Dear Saltpetre,

Unlike the flu, this virus has an anti-mutation mechanism.
It still mutates, enough to identify strains, but not majorly enough to prevent immunisation. Also, the numbers are still less than flu numbers - the less they are, the less mutations occur. The experts believe that "recurrences" are due to false negatives with imperfect tests.

As for the CCP, it could as well have been a biological weapon in development, but it was accidentally released before it was deadly enough and before they had a vaccine ready for their own population.

If indeed it was deliberately released, then we have to thank God for making our enemies so clumsy! We need to trust Him and thank Him in any case!

A far right mob combined with conspiracy theorists and general fruitcakes rioted in Berlin against restrictions to combat the virus. Yuyutsu, these fanatics are far more dangerous to world health than any unsubstantiated claims that China might have, some how, manufactured the virus in a laboratory.

Paul1405,

The reason a claim that the WuFlu was engineered in China (probably as a biological weapon) has not been substantiated is because China will never permit a thorough investigation into its origin.

The scuttlebutt I have is that it was more than likely engineered and because of this suspicion a lot of countries will begin to break off relations with China.

Except of course Russia with its Hitler-like leader.

Dear Paul,

«Yuyutsu, these fanatics are far more dangerous to world health than any unsubstantiated claims that China might have, some how, manufactured the virus in a laboratory.»

What has the one to do with the other?

COVID-19 is a real danger, but the CCP no less.

Long before this virus, I recommended over these pages that we in Australia must develop our own germs/viruses to defend ourselves from a Chinese invasion - I hope we are and I hope that what we are secretly cooking is far more virulent than COVID-19! I said over and over that nuclear-weapons are an insufficient deterrence and that we would be foolish to rely on America for our protection. We would of course guard our biological weapons very carefully and only ever use them as the very last resort, but it will make China think thrice before attacking our shores.

It would be extremely naive to believe that China, with all its might, did not develop similar capabilities, though I find it unlikely that COVID-19 was released intentionally at such an early stage of this war. It could quite possibly been an unrelated natural occurrence or it could have been an accidental escape, we probably will never know, nor do we need to because whichever the case, we should just be prepared!

Yuyutsu: Developing a biological weapon like that is totally f#cking mad!!

Unless it was specific to a set of particular genes that Chinese people had and not us you could wipe out the whole world.

But even if is was just specific to Chinese people (which by the way- as far as I know we don't have any technology like this) you would kill a hell of a lot of people of Chinese descent that aren't of Chinese Nationality.

It would also be an exceptionally useless weapon for a winning attack and not very useful as a nuclear defensive deterrence.
Attacking weapons of total mass destruction only work if you can trigger them before the other side has time to react. Viruses take days to weeks to kill people, in which time a nuclear armed country could just nuke the initiator after the first biological attack.
On the other hand, as a defensive deterrent it doesn't work very well either. Because a country can launch a nuclear attack and immediately prepare for a retaliatory response from a biological weapon. You can mitigate the effects of a biological counter attack a hell of a lot easier than a tit-for-tat nuclear response. The best deterrence for a nuclear attack in a nuclear response. But this leads to the MAD doctrine (mutual assured destruction) and it only takes a single slight slip up to set it off.

So all up, it is best not to even think about such a crazy scheme- seek peace not war.

Irrespective of economic hardship or outcomes, there is currently only one proven way to control the spread of this virus - and that is to minimize community transmission by use of masks, PPE, scrupulous sterilization and inter-personal distancing and lock-down.

Everyone will just have to 'suck it up', shut the hell up, and get with the blooming program.

Business as usual, hoping for the best, and counting on the possibility of a safe and 'effective' vaccine, is reminiscent of 'cargo cultures'.

And, irrespective of our governments going to incredible lengths to ensure no-one is 'left behind', no-one starves or gets kicked-out of their home - with even the 'homeless' put-up in free hotel accommodation and Aussies coming home put up in hotel isolation 'at taxpayer expense' - still, unbelievably, there continue to be those selfish, irresponsible, maniacs who flout the law, flout common sense, flout the majority who are 'doing the right thing', and these morons merely get a fine and a rap over the knuckles?
I would lock them up and throw away the key - or maybe even charge them with murder if anyone dies after contracting the virus from them.

Just how selfish can some people really be?
Should we even consider them 'human'?
Idiots.

At least some sanity, with recent returning Aussies going into isolation at their own expense - but then still remaining a threat because they need some air or some exercise outside or blah, blah, blah. And, refusing a test?
Who are these people? Ratbags.

Lock-down, shut the hell up, and consider just how lucky you are to live in a society that really cares.

Anyone not willing to comply should just take a blooming hike!