(GROANING) Hello? Who's there?
(GROANS)
Oh! (CHUCKLES) It worked! Hello!
Oh, no! One of my clones escaped again!
(SCOFFS) I'm not a clone.
Oh. Well, who are you?
I'm you from the future.
Oh!
I have something very important to tell you.
Have you heard of something called COVID-19?
(SLOWLY) COVID-19?
Oh, yes, that's right - it doesn't have a name yet.
Um, what about a coronavirus?
Oh, yeah! That virus overseas. I don't need to worry about that.
Oh, um, I wouldn't say that if I were you...
Oh. ..which I am.
Yep, go back a year,
and it'd be fair to say we were all blissfully unaware
of what was in store for 2020, aka the year of COVID-19.
Coronavirus outbreak in China...
Chinese man who has coronavirus... The coronavirus outbreak...
The first COVID-19 cases were in Wuhan in China
back in December 2019.
MAN: There are some precautions being taken,
like having to wear masks and temperature being checked.
We got our first glimpse of a city in lockdown
and the ways people coped with isolation.
By the end of January, COVID-19 cases started popping up
in other countries, and in March, the World Health Organization
declared the COVID-19 problem a pandemic.
BOY: Since 9 March,
the whole country of Italy has been in lockdown,
which means almost everything is shut
and we have to stay home as much as possible.
Back in Australia, we started to wonder
if the same was in store for us.
Quick question - how are you doing for toilet paper?
Toilet paper?
Yep, things got a little weird
as people decided toilet paper was the must-have product of the season,
and authorities had to tell us to stop fighting over TP.
Together, no.
We started learning about things like social distancing,
wearing masks, and washing our hands.
Alright, distance, wear masks, wash hands.
Yeah, I can do all of that,
just as long as I get to go on my overseas holiday.
No? No.
What?!
Remember overseas travel? It's been a while, hasn't it?
In fact, just travelling around Australia
got a lot more difficult as borders started to close
and governments put in restrictions to slow the spread.
Yep, we all got pretty good at working,
learning, living from home,
and we also got pretty good at making video calls.
Well, most of us, anyway.
We're starting just quickly by breathing in.
And it wasn't just Australia.
All around the world, people found a new way of doing,
well, everything, really,
and many things we were looking forward to
were put on hold.
Oh! Well, do you have any good news?
Mm. Oh! Oh, yes.
Um, look at this video of penguins
walking around an empty aquarium.
So cute!
Oh, no, I mean about the restrictions.
Oh. Well, no.
But don't worry - they only last, like, six weeks or so.
Oh, well, except for Melbourne.
What happens to Melbourne?
Oh, yeah, they go back into lockdown.
Oh, but don't worry - it gets better.
All in all, things haven't been as bad
as they could have been here in Australia.
Overseas, it's way worse.
The US has had more cases of COVID-19 than anywhere else in the world,
and the UK and most of Europe are still in lockdown.
Meanwhile, during this whole thing,
there have been millions of essential workers
helping to keep us safe,
as well as scientists working tirelessly to find a vaccine,
which, hopefully, we're pretty close to getting.
Oh, well, this has been fun, but I better get back to 2020.
But...what will I do?
I don't know.
Learn how to make sourdough or something.
Sourdough?
Anyway, how did this time machine work?
I can't quite... Oh! Oh, no, I got it. Don't worry.
Alright, I better go. I'll see you later!
I miss you already! Kisses!