General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[Pushka]

is interesting to see some of the data analysis that has been coming out looking at what worked and what didn't. What struck me is that much of the data supports there was no real need for mass school closures. So I think perhaps the Aust government was right to hold out on the school closure thing, despite the media hysteria demanding the close them (and as soon as they did, started demanding they open them

South Australian schools only closed for 1 week just prior to Easter school holidays. All students of all ages could attend. Schools resumed in full the day after Anzac Day. There has not been any positive cases in school kids since early April and which was associated with a teacher returning from overseas and the Qantas baggage handlers. So yes, the theory was correct. SA school students have not missed any part of this year of formal school work.

 

[drron]

On the other hand Norway has also admitted that they got it wrong and there was little evidence that the severe lockdown measures were needed.

"We need to have a good dialogue with the population about the epidemic’s development, strategy and measures. The population must be prepared for the epidemic to last for many years, for many to continue to be ill, but for only a few to become seriously ill. It’s several years until this epidemic is over!

The audience must understand that a zero vision is not realistic; the risk can be reduced, but not eliminated, and that voluntary support for the measures is still crucial to keeping the epidemic under control."

"We will warn against the automatic reintroduction of measures at certain thresholds for the epidemic indicators. There are so many factors that should be considered that it is better to have an overall assessment with an attempt to weigh the expected infectious effect of measures against expected disadvantages. Strengthening or reintroduction of measures must therefore take place following a well-founded process, with emphasis on all the four factors above."

"On 27 May, PM Erna Solberg went on television to confess she had panicked at the start of the pandemic and introduced the tough measures unnecessarily. In particular, closing of schools was not just unnecessary, but counter-productive. Margrethe Greve-Isdahl is the Institute’s expert on infections in schools. She told the UK’s Sunday Telegraph that if schools had stayed open, they could have played a role in informing people in badly hit immigrant communities of hygiene and social distancing rules:

They can learn these measures in school and teach their parents and grandparents, so at least for some of these hard-to-reach minorities, there might be a positive effect from keeping kids in school… There’s now a lot of information available on how it has impacted negatively on the economy and on vulnerable children."

RAMESH THAKUR. Lockdown mea culpa: Norway sets an example -

Norway’s experience of dealing with the Coronavirus crisis provides lessons for the world, including Australia.

johnmenadue.com

Again the major difference between Sweden and Norway,Denmark and Finland was that those countries closed their borders completely and their residents had to self isolate on return,Sweden though still allowed anyone from the EU and UK to enter as well as not making their citizens self isolate on returning even from countries such as Italy.

 

[woodborer]

Again the major difference between Sweden and Norway,Denmark and Finland was that those countries closed their borders completely and their residents had to self isolate on return,Sweden though still allowed anyone from the EU and UK to enter as well as not making their citizens self isolate on returning even from countries such as Italy.

There's a lot of data from a whole lot of countries that took different approaches, and its going to take a while to sift through. In the end, we should get a clear picture of what measure worked and were important, and which were less so.

In the end, I think the 'right' answer will have been somewhere between what Sweden and its neighbours did. But of course, no one knew this going into it, as there wasn't enough data to make 'right' decisions.

 

[RooFlyer]

In the end, I think the 'right' answer will have been somewhere between what Sweden and its neighbours did. But of course, no one knew this going into it, as there wasn't enough data to make 'right' decisions.

Which is why, i think, firmer measures early was the correct way - if you get it wrong, its literally life-or-death. Its like Australia's decision to go big on ventilators up-front. Easy to say now that it was a wasted effort, but disastrous if needed and not there.

Analogy: Australia, Denmark etc lockdowns were the ventilators. Sweden didn't worry.

 

[drron]

There's a lot of data from a whole lot of countries that took different approaches, and its going to take a while to sift through. In the end, we should get a clear picture of what measure worked and were important, and which were less so.

In the end, I think the 'right' answer will have been somewhere between what Sweden and its neighbours did. But of course, no one knew this going into it, as there wasn't enough data to make 'right' decisions.

No the evidence was already available from the 1918 flu epidemic.Just that no one checked on what was done.It was called quarantine back then.Though there were several stories about what was done in October 2018- 100 years from the pandemic.This is one.

The places that escaped the Spanish flu

In places like Alaska, the Spanish flu exacted a terrible toll. But while some communities suffered many deaths, others nearby escaped the carnage. How?

www.bbc.com

Closing of borders was the key.But mainly it was quarantining for 7 days was the measure.Of course in those days when the sea voyage was so long an extra 7 days was not a major problem.Even Tasmania did the 7 days quarantine.

 

[woodborer]

Which is why, i think, firmer measures early was the correct way - if you get it wrong, its literally life-or-death. Its like Australia's decision to go big on ventilators up-front. Easy to say now that it was a wasted effort, but disastrous if needed and not there.

Analogy: Australia, Denmark etc lockdowns were the ventilators. Sweden didn't worry.

Oh absolutely. As someone mentioned before, doing a review after an over-reaction was going to be better than doing a review after an under-reaction.

 

[woodborer]

No the evidence was already available from the 1918 flu epidemic.Just that no one checked on what was done.It was called quarantine back then.Though there were several stories about what was done in October 2018- 100 years from the pandemic.This is one.

The places that escaped the Spanish flu

In places like Alaska, the Spanish flu exacted a terrible toll. But while some communities suffered many deaths, others nearby escaped the carnage. How?

www.bbc.com

Closing of borders was the key.But mainly it was quarantining for 7 days was the measure.Of course in those days when the sea voyage was so long an extra 7 days was not a major problem.Even Tasmania did the 7 days quarantine.

and yet on January 30, the advice from the WHOs included:

The Committee does not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available.

Countries must inform WHO about travel measures taken, as required by the IHR. Countries are cautioned against actions that promote stigma or discrimination, in line with the principles of Article 3 of the IHR.

Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

Following the advice of the Emergency Committee today, WHO Director-General has declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. In China, more than 7700 cases have been confirmed, and 170 people have died. There are 82 additional cases...

www.who.int

Probably a good thing we ignored the advice

 

[RooFlyer]

And remembering now, that the internal talk within the WHO has emerged, showing they were concerned/annoyed/angry that China WAS holding out on them in January, while publicly praising them.

Hmmm .. why, when I do a search for 'WHO' on "ABC news" sources, does it prioritise Dr Who stories? And attaches 'Doctor' to the 'Who' search term in the results?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And remembering now, that the internal talk within the WHO has emerged, showing they were concerned/annoyed/angry that China WAS holding out on them in January, while publicly praising them.

Hmmm .. why, when I do a search for 'WHO' on "ABC news" sources, does it prioritise Dr Who stories? And attaches 'Doctor' to the 'Who' search term in the results?


View attachment 219655

Who hoo....being a longterm sci-fan than you for this hidden gem in your post.

Forgotten sci-fi series remastered for ABC iview after decades in the vaults

Australia's first locally produced science fiction series has been remastered for ABC iview after decades of sitting in the film achieves.

www.abc.net.au

I will watch it with interest.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

In the end, I think the 'right' answer will have been somewhere between what Sweden and its neighbours did. But of course, no one knew this going into it, as there wasn't enough data to make 'right' decisions.

Well that "right" answer is a death rate of between 10 to 100 times higher than that in Australia and New Zealand. I prefer our "right" answer, or NZ's, or that of a number of other countries. So there is not one right answer, though to paraphrase George Orwell's Animal Farm some are more right than others.

Even Greece surrounded by hotspots has had a mortality rate of only 4 times Australia.

Speed to act has been crucial. Many countries have implemented many different control measures to minimise, or prevent virus transmission, in different ways, but acting quickly and decisively has been crucial to all those countries with very low mortality rates (in terms of deaths per population). However the slower countries have been able to lower transmission, though to substantively lower it has taking more extreme measures.


Greece: [Opinion] Why is Greece an outlier in EU's Covid-19 response?

 

[VPS]

What are petrol prices like in other states.

Today I bought for 87.1 and noticed another service station selling for $1.38

 

[Steady]

Tassie is more like $1.38

 

[oz_mark]

Perth ranges from 92.7c at Costco, up to $1.25

 

[RooFlyer]

Tassie is more like $1.38

Including in Hobart, but you can get $1.10-$.18 in smaller towns around Hobart (because, as the Petrol Retailer spokesman said during the week 'prices are higher when there is lower volume and more freight' )

 

[Flashback]

Perth ranges from 92.7c at Costco, up to $1.25

Perth has Costco now? It really is moving on up in the world

 

[Cossie]

Perth has Costco now? It really is moving on up in the world

A bit off topic, but the petrol section of the one in Canberra is a building site at the moment, won't be reopening for a few weeks, elsewhere unleaded seems to be about 1.07.

 

[Pushka]

What are petrol prices like in other states.

Today I bought for 87.1 and noticed another service station selling for $1.38

Around 98 cents in my neck of the woods and $1.10 for the red 100.

 

[oz_mark]

Perth has Costco now? It really is moving on up in the world

Would you believe it's at the airport?

 

[DC3]

What are petrol prices like in other states.

Today I bought for 87.1 and noticed another service station selling for $1.38

UL 91 seen at 95.9c all week in Brisbane (United). Probably will fall a bit over the next week.

Edit: Down to 78.9c during the previous cycle

 

[Flashback]

Would you believe it's at the airport?

Saves on transport costs