of local residents lined up to get the jab at the mass vaccination clinic, which opened for the first time.
It's not an easy time as we see our lives disrupted.
Just after the announcement at the premier's 11am press conference on Saturday, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall released details of the health advice he had seen that led to the decision.
That advice is that our community was still likely to see some secondary COVID-19 cases occur from the known positive case who attended Armidale Secondary College as a student while infectious.
While we have to heed the expert's advice in these times, it does make life harder.
The breakdown of family and domestic abuse is still the leading underlying cause of homelessness for women, and getting to somewhere safe is problematic if that destination is in lockdown.
Just like last week, that's a lot of negative news to digest.
Like I wrote then, the one positive I can offer, and that is the way our city has taken the advice from the government on board and done the right thing.
Thanks for reading and stay safe folks. Remember, you can get in touch with us here at the Express by emailing armidaleexpress@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Laurie Bullock
Group Editor