Dear Hasbeen,

Economy over people. Why does that appear to be the default of the rightwing governments around the world at the moment. Boris wanting to let this thing rip until the community gains some kind of mythical 'herd immunity' without vaccines. Trump going as slow as possible shovelling money at big business while skimping terrible on test kits. Here in Oz an ineffectual PM only now getting around to a public education campaign.

The two Labour state governments in WA and Victoria are showing the kind of leadship we deserve, not the one we are currently getting federally.

You panic: “Just closing schools would destroy so many lives as working mothers have to stay home with the kids, destroying families cash flow, & probably their economic futures.”

Oh my god, never though of that! How on earth are we going to cope with the Easter holidays which are just around the corner? All those kids and going to destroy so many lives during their two weeks off!!

Don't be an idiot.

At our present daily increase of roughly 25 percent, Victoria will have about 1600 people infected by the end of this month. We need to rigorously adopt social distancing if we are to reduce this number. Us oldies need to self quarantine as well as getting our groceries delivered by Coles and Woolies.
David

Alan B. you wrote that:

"a virus cannot survive for more than a few minutes outside of a human host..."

The cdc.gov however advises that "Current evidence suggests that novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings", see

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/cleaning-disinfection.html

Runner

On the matter of Kevin Rudd, don't forget he is the so-and-so sitting in New York lecturing ScoMo how to run the country and criticising the Trump administration on its health care management.

I would have thought (a) as a former PM he should keep his mouth shut when it comes to lecturing his successors and (b) as a guest in the US, presumably holding the status of "resident alien", it would be prudent not to voice opinions on US politics.

to right Jonathan but I suspect the ego that led Australia into such a mess is still well and truly alive. I think he actually believed his own press (ie the abc) who hated Howard so much all they could see was stars in their eyes initially when it came to Rudd.

Johnathon, correction, I included mobile phones, particularly if carried in warm pockets, ditto other warm surfaces.

Contrary to the claims by some moribund folk, global warming won't kill viruses, but help more of them survive through the cooler months where natural cooling will, (would normally) kill more of them, save those surviving on a warm host and "stuffy hothouse" domiciles.

If we could shut down the nation and close all borders compel everyone to self-quarantine for a fortnight, we would stop this thing dead in its tracks.

[This thing is going to kill some of us! Mostly those too dumb to adopt good personal hygiene! won't quit smoking and try and absorb virus killing oxygen, via smoke compromised, tar tanned lungs.]

But you and I know this Curfew quarantine is never going to happen, that some folks, antivacciners, preppers etc, are never going to comply?

As for just allowing the thing to rip and treat those who are infected? Not viable when your total beds the length and breadth of the country may top out at 10,000 and in NSW alone, the predicted infection total, is over a million!

About alleged herd immunity? No evidence that that could protect the survivours, as your immunity may only be good for 6-7 months? At which time you could be reinfected. But possibly, not as seriously?


Your two main lines of defence are exposure to the cold! A well-ventilated domicile and daily exposure to UV. And disinfection of beds bedding etc/etc, in direct sunlight!

The other is outside and regular personal exposure to disinfecting sunlight, albeit, rugged up to beat the cold and wearing a hat, long sleeves etc, to avoid skin cancer. The air there is continually disinfected via exposure to disinfecting sunshine!

Learn to breathe it in as deeply as possible and puff it out through pursed lips as if you were blowing out candles, to maximise your oxygen uptake/saturation!

The government has no plan other than Scomo talking it to death, to prevent your infection? So it's up to you to do it for yourself!
Alan B.