Conspiracy theories kill
COVID-19 misinformation is rife, new research shows, with indications that one false rumour — that drinking highly concentrated alcohol can disinfect the body and kill the virus — leading to around 800 deaths and almost 6000 hospitalisations.
The World Health Organisation has warned the “infodemic,” an overabundance of information, has made it harder for people to find trustworthy sources.
In one example, a Florida sheriff has banned employees and office visitors from wearing a mask, arguing that “just as many” health professionals say the public shouldn’t wear masks as those who say they should.
In truth, masks have been found to reduce the risk of transmission from 17% to 3%.
In the last 24 hours, Florida has reported at least 276 new coronavirus deaths and 5831 new cases.
Search for Sydney school’s patient zero
Contact tracers are racing to find patient zero of Sydney’s Tangara school cluster after students attended a study-and-prayer retreat. The cluster has grown to 19.
Yesterday, NSW recorded 18 new cases — two of which are under investigation.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned harsher restrictions will be implemented if businesses continue to flout COVID-19 safe rules and the amount of people wearing masks doesn’t increase.
A pub in Rozelle, in Sydney’s inner-west, has been fined $10,000 for a litany of COVID-19 safety breaches, with no up-to-date COVID-19 safety plan, no sign-in mechanism for patrons, no physical distancing and patrons not sitting down.
A glimmer of hope for Victoria
Victoria’s number of active COVID-19 cases has decreased for the first time in two months. This morning, the state recorded 278 new cases and eight deaths — meaning Victoria may be past the peak of the second wave thanks to strict lockdown measures.
Despite the silver living, controversies keep arising from Victoria’s bungled hotel quarantine, with emails showing 100 defence force personnel were at the ready to assist Victoria a week before the mandatory hotel program was announced by the national cabinet.
Aged care is also back under the microscope with hospitals in Melbourne turning away aged care residents. Some residents are being sedated instead of hospitalised. Operators have also said they’re still waiting for key parts of $812.8 million promised in federal funding.
Border closures to cost
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has told states and territories not to expect federal funding for their tourism industries if their borders stay shut for longer than necessary, warning restrictions shouldn’t remain in place “for one more day than they need to”.
The NT announced this week their borders would stay shut for a minimum of 18 months, while WA’s border closures will stay in place until community transmission in other states is eliminated.
NSW residents returning from Victoria will also soon have to pay for their own hotel quarantine.
New Zealand’s cold patient zero
The first COVID-19 case outside of hotel quarantine in more than three months in New Zealand may have arrived in refrigerated freight. It would be the first confirmed case of COVID-19 transmitted through food or food packaging
The shock cases, found in an Auckland family, baffled authorities. The city has gone back into lockdown.
” … may have arrived in refrigerated freight … would be the first confirmed case of COVID-19 transmitted through food or food packaging”
Speculation as journalism. And people wonder how misinformation spreads – and how the cloud of fear grows?
This is an awful article and should not have been published. There is nothing to support the claim that the virus has been brought in via imported products. Furthermore, the science says that the virus is very unlikely to have survived such a trip. Even if it were to survive, there is so far no evidence of infection having been transmitted via this means.
I am appalled that Crikey even permitted the publishing of such a unverified rubbish.
Re: NZ back in lockdown.
A month of so back, I was rubbished on this site for suggesting that the only way NZ could remain Covid-free would be to curtail or stop most of its international trade… I wonder where are all those “elimination NZ-style is the way to go “experts” are now?
Many of my compatriots across the ditch will be slowly coming to realise: After one of the world’s strictest and most punishing lockdowns, they were duped.
13 new Auckland cases have been reported today.
I’m a NZ-er who has lived in NSW most of my adult life. Until yesterday many my colleagues and friends used to say to me, “Bet you wished you still lived over there!” They couldn’t understand why I said, er no, not really… As long as Gladys Backfilipian holds her nerve (based on her record, hardly guaranteed), I’m much better off in Sydney.
It looks like the cold store transmission off surfaces theory may be walked back. From the ABC:
‘Dr Bloomfield said surface swabs were being done today at the workplaces, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the most likely cause of transmission was person-to-person.’
The person-to-person transmission theory sounds more plausible to me.
In Occam’s spirit, why isn’t the obvious of the NZ outbreak acknowledged?
After the hard lockdown “flattened the curve” anyone who was obviously crook was noted and treated/sequestered and trust/ confidence was maintained.
Meanwhile the asymptomatics rambled on, unaware of their infectiousness.
This is the future, if any and IF we are lucky. Imagine if this virus were, more, virulent.