I notice that every time a politician or their health department representative open their mouths regarding the coronavirus today, they say two things. The second part is untrue.
"This is a very serious matter, and no country has been able to prevent it."
Taiwan and Singapore are doing exceptionally well. They learnt during SARS 1.
As of today, Taiwan has less than 60 cases.
Singapore March 15th. New cases increased by 7% to 226, but this rate has not increased in the last week.
Even Vietnam has less tan 60 cases. The four latest cases of this weekend were foreign nationals arriving.
Australia needs to go into immediate lock down. This is the only way to stop the virus from taking exponential hold.
All unnecessary work must stop. All schools close. Closure of large public gatherings is insufficient.
If we do not do these things, then the Australian cases will continue to sharply rise until the virus dominates.
Then Australia will go into lock down, but it will be on the virus' terms.
When schools close later once the virus is dominant, it makes it so much harder for health workers to adapt when their children are home. But stopping schools now before our hospitals are overflowing, will enable our health workers to adapt much better. Some of them can make alternative arrangements for their children, and some won't, but the issue is that it will done on our terms. Later, this possibility will not be available. Health workers will have to work regardless, forcing difficult home conditions for many and basically creating chaos for them. Ask the Italians and the Chinese health workers.
Everything needs to be done NOW to create the best possible circumstances for our health workers. The first thing is that the spread of the virus must be reduced as much as possible. This will result in less cases later. This can only be achieved by a a temporary lock down.
To achieve this, Australia must go into immediate temporary lock down. It won't kill us, but it will save many of us dying later. Even two weeks lock down will enable all unknown cases to come to the surface, and dramatically reduce further spread. The unknown cases will reduce dramatically.
The alternative is this. Everything I'm suggesting will occur later anyway.
It is much, much better to do it now. That is the logic of it.
