The Virus Changed. Now We Must ‘Get to Zero’ or Face Catastrophe

Post by SpicyLemonZest » Sun, Jan 31, 2021, 10:04 AM UTC

andylynch wrote: post #134

SpicyLemonZest wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not clear that it is possible. The obvious point of comparison is China, which has continually had to fight off new waves of infections despite strong lockdowns and strong border restrictions. (A lockdown started just 2 weeks ago covering about as many people as the total population of Australia.)

They do seem to be doing ok with it. Their lockdowns and done properly and actually work. ( speaking from the UK where arrivals still quarantine on the honour system and govt offices are hot spots despite being declared ‘COVID safe’)

Post by josephg » Sun, Jan 31, 2021, 10:06 AM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #130

strogonoff wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just don’t think many messages come out at all (considering bans on inbound travel and recent crackdowns on documentary uses of social media), and especially from outside of larger cities.

Any population of Chinese speakers in the west is going to know someone there on Wechat. I've talked to friends there as well, there's no major problem now. By contrast when things were bad in Wuhan people were reporting it. On top of that there's plenty of foreign reporters there, and plenty of foreign diplomats who would also notice.

Post by gridspy » Sun, Jan 31, 2021, 10:08 AM UTC

andylynch wrote: post #140

saiya-jin wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

New Zealand had it very easy with its geography. Same for other relatively small islands. Place like EU with its own national, often competing goals can't be effectively 100% locked out. That's what happens when you have a federation with strong independent parts. Not that I disagree with your points, they should be the baseline for any serious covid response. Lockdown measures have so far always been watered down by…

The geography in NZ is I think a secondary factor. Due to its isolation and reliance on agriculture, NZ has always had a very strong bio security policy and the systems in place to effect it. (Try bringing in a apple, pot of honey or muddy shoes. Actually don’t!). So when they had to make the call, they weren’t exactly starting from scratch. In addition, virtually everyone got behind the lockdown and made it work tog…

Post by twelve40 » Sun, Jan 31, 2021, 10:11 AM UTC

gridspy wrote: post #104

icelancer wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> I can't wait for other countries to simply copy the New Zealand quarantine rules When the United States of America can relocate to an island and near-permanently ban travel into the country like NZ has, we'll do that, I guess. EDIT: Ah yes, HN the libertarian paradise unless it's about COVID, then the recommendations are non-practical authoritarian measures and citing island nation success and hurling downvotes. K…

- Make tests free (fully subsidized) - Shut down the highway off-ramps into towns with some sort of inter-state quarantine scheme (make this legal) - Institute financial support for all non-essential businesses, then force them to close (cease in person trading) during lock-down - Educate the populace on Covid details It's not just about strong walls or deep oceans. We're not talking about a zombie apocalypse here. S…

Post by sto_hristo » Sun, Jan 31, 2021, 10:14 AM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #110

sto_hristo wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australia is big and sparely populated compared to other countries that implemented full lockdowns. Also, it's summer down there, with heat waves, etc. All of this diminishes virus' ability to spread. It's very situational. Australia is not doing anything more special than other countries. You gotta look into the meaning of these numbers and just the value. Lockdowns do work, technically speaking, but not in the long…

1. 71% of Australians live in a handful of cities each of which has very high density relative to the rest of the world. 2. Lockdowns occurred during winter. 3. Australia has effectively eliminated COVID-19 and by having so few cases it allows for targeted lockdowns to work over the long-term e.g. Perth just had 1 case today and is having a short 5-day lockdown - their first in 10 months.