Almost 24 months of being told to practice social distancing, washing our hands, mask up and isolate if you have been exposed to COVID-19.

So much time has passed yet the same public health messages continue to be shouted at us from every angle. You would think we have the message by now?

With around 6000 active cases across the MLHD area as of Thursday, 1466 in Wagga, 1245 in Albury and 1182 in Griffith and 212 in Leeton, you'd think the message wouldn't need more volume.

We are blessed by a high vaccination rate in our community and the introduction of a third booster vaccine dose to curtail the transmission rates of and severity of COVID symptoms.

Get tested, stay home and be COVID safe they say.

Think about others they say. But we shouldn't need the government to aggressively shout in our faces to take some personal responsibility, think about the health and wellbeing of others and be COVID smart.

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We don't need the government to police this health crisis and fine people for not submitting the results of their rapid antigen tests.

Where is the trust? Many do the right thing, and sometimes are even more cautious.

We need to focus on personal responsibility, on our compassion for others, for those who are most compromised, most likely to face significant health repercussions if they test positive.

We don't need the government to tell us to not go to work if we are sick, and our employers shouldn't expect us to risk their health and the health of their customers.

This isn't a cancer, an ear infection, a broken leg. This virus affects not just oneself but the community at large, and for the most part people are doing the right thing. Our community is isolating, staying home and staying safe.

They are looking out for one another, something they do naturally because it feels right. Not because of a fear of a fine or legal repercussions.

Just because it is the decent and right thing to do. Stay strong, stay safe and stay smart Griffith.