Flattening the curve has been forgotten and “lockdown fetishists” are panicking at the prospect of a single coronavirus infection, according to Sky News host Chris Kenny, who says Australia must be more sensible about the virus in 2021.

“The federal government has banned us from leaving our own country, but state governments have banned some of us from entering their states at certain times,” Mr Kenny said.

“What’s worse, people have been barred from returning to their homes, not allowed to cross a state border to get back to their own homes, in their own home states.

“This is outrageous, and a dramatic overreaction to the coronavirus threat.”

Mr Kenny said only the NSW government has had a sensible approach, being “prepared to deal with clusters of infection without shutting down the entire state and closing off borders”.

“The other premiers in the other states have been into fear, fear and control,” he said.

“We’ve had two COVID related deaths over the past three months in this country … you know about the clusters and outbreaks, the closed borders and lockdowns, in Adelaide and Brisbane, but hardly anyone has been sick.

“This is great news, but it underscores the overreaction from many of our leaders.”

He said “lockdown fetishists” fear Australia will end up like the US or UK if lockdowns are not a continued practice in the fight against coronavirus.

“But is that really the case?

“Most politicians and most media have been hysterical and impractical for a year.

“This year, we are looking for some more COVID sanity.”