DR DOUG QUARRY
The number of news COVID-19 cases per day in Victoria is down to around 40 per day, from over 700 prior to the Stage 4 lockdown.
We would like to say thank you to all Victorians. You have been doing it tough for the rest of Australia’s benefit. Your pain and suffering, loss of freedoms and financial losses during lockdown are palpable to all of us.
We hope and expect that Victoria can move from Stage 4 to Stage 3 to Stage 2 soon. AND we look forward to seeing lots of Victorians in FNQ soon!
In contrast, Israel today has become second country to re-impose lockdown.
This is necessary as daily coronavirus numbers were spiralling out of control with 4,000 daily cases and hospitals reported to be on the verge of collapse.
Schools and kindergartens will close as will hotels, culture and entertainment places, and shops, except for essential places such as supermarkets and pharmacies. Many workplaces will also be closed or will operate partially with work from home. Lockdown will include being restricted to 500 metres from your house.
When is lockdown needed and what are the alternatives?
On average, each new COVID case generates between 15 and 25 contacts that need to be tracked and traced. So, for every 100 new cases per day, between 1,500 and 2,500 contacts need to be tracked and traced. This is 1,500 and 2,500 NEW contacts every day.
It is widely accepted that any human-run track and trace system can only cope with a maximum of about 500 new COVID cases per day regardless of system or software used. 500 cases means tracking and tracing between 7,500 and 12,500 new contacts every day.
Social distancing, masks, hygiene, etc. are used to keep case numbers down, however once cases numbers get out of control, the only alternatives are:
—Electronic tracking systems (as used successfully in several Asian countries)
—Lockdown
Learn more about the Queensland Chief Health Officer’s warning that COVID-19 affects heart, lungs and brain:
