OPINION: We need to endure Easter in a virtual monastery — but an exit strategy is already under debate
So the future choice is between attempted continued containment until there is a vaccine — a big operation in testing and tracing — or pursuing some form of"herd immunity".Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's Coronacast podcast.
The herd immunity path would be very controversial and take more lives than attempting to maintain the suppression approach. Asked on Thursday whether it was possible, when we do unwind the various restrictions, to simultaneously pursue a suppression policy, deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said:
"It's entirely possible, and that would need to be the aim. … The suppression strategy needs to be sustainable in the medium term whilst we work out things like when a vaccine becomes available, whilst we bring new molecules online to be able to treat the virus." What is important as discussion gets underway about lifting some restrictions is that we get transparency on the health advice. This is being promised, but it's no good having modelling long after decisions are made.
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