What is perhaps more frustrating/annoying is the approach used by the Federal & some State Govts.
AKA "
Only tell them part of the information as they can't handle it all"
Since early March it was discussed at the highest levels in Canberra (& elsewhere) that:
# Masks are effective in stopping CV spread
# Glasses/clear visors nearly eliminate the remaining risk provided good personal hygene is followed
# The 1.5m spacing (vs greater distances used overseas eg: 6 feet, 2m etc) was pulled from a 1960s Small Pox pamphlet
The powers that be had some very heated discussions, possibly with a certain Qld Premier & Tasmanian Premier wanting to tell all, where the Federal politicians (not naming anyone but you can guess) pushed the line 'the public can't handle the reality of this'.
This is what led to State Health Depts having often very different lines to the Federal & other States. Bully tactics were not appreciated by the States who wanted full disclosure - nor were the threats made to them.
Example: If you appear asymptomatic but go for a test - should you isolate at all? If so, for how long?
Australia-wide there are 6 permutations of answers on that seemingly simple question - believe it or not.
What about for work situations?
Example: For workers in an office or other static work place - if a colleague goes for a test what should close working contacts do? Who is a close working contact?
Currently 9 permutations.
It is time to forget the smoke & mirrors announcements coming out of Canberra etc, and apply some self-responsibility & thought.
Why masks
In the last week or so, there has been a graphic showing various combinations of an infected & a non-infected person (not) wearing a mask - & ranking the risk of CV transmission.
This was known in early March widely - both within Australia & overseas.
In the US, Dr Fauci finally admitted in early June that was known right in the beginning but the decision was taken NOT to disclose it & ADVISE AGAINST people wearing masks due to the shortages.
Why did he admit this - because seemingly a disgruntled work colleague or acquaintance recorded Dr Fauci talking about lying about it & passed the recording to a reporter. The an interview was agrred to on certain conditions, amongst others that
the recording would not be made public IF Dr Fauci gave an interview & was allowed to put his spin on why he misled the public. Another condition was that he would NOT be asked about why people were not told to make their own.
Dr. Anthony Fauci explains the purpose of masks and why the American public wasn't immediately told to wear masks when the coronavirus pandemic first took hold in the U.S.
www.thestreet.com
"
Well, the reason for that is that we were concerned the public health community, and many people were saying this, were concerned that it was at a time when personal protective equipment, including the N95 masks and the surgical masks, were in very short supply.
"He also acknowledged that masks were initially not recommended to the general public so that first responders wouldn’t feel the strain of a shortage of PPE."
The same decision was made in Canberra. Reason - the national stockpile of PPE was not at the levels it was supposed to be. So the spin put out was "We have a national stockpile" etc etc, just missed the part about it being below recommended levels.
A bit like the mandated level for Australian fuel reserves of 13 weeks vs lowest level in 2019 of a little over 4 weeks. Except that did not have anything to do with budget savings as it's nearly entirely held by the private sector.
It was no coincidence that across the developed world, at the same time, many leading medical research institutions put up on their web sites 'How to make your own mask'. Caltech (as you know with campuses throughout California) both put up 'how to' & provided free masks to campus students for example.
The argument in Australia was that people would be too lazy & not be bothered to make their own. So the surge in demand would be in direct conflict with the various Health Depts seeking masks. To further cement the allusion of masks = no benefit to the community, no "How to make your own masks" were to be put up by the Federal or State Govts.
BTW -
reusable masks need to be washed at 65 degrees or hotter to kill CV. If you have been busy over the weekend and made a good number - then leaving material masks in direct sun & air-flow for 3 days is believed to achieve the same CV killing outcome. Of course both methods can be used...
Perhaps one positive to come out of CV is that many more people may learn to do basic (hand) sewing repairs & cut back on how many clothes get thrown out.
Why glasses?
The details 'released' in the last few weeks about aerosol droplets (smaller size) were known (by Canberra) back in the beginning of March, several medical papers were written overseas about the seeming immunity that doctors/nurses/ambulance/paramedics etc who needed glasses for their eyesight vs those who didn't.
The earliest came out of Wuhan in mid January where it was noticed & discussed that in two hospitals in the non-CV facing area of 'eye' treatment & surgery - virtually every nurse & doctor who did not require glasses - had been infected. Not 100% but in the 90s. This contrasted starkly with those wearing glasses all the time - ZERO.
Subsequently, the same split was noticed in other areas & then reports came out of Italy & finally a German medical researcher contacted medical workers she knew and created some hard data.
Reasoning: The CV needs a vector to gain entry into you. It also requires moisture to survive. The eyes provide both.
Simple, straight forward & easy to understand. A cheap pair of plastic glasses that completely cover your eye socket (NO designer ones with small lenses) is all that is required. The $2 shops & similar often have them with their paint brushes etc.
However, while the National stockpile was under-stocked with masks - it was even lower in the key categories of clear glasses & visors. You get the picture, and these are not something you most can make at home. Allegedly some in the know bureaucrats & MPs alerted their families & friends which saw places like Bunnings experience a rush on 'protective eyeware' in the days following its discussion.
And you thought only China withheld information & manipulated the community...
Ever wonder why when WA, SA, Tasmania, the Northern Territory & Queensland established hard border closures that Queensland was near solely targeted by the Federal Govt & disparaged daily?
Of course nothing to do with who stood up the most to the Federal Govt's "BIg Brother" approach.
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) and presumably went back to normal business including going to the pub amd supermarket. I have family in Colac. Everyone knows everyone. So its on my radar.
