No, I'm not talking about the latest movie to drop on Netflix, but the seemingly endless roller coaster ride that has become the trademark of the past 12 months.

Victorians have handled all that's been asked of them admirably, and it's the ordinary people, trying to live their everyday lives, who remain the unsung heroes of the pandemic.

If Victorians were not so attentive to all that the Victorian government has asked of them, time after time, press conference after press conference, we would be in a lot more strife than we have been.

While Premier Daniel Andrews did not mince his words a week ago when he confirmed our collective worst fears of another lockdown - and the harshest we here in regional Victoria have endured, the number of cases to emerge from the latest outbreak that inspired the so-called Circuit breaker five-day lockdown were significantly less than what most us probably expected to eventuate.

For that - Victorians deserve a pat on the back. We may not be able to dictate whether or not there is a lockdown, but we seem to be doing a pretty good job of working together to prevent the circumstances arising that perpetuate a lockdown in the first place.

We cannot control the hotel quarantine process as individuals, but we can do whatever else is asked of us.

No matter what's been thrown at us, we have buckled down to isolation, to masks, to staying at home and to basically doing everything we can to try and make this whole wretched pandemic go away as quickly as possible.

But we know that isn't going to happen any time soon.

Clearly, hotel quarantine as a process is problematic for the government, health authorities and therefore, for all Victorians. Victoria and NSW should be congratulated for taking on the vast majority of returning Australians from overseas, but that heavy lifting is taking a toll on the rest of us.

Mr Andrews has never denied there would be COVID-19 cases emerge among returning travellers and that there will be outbreaks, but there appears to be a systematic failure within the quarantine facilities presently being utilised that must be remedied.

We can't keep walking the dangerous and high-risk tightrope that is hotel quarantine without a more reliable safety harness.

Whether that's better air conditioning facilities, or something as far flung as a purpose-built quarantine facility at either or both the state's major airports, something needs to change.

And the cost to do that, needs to be on the Victorian premier's list of points when he chats to the federal government sometime soon.

To be clear, the repatriation of Australians from overseas to their homeland is not just about Victorians coming home, and this important process is squarely on the list of responsibilities the federal government has ownership of.

Coronavirus vaccine for Bendigo aged care residents next week

Victoria remains the state most impacted by COVID-19 and the state with the most challenging road ahead. The damage to our state's economy has been severe, and will take a long time to repair.

As JobKeeper's expiry date looms large, many Victorian businesses remain locked in an exhaustive battle just to open up again - for the third time, after lockdown. Businesses in no other state have experienced what their counterparts here have.

'Disappointed': Facebook bans news and divides users

ATO data shows our reliance on JobKeeper remains much higher than any other state, and the number of businesses who have been able to migrate away from the support JobKeeper provides and stand on their own two feet again is far greater everywhere else.

In every other state and territory, more than 60 per cent of JobKeeper recipients have managed this transition.

In Victoria, it's closer to 40 per cent, and for all the federal government's rhetoric about the need for JobKeeper to end come March 28, Victorian businesses who were once again felled to the canvas for five days in the past week are a lot further from being able to stand alone, and through no fault of their own.

Facebook ban: Here's how to read the news

Finally, a reminder that despite the strong arm tactics of Facebook and its move to ban Australian media outlets, including Australian Community Media, from posting news content on the social media platform, the content our readers have so actively sought out remains available to view on all our websites, on other social media platforms, via Google News and of course, in newsprint.

Thanks for all the messages of support this week - it's never been more appreciated.

Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser'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 central Victoria.