Australia looking to slow down return of citizens as virus cases surge in Victoria state

Nationwide, Australia has reported about 9,000 COVID-19 cases and 106 deaths from the virus.

106 deaths. Out of a nation of, what?, 25 million? That's 4 deaths per million.

Which is two orders of magnitude lower than the US, UK, Italy and most other like nations.

Good on ya, Aussieland.

Yeah their face mask policy is still consistent with WHO recommendations

That's what they get for refusing to wear masks.

Rather simplistic analysis. The infection (and death) rate due to Covid-19 in Australia is significantly lower than most nations. I think the death rate is still the lowest in the OECD, along with NZ and Malaysia. This spike is a concern but on a world scale, very small. The authorities should be able to deal with it, and so far most Aussies have been patient and compliant, and the results can be seen in the low figures. You wont see armed militia storming legislatures there demanding the state "opens up".

Oh, and our Kiwi mates are not big mask-wearers, and are world leaders so far in this pandemic, along with Taiwan.

Would be good for Australia to review the policy on masks. Lockdowns and restrictions for returning residents are too great a cost esp if wearing a simple mask may prove effective.

I see a lot more fear in Australia or New Zealand when a small cluster of 20 people makes headline news.

That isn’t fear, that is information and precaution. When was the last time a cluster was discovered in NZ? April? All cases are now arriving at the border as opposed to the community transmission that your country has. People are not afraid but people still want to know.

@BurakuminDes

Oh, and our Kiwi mates are not big mask-wearers, and are world leaders so far in this pandemic,

Please keep the population of your Kiwi mates in mind.

I think the population is smaller than my hometown in a deep country side where I was born.

The panic is understandable, but the sooner we all learn to live with the virus the better. I am currently living in a place with around 4,000 or more new cases per day. Life goes on here (with precaution) because staying at home is not an option for most.

Sounds like you had the poor fortune to be living in a place with an extremely poor response to the virus. It would be scary for so many people to even leave the house in such a diseased area.

Too bad you weren't stuck in one of the countries that handled the virus effectively, meaning that people can leave their houses without being worried about diseased people everywhere.

I see a lot more fear in Australia or New Zealand when a small cluster of 20 people makes headline news.

Here there is no fear to leave the house despite the thousands of daily cases because we have already been living with the virus for so long, we are used to it. We have to be extra cautious but it's part of daily life.

Foreign tourists are still allowed to visit here, there are no border restrictions, businesses are all operating but with some restrictions. When will Australia be able to open its borders again? Waiting for a miracle cure.

The correct approach. Go hard and fast. Good on them. Lock down if necessary. Get on top of it and they'll have real results in weeks. Do what they did in NZ, and aim to wipeout the virus. Wish they would show some resolve in Tokyo, but sadly no. In the meanwhile, in the USA...

Security guards bonking guests in quarantine?! Keeping it classy, Australia.

Magnet - Such a shame the government kept taking such a complacent approach. As for the face mask policy being consistent with WHO recommendations... Yeah... Because WHO has been so effective in the management and prevention of spread of this disease. Right....

You are right about the (useless) WHO. I have serious questions about who the WHO are actually representing. I know who the WHO is supposed to be representing, but they seem to be more concerned about covering for China.

Read the article.

We got so close to eradication in Australia. Such a shame the government kept taking such a complacent approach. As for the face mask policy being consistent with WHO recommendations... Yeah... Because WHO has been so effective in the management and prevention of spread of this disease. Right....

Well done Australia for leading the world in draconian law

That's what they get for refusing to wear masks.

@doggar

I 100% agree!

Wear masks, wash hands, use sterilizers and keep social distance where it is possible.

Simple basic rules.

If you don't follow the basics, nothing can be built up.

As for the face mask policy being consistent with WHO recommendations... Yeah... Because WHO has been so effective in the management and prevention of spread of this disease. Right....

You got it but you didn't get it

I'm glad to see so many infectious disease experts here chiming in giving their 2 cents on the subject. Without you experts we wouldn't know what to do. The question is, why are you doctors here and not in the hospital?

The panic is understandable, but the sooner we all learn to live with the virus the better. I am currently living in a place with around 4,000 or more new cases per day. Life goes on here (with precaution) because staying at home is not an option for most.

Sounds like you had the poor fortune to be living in a place with an extremely poor response to the virus. It would be scary for so many people to even leave the house in such a diseased area.

Too bad you weren't stuck in one of the countries that handled the virus effectively, meaning that people can leave their houses without being worried about diseased people everywhere.

serendipitous1 - Security guards bonking guests in quarantine?! Keeping it classy, Australia.

What are suggesting?