Coronavirus | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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Coronavirus

You don’t have to have full lockdown though, just isolate those that are crook and test to identify people with the virus so they can self isolate. Isolate the people most vulnerable. What we have done is gone waaay too far, the costs will be massive both in lives and impoverishment.

It doesn't work. Why? Because it's not just the visibly crook that are spreading it. Before you know it, everyone is getting sick, sure they can self isolate but a percentage require hospitalisation and intensive care. Who's most vulnerable? It's been shown in the US that far more young people than in Italy and China are being hospitalised, currently around 1 in 4 under 50yo are being hospitalised. 18% in Spain. Over 50% in South Korea. There is no doubt that measures being taken have very large complications to business and individuals but I truly believe that if these measures aren't taken the end cost will be much worse through undesirable and uncontrollable consequences and far more deaths.
 
They don’t care about long term economic consequences they are doctors. They are also thinking much too short term IMO, they aren’t considering the consequences of putting thousands out of work.

That could mean 2 million Australian deaths.

The death rate is only low because hospitals are still functioning.

Once hospitals stop functioning in 8-9 days, people in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s will die at a much higher rate.
 
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Because Scomo reckons it far more risky to sit at a table by yourself or your family in a food court than it is to go around touching all the clothes in Jay Jays or Rebel etc. Also, thinks there is no issue with having a haircut but a massage is too far. Mixed messages galore coming out of the prime minister.

I would agree, far more risk at a table in a food court putting your hand to table to mouth and back again. I guess if you could guarantee you're on your own at a table and the table is disinfected afterwards then that might work but that's not realistic. The one that really I don't understand is the hairdressing fraternity. Service is a close affair and makes no sense that this continues. Even the hairdressing industry wants to close as I understand as only then do they get access to benefits to help get through the crisis.
 
So we know there's a shortage of test kits, which is the reason for the criteria on who will and won't be tested.
The shortage of test kits (I know there has been a recent arrival of some) is the reason why not enough people have been tested. Which is a factor in the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.
Why can't we make our own test kits? Is it a because of patent laws?
Surely Australia can start making their own test kits, we've had plenty of time to explore the idea.
 
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Even if we have the manufacturing capability, we may not have the materials required to build them. A surgical mask factory in Melbourne has halted production because they can't get the supplied into the country.

I'm not sure too many governments would allow patent laws to stop them doing whatever they needed in times like this. Maybe the US, but that's about it.
 
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Why can't we make our own test kits? Is it a because of patent laws?
Surely Australia can start making their own test kits.
Just don't think it's that easy to prepare for making test kits. Needs to go through a pretty lengthy process. As I understand there are many micro biology companies now preparing to offer test kits soon if they haven't already started. This article might give you a better understanding.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/12/asia/coronavirus-south-korea-testing-intl-hnk/index.html

The US apparently had faulty test kits thus the reason they weren't testing much earlier. Here's an article claiming ROche can now produce 400,000 a week.

https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/14...uce-millions-of-coronavirus-diagnostic-tests/

Here's another describing US failure to develop proper tests

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/03/16/cdc-who-coronavirus-tests/
 
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Because Scomo reckons it far more risky to sit at a table by yourself or your family in a food court than it is to go around touching all the clothes in Jay Jays or Rebel etc. Also, thinks there is no issue with having a haircut but a massage is too far. Mixed messages galore coming out of the prime minister.

There seems so little information from the Gov regarding surfaces being touched..

Including such things as:

- Cash
- Parcels & mail
- Supermarket products such as fruit, bread etc.
- Takeaway food
- Takeaway coffee
- Dog fur (patting)
- The ground (shoes)
etc..

Worst thing is the virus is invisible. Impossible to detect.

Australia still seems so blase about this illness.

Here's how some countries are approaching it..

Over the top? Perhaps but it's food for thought.
 

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You don’t have to have full lockdown though, just isolate those that are crook and test to identify people with the virus so they can self isolate. Isolate the people most vulnerable. What we have done is gone waaay too far, the costs will be massive both in lives and impoverishment.
As has been pointed out not everyone gets symptoms. And often those symptoms that are visible come after people are contagious for a few days.
Not everyone who is vulnerable know they are vulnerable, hidden health conditions. This leads to a breakdown of hospitals, meaning less treatment, meaning more severe cases and death.
No 'enforced' population wide isolation will also mean the extreme effects on the health system will last for a longer period.
It also puts health professionals at risk. The more doctors and nurses that get it the less we have to treat the rising number of patients.

Suggesting isolating those at risk without population wide isolation, will also mean those at risk groups will need to be isolated for longer, that includes parents and siblings of kids at risk, family of adults at risk. This will keep those out off the workforce and education for longer than the current conditions will.
 
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What will the unemployment rate be next month? 30-40%?


Don't think so. Retail trade accounts for approximately 10% of the workforce. A certain percentage of those will remain employed. I believe the estimates are for possibly an unemployment rate over 15% (from 5.2% before this crisis began). That's still large numbers.

https://australianjobs.employment.gov.au/jobs-industry/industry-overview
 
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30 minute time frame for hairdressers now lifted apparently.
This site really needs a face palm emoticon.
Sadly Victoria announced it's first two deaths this morning.

The consistent bagging of scomo needs to be balanced. Reality is VIC has dodged a bullet with the womens T20 world cup final being held. That was a terrible decision in hindsight, as was the grand prix fiasco. I keep hearing how Dan is the man but they were 2 massive blunders that could have had devastating consequences. Much worse than anything done by scomo. The grand prix decision was forced by Hamilton & the teams, there was no leadership from Dan. And thousands stood around in groups on the morning of the race with it still a complete unknown.
 
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There would obviously need to be verification checks, it can't just be a system that believes what they are told. In NZ you have to sign a declaration to state that you will lose 30%. Now this is in its infancy but I would expect the government to get us to prove the decline after the fact. You also have to prove names to the government so it will be easy to find out who has not retained the employment of those employees.

Its not a total trust exercise you know.

And giving lump sum payments for future obligations direct to businesses that are facing financial hardship - what could go wrong? Your essentially backing a whole heap of individuals to manage through a financial crisis.

And then the cost of the administration and follow up for those exploiting the system. Its open to huge exploitation, people with sign anything and fabricate numbers when desperate. They do it when things aren't desperate.

I am keen to see which approach yields the best result - NZ or Aust - in both the lock down and stimulus.
 
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The death rate is only low because hospitals are still functioning.

Once hospitals stop functioning in 8-9 days, people in their 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s will die at a much higher rate.

The death rate in Italy is above 10%. They've slowed the spread to 8% daily increase (~5,000 infections) the past three days, but they're still some way off the crest of the hill. Obviously we need to take all possible measures to head it off before we get to that stage.

Sad to say it looks inevitable that the US is headed the same way as Italy.
 
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Got some info today from a doctor who has an anaesthetist staying with him who was assigned to cruise ship patients. CV19 is most contagious for 12-14 days but you may not show symptoms. After that period you may get sick - this period is approx 30 days. Advice - Vitamins D, C, Zinc. Wash hands, drink warm fluids, including boiled warm water. Don’t go out. So that’s 6 weeks, but you have to hope others are being as diligent.. he thinks the idea of lockdown really is the key..
 
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The consistent bagging of scomo needs to be balanced. Reality is VIC has dodged a bullet with the womens T20 world cup final being held. That was a terrible decision in hindsight, as was the grand prix fiasco. I keep hearing how Dan is the man but they were 2 massive blunders that could have had devastating consequences. Much worse than anything done by scomo. The grand prix decision was forced by Hamilton & the teams, there was no leadership from Dan. And thousands stood around in groups on the morning of the race with it still a complete unknown.

Yep. Time to put down your political team colours.
 
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The consistent bagging of scomo needs to be balanced. Reality is VIC has dodged a bullet with the womens T20 world cup final being held. That was a terrible decision in hindsight, as was the grand prix fiasco. I keep hearing how Dan is the man but they were 2 massive blunders that could have had devastating consequences. Much worse than anything done by scomo. The grand prix decision was forced by Hamilton & the teams, there was no leadership from Dan. And thousands stood around in groups on the morning of the race with it still a complete unknown.


Wot?

The T20 world Cup Final was held on Sat 8/3.

The following Friday (13/8) was the date the Grand Prix was due to start which was cancelled that morning.
I agree that was a debacle at the gates but at least common sense prevailed & the event didn't go ahead in spite of the confusion around it.

Later that day though Scotty from marketing was telling everyone that he was going to shut down all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people.. BUT it was to be suspended until Monday because first he had to go to the footy! & have his mate's Hillsong Conference finish!


It's one thing to blame a Premier but when the PM isn't showing the way as leader of the country it's a bit rich to go blaming the States.
 
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What gets me is the attitude of people instead of acting on announced measures straight away they race to infect or get infected before restrictions kick in:

Such as when it was announced that pubs and Gyms to close in 24 hours time, what did some idiots do stop going immediately? no, instead many went to nightclubs, pubs, and gyms for one last hurrah:rolleyes:

As for hairdressing, should be closed, not a necessity and makes a mockery of social distancing, (at least that's my opinion as a bald man:)))
 
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