Omicron turns Melbourne into giant ghost town

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Driving around Melbourne this summer has been a earie experience.

Despite the stunning summer weather, there are few cars on the road, shops, cafes and restaurants are empty, and there is no need to book. Just walk up to any establishment and you will likely find there are more staff than customers. Parking is also a dream.

Melbourne is experiencing a form of ‘shadow lockdown’ – a lockdown not caused by government restrictions, but individual choices to lay low while Omicron runs rampant, alongside hundreds of thousands of Victorians isolating with the virus.

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About the author
Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.