COVID-19 - Temporary time-out

[Acousticado]

Carry on discussion mindful of forum rules.

[Tannin]

We are now Covid-free. There are now no known cases here in Tasmania, and the last new case was a month ago. This is thanks mostly to prompt, effective action by the state government, closing the border and introducing comprehensive social distancing rules, following up with extensive testing.

With the virus defeated, the restrictions are rapidly being lifted and life has pretty much returned to normal already. On current indications, the economic impact has been minimised. Yes, we had a rapid shutdown, but we went early and hard, meaning that the overall interruption was short and at the end of it we can resume at full pace with no lingering issues.

The one big impact is tourism. That industry is in poor shape. We are seeing local tourists (from inside this state) now. There will be a resumption of travel from New Zealand and from the rest of Australia soon. New Zealand, like Tasmania, and also like South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory, is Covid-free and we will be welcoming travelers from those places any time now. The two largest states (population-wise) are lagging. New South Wales, with by far the worst Covid situation, is pressing for a rapid reopening of the borders; the smaller states, all Covid-free now, are reluctant. Unfortunately, owing to a constitutional quirk, it is difficult to open borders with only certain selected states. The lawyers say that we probably have to open them all or none. Hopefully Victoria and New South Wales will get their acts together soon (Victoria has been very well led and is almost there already) and we will be able to travel again.

International travel will be limited to New Zealand, and possibly other Covid-free countries for a while yet. Most of Asia will be next. There is probably zero chance of travel this year from places where the virus is still out of control (North America, most of Europe, Africa, South America).

[rokdog49]

Congratulations.
When everyone is on the same page from the get-go, things can get done.
Unfortunately, that was not the case in most of the rest of the world.

[Neil K Walk]

I see that Florida had quite a spike yesterday, posting 2,581 new cases.

[buddyhu]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

Congratulations.
When everyone is on the same page from the get-go, things can get done.
Unfortunately, that was not the case in most of the rest of the world.

Congrats to Tasmania!

The fact that Tasmania is an island that is about the size of West Virginia, but with a population of about 510,000 probably helped achieve this result. Other factors related to amount of travel to and from the country may have played a role (there aren't many commercial hubs in Tasmania, and none that are equivalent to San Francisco, New York, Boston, etc.).

Certainly, having a populace that is willing to adhere to guidelines that are implemented early and which are rooted in science (and which are consistently communicated and reinforced) is also important.

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by Tannin

We are now Covid-free. There are now no known cases here in Tasmania, and the last new case was a month ago. .

This is great and is prime evidence that isolation works when it is done correctly. They must have good leadership there.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

This is great and is prime evidence that isolation works when it is done correctly. They must have good leadership there.

We have good leadership here. It’s just an entirely different scenario.
We have 50 individual States with a completely different set of circumstances and 327 1/2 million more people, governed differently.
Makes a difference.

[Kerbie]

We're not going to evaluate the, "leadership."

[Davis Webb]

In Canada restrictions are being lifted according to region rather then provincial (read State in the US) lines. Some part of our province (read State if US) are clear, some cities are not. So just an hour away from where I live I can now get a haircut. But in our city, no, the numbers are not safe yet.

This is a balanced approach and one which is less beaurocratic.

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by Davis Webb

In Canada restrictions are being lifted according to region rather then provincial (read State in the US) lines. Some part of our province (read State if US) are clear, some cities are not. So just an hour away from where I live I can now get a haircut. But in our city, no, the numbers are not safe yet.

This is a balanced approach and one which is less beaurocratic.

I like that approach.

[Grizzly Adams]

I noticed something interesting in the data the New Mexico Dept of Health posted last week. (I have not check this weeks report) 9,367 "cases" in the state, 420 deaths since this began, but only 189 currently hospitalized. So.... 9,178 cases are not severe enough to require hospitalization. I assume these "cases" are folks that have tested positive for C19? If so, I wonder what percentage of them have active illness, and what percentage are asymptomatic? The good news is that it appears unlikely that our medical system will be overwhelmed.....

[KevWind]

Stats for Wyoming :This seems to have some interesting/ perhaps unusual ? numbers
Like far more cases in younger people (49 and younger) , and a slightly more in females.


Obviously being Wy and sparsely populated is a factor but interesting none the less

[magirus]

Good to see Tasmania in such great shape. Here in the UK we are in a shambles.

[TJE]

Here’s an interesting read!

One in five caught the Coronavirus in the hospital!

https://apple.news/Aq-sl-BRmTsmBDu9harFFSg

[Blueser100]

Congrats to Tasmania!

I have given up on most other governments in the western world doing the same; therefore, I read the research and plan accordingly.

I truly wish that epidemologists would provide education and training to health and government officials about basic biology and how the virus actually spreads (e.g., aerosols).

This is worth reading.

https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2.../10/2009637117