‘People feel abandoned’: as masks come off, thousands of Australians feel scared to go out

‘Many people with a disability aren’t attending events. It’s really impacting a lot of people who have to stay at home’ … musician Liz Martin, who has an auto-immune condition. Photograph: Joy Lai

As of this week, Queenslanders no longer have to prove they are double vaccinated to gain entry to entertainment and cultural venues, which are back at 100% capacity a month after mask requirements eased. And in South Australia, mask restrictions are lifting on Friday.

But more than an estimated 700,000 Australians are, at any given time, considered immunocompromised – through genetic causes, as organ recipients, undergoing treatments for cancer and some infections or simply age. Many in these groups are choosing to remain in self-imposed lockdown as Covid-19 precautions in public settings ease.