It came on the back of Premier Daniel Andrews making this practice mandatory in Melbourne. Logically, it makes sense.

Perhaps it will also become compulsory in Warrnambool. However, I found myself wondering why part of me still deemed this an unnecessary measure. I was one of the 'this will blow over in a week of two' people when COVID-19 first hit.

I thought once the lockdown restrictions eased everything would go back to normal. Why? That's what I've been contemplating. I'm an educated person. I believe what the experts say. I know people have become very sick and even died from coronavirus. So what was it that had me remaining skeptical, I wondered. Two things sprung to mind. First of all Aussies are typically laid-back. We're known for our 'she'll be right' attitude.

Secondly, I think the 24 hours news cycle may be clouding my view. I work as a journalist and I know we have a hugely important role to play in keeping the community informed. But I also know that we sometimes get swamped by information.

It feels like some news organisations are already addressing the X, Y and Z of the issue before you've even been able to digest issues A, B and C. It also doesn't help when some media organisations choose to use scaremongering tactics. Then, before you can scream 'fake news' everyone is filling their spare room with toilet paper and you just want to put your head in the sand and pretend the whole pandemic is a joke or a nightmare you will wake up from. But it's not.

So, I need to take it more seriously. I'm the mother to two boys. I have parents aged in their late 60s. I, like everyone else, need to invest in a mask. It will be reluctantly, but in these crazy times we are living in, I need to shrug off the 'she'll be right' attitude - at least until the pandemic is contained.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.