| Australia's first lockdown was one of the most successful in the world, bringing down cases to just a handful a day between March and when it ended in May. But the country's second round of locking down is proving a cautionary tale of just how hard it is to go there again. As the virus resurged in Melbourne, its 5 million people were ordered to once again stay at home except for essential work, exercise and medical care. Despite that -- and a mandatory mask order -- the city is half way through the six-week lockdown and the rate of infection isn't slowing. New cases in Victoria state hit a fresh record of 723 on Thursday, Australia's single worst day since the pandemic began. It's a case study in how easily the virus can come roaring back, even when authorities have the best intentions. Security failures at quarantine hotels for returning travelers, poor communication with immigrant communities and the onset of winter have been blamed for seeding the second outbreak. But the steep infection curve -- this week's record was almost 200 cases more than the previous high -- is confirming suspicions that strict social distancing measures are becoming ineffective as the pandemic heads into its eighth month.  A 'Closed' notice is displayed at a cordoned off playground in the Docklands area of Melbourne, Australia, last month. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg The first time it's a novelty. The second time, people know what they're in for and are less willing to take another hit. The virus is exposing socio-economic fault-lines: it's harder to stay home with a head cold if you work casual shifts for minimum wage and can't afford to miss a few days. Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said that when police door-knocked 500 people confirmed as positive on Thursday, one in four weren't at home. And then there's those who don't follow the rules. Melbourne's experience shows people's patience with the social isolation measures demanded by a lockdown wears thin. At the start of the new curbs, police handed out A$26,000 ($19,000) in fines to late night revelers when a mass takeout order at Kentucky Fried Chicken alerted authorities to their illegal house party. Andrews' frustration is palpable. "Unless everyone plays their part this lockdown will not end anytime soon," he said this week. "There are still some people who, for whatever reason -- whether it be frustration, fatigue, whether it be some of those economic hardship issues -- are making the wrong choice." For parts of the world drawing up contingency plans for their inevitable new waves, it's a warning. Even the most effective strategies don't necessarily work the second time around. -- Ed Johnson | 
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