Has Australia's coronavirus response been too slow off the mark?

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In early December two leading Australian academics trialled a war-gaming exercise they’d designed. The timing was uncanny. What they were about to simulate was what events might look like, nationally and globally, if a vicious pandemic broke out.

The event was high octane, supported by the US military’s Indo-Pacific command and Arizona State University with more than 200 participants, including senior government representatives from Australia, Britain, United States and Canada.

“I would rather be in Australia now [doing what we are doing] than in any other country in the world today,” he said. MacIntyre labels it a “debacle”. “It means there will be people without symptoms who are transmitting it, it’s going to be spreading silently throughout our community” she warns. “You may not see a hit on the health system for 4 to 6 weeks through a couple of incubation cycles. But that has compounded everything.”

Sydney University virologist associate professor Tim Newsome also doubts history will judge the country to have acted fast enough. “Will we look back and say we did enough? Our trajectory is looking disastrous at the moment.” Professor Raina MacIntyre, who heads biosecurity at the Kirby Institute in Sydney, says she's alarmed by Canberra's dogged determination to proceed by way of incremental steps.He says the case for more emphatic social and workplace restrictions remains open, but “the faster the acceleration in case numbers , the greater the weight of economic argument swinging towards that.”

 

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I would hate to be making the calls in this situation. There are so many things which need to be considered - the economy, mental health etc. I hate not having freedom to move around, but I think it’s time for mandatory lockdowns to stop the spread of the virus.

I dont think we need Scott to tell us that we need to stay at home. While I disagreed a bit I think the response was good enough not to kill the economy. However I think violation of quarantine must be punished similar to Singapore

Super slow. It's obvious we had no national plan for a pandemic.

Maybe when it was advertised, Scotty’s job description was: “Make Australian Lives Miserable. Whatever it takes.” Bcos mate,I cannot understand why u are doing what u are doing.Not doing what u should & throwing tantrums when u don’t get ur way. WTAF🦠😷🇦🇺💔 ScottyFromMarketing

Victoria was slow........not enough tests leading up the Grand Prix.........certainly shows now by the increase in positive tests, self interest was at stake.

GOVT MUPPETS

DrRimmer Whomever was in charge of the Federal Government's planning response to a global pandemic has either failed utterly or owes the public an explanation of what they advised, and what the Govt said when they refused to take even basic precautions.

Absolutely behind the times is what our current Federal Govt. is. Appalling communication & zero fucks given. auspol

Every country had their peaks. It makes sense after the cruise ship debacle that we will have a big increase.

What response! This has been a cock up from the start! Our govt is spineless, toothless and incapable of making a decision...

Do they want a medal? WHO f--ked up this time re timely warning. But the WHO have been warning the world to get ready for a pandemic for at least 17 years.

Hopeless and still he will not listen. Get him out of office one way or another. I have money any takers.

Did they work for Dutton Morrison ANU MonashUni or the Project TV? Because they all work for QAnon who is claiming Military Intelligence told them COVID19 is a Biological Weapon to avoid Criminal Prosecution 🙄

media = scaremongering.

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