When the Victorian Premier announced a fresh six weeks of lockdown for Melbourne and surrounds, he described the situation as a 'more precarious, challenging and potentially tragic position than we were at some months ago'. The reason for this can be summed up in two words: community transmission.
Lockdowns are also particularly appropriate for controlling COVID-19 because such a significant proportion of people who have it are asymptomatic, says health broadcaster Norman Swan.
"That's what a lockdown helps to control, because if you're focusing just on symptoms, you're missing people who are either asymptomatic or presymptomatic," Dr Swan said on the ABC's"It's younger people who are getting infected and they tend to have milder symptoms, but yet are spreading it."The Victorian Government's action so far is on the right track, Dr Vally says.
Isolating cases, quarantining potential cases, lots of testing and detecting as many cases as possible are all essential to keeping a lid on transmission. Locking down the suburbs at highest risk reduces the number of human interactions, further limiting the virus's ability to spread.Dr Vally said people should be following the spirit of the tougher restrictions rather than pushing the limits of the rules.
"It's up to people to be really earnest and very thorough in the way that they maintain physical distance, wash their hands and keep their hand hygiene going, make sure that they limit their exposure to people outside the house," he said. "Maybe, if they're going to be in situations where they think they're going to come into contact with people, now is the time for people to start to consider wearing a mask."Your information is handled in accordance with the
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Casualty Ward: Tupou to miss two months; Bulldogs confirm Elliott done for 2020All the latest info on who's in, who's out, injuries and unavailability for all rosters for 2020.
Read more »
Cat with peanut butter jar stuck on his head caught after two-week huntA stray cat in New Zealand, with a plastic peanut butter jar stuck on his head, has finally been caught after two weeks avoiding capture
Read more »
Coronavirus infections surge in Victoria with 191 new casesThe spike in infections comes as NSW moves to lock down the border with Victoria in an effort to prevent the outbreak from spreading.
Read more »
Scott Morrison ‘is a good PM but must do one thing to become great’ | Sky News AustraliaVictoria’s economy is set to go “back to square one” and will incur significant pain following the second wave outbreak of COVID-19 according to Sky News host Peter Gleeson.\n\nOn Tuesday the Reserve Bank kept rates on hold at a record low of 0.25 per cent, as widely anticipated.\n\nGovernor Phillip Lowe released a statement saying the economic outlook remains uncertain and Australia’s economy is going through the biggest contraction since 1930, with some 800,000 jobs lost since March. \n\nMr Gleeson said the Victorian second wave of coronavirus will have a significant “impact on the national fiscal narrative”. \n\nHe said the nation’s political leaders must throw the rulebook away when it comes to stimulating the economy. \n\n“The first real test will be taxation reform”. \n\nHe said Scott Morrison has shown remarkable resilience as prime minister and “there’s little doubt he is a good PM”.\n\n“But if he wants to be a great PM – in the genre of a Menzies – he needs to engineer real tax reform”. \n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
Health Minister refuses to rule out more lockdowns in Victoria amid 'very serious' coronavirus outbreakThe Federal Health Minister says more restrictions across Melbourne can&x27;t be ruled out.
Read more »
What Victoria's outbreak might mean for other states reopeningHealth Minister Greg Hunt says the size of the scale of the new coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne is 'more significant than anybody had anticipated'. 9News
Read more »