ElizabethHart,

Interesting ....... but terrifying.

But the point I was making is that China is a Covid-19 virus success sorry. Ask Simon Birmingham if you don't believe me.

And I'm sure Morrison will be put China right at the top of the 'Bubble List'. After all, China has all those cashed up prospective migrants and a vast pool of low paid workers that Scotty and the boys need to get hold of asap.

Go Simon! Go Scotty! Go China!

Mr Opinion, and the point I'm making is it's all about the vaccine...

In which regard, see for info my email to the COVID-19 Vaccines and Treatments for Australia - Science and Industry Technical Advisory Group: http://vaccinationispolitical.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/coronavirus-vaccination-is-it-ethical-to-vaccinate-children-to-protect-the-elderly.pdf

Mr Jones, I thought I was reasoned and polite! And called a spade a spade! The fact you identified it as abuse shows a level of intellect that knows SFA about viruses or medicine.

I gave what almost any idiot would have to conclude was a safe way to open both borders and the economy. I get that what you can't see, isn't going to harm you long term!

As for nursing home residents being of no use or value as you seem to conclude in your demostably calloused indifference!

All of them are the Parents or Grandparents of someone, who unlike you, clearly gives a rats about their lives and comfort!

The level of neglect and abuse in some of these places is breathtaking! I get that, that doesn't demonstrably bother you very much, Sir!

If you want our borders and economy reopened ASAP? Then get the reliable, noninvasive, three minute breath test rolled out at all important entry and exit points and borders!

I mean, truck drivers are not immune and parts of the cab could carry the virus for seven or more days!

That's why we need to to roll out the three minute test at all borders etc, and test all who cross! Then compel the mandatory 2 week isolation of the infected! And just too easy!

Simply put. voluntary self-isolation would work but for noncompliant idiots, who like you, claim/believe it is less harmful than the flu!

And if you don't like how long we've had to shutdown? Just look in the mirror to explain why! And if you think that is abuse? Well then, just don't look!

Thank God the government is taking expert medical advice from medicos, not indifferent number crunchers who self-evidently, don't give a rats for anybody else!

Sorry if the truth hurts your delicate feelings, poor little ickle didums, but someone needs to put it out there!
Alan B.

While the author should have his freedom to live with the virus, he should not interfere with those of us who prefer to live virus-free: while the author should be able to do whatever he likes within his group of those who do not care about the virus, we need not apologise for preventing, in self-defense, that group from infecting the rest of us through physical contact.

In Australia (plus New-Zealand, minus Victoria), we are the envy of the world: who wouldn't wish to be in our place? Yes, regrettably we have restrictions, but where else in the world can anyone have both the freedom from the virus and so few restrictions on their personal freedoms as us? Once we finish off the remaining cases, likely in a month or two, we could lift even the remaining restrictions, except on international arrivals. The author ought to be welcome to leave Australia, so long as he commits not to return until a vaccine is available.

Yesterday, for the first time since the pandemic began, my orchestra was allowed to perform in a nursing home, entertaining the poor residents who are desperately locked there for no fault of their own. Where else in the world could this even be conceivable? Indeed, in how many countries can orchestras even gather for rehearsals? We should be so thankful!

Other than preventing the author and his like-thinking friends to leave this relative heaven that we live in, Australia made one more major error by restricting the movement and activities of those who already recovered from the virus. Anyone who chooses to "live with the virus" should get themselves infected while serving an appropriate period of isolation, then they should be able to move about freely (but perhaps, if doctors so believe, be required to be re-infected monthly to maintain their anti-bodies). However, they should not expect to consume stressed medical resources while ill, both in the acute stage and in the likely chronic stage that follows, as their choices must never be allowed to overwhelm the health-system or prevent others from having elective surgery.

It's the infamous Neil Ferguson et al report that recommended suppression of the virus as the preferred option.*

Ferguson et al say: "The major challenge of suppression is that this type of intensive intervention package – or something equivalently effective at reducing transmission – will need to be maintained until a vaccine becomes available (potentially 18 months or more) – given that we predict that transmission will quickly rebound if interventions are relaxed. We show that intermittent social distancing – triggered by trends in disease surveillance – may allow interventions to be relaxed temporarily in relative short time windows, but measures will need to be reintroduced if or when case numbers rebound."

So suppression is to be kept up "until a vaccine becomes available"...

We have no idea of the ultimate social and economic costs of this long-term experiment...

* Neil M Ferguson et al. Report 9: Impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce COVID-19 mortality and healthcare demand. Imperial College COVID-19 Response Team. 16 March 2020: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/medicine/mrc-gida/2020-03-16-COVID19-Report-9.pdf

It's the regonomy.