1/18
Seeing as my two passions are health care & investing, here's some thoughts on the Coronavirus & how it may affect Australia. Keep in mind there's some wild theories going around, so I will endeavour to put my pharmacist coat on & keep it factual.
Seeing as my two passions are health care & investing, here's some thoughts on the Coronavirus & how it may affect Australia. Keep in mind there's some wild theories going around, so I will endeavour to put my pharmacist coat on & keep it factual.
2/18
Coronaviruses are nothing new, they've been around causing colds & flus along with Influenza & Rhinoviruses for decades.
So it's no worse than the flu? Yes & No. The signs & symptoms are fairly similar to the flu. Most people who have the flu feel fairly terrible for a few
Coronaviruses are nothing new, they've been around causing colds & flus along with Influenza & Rhinoviruses for decades.
So it's no worse than the flu? Yes & No. The signs & symptoms are fairly similar to the flu. Most people who have the flu feel fairly terrible for a few
3/18
days & get on with it. But this is where the similarities end. Viruses can mutate. Subtle genetic changes can have drastic real world effects.
These new characteristics are what make this version of the Coronavirus potentially far more dangerous.
Keeping in mind we still
days & get on with it. But this is where the similarities end. Viruses can mutate. Subtle genetic changes can have drastic real world effects.
These new characteristics are what make this version of the Coronavirus potentially far more dangerous.
Keeping in mind we still
4/18
know very little about this virus that has only been around for a matter of weeks, what are the differences? It's appears to be highly infectious.
R0 is the number of people an infected individual will spread the infection onto. The flu has an R0 of 1.2. The Coronavirus
know very little about this virus that has only been around for a matter of weeks, what are the differences? It's appears to be highly infectious.
R0 is the number of people an infected individual will spread the infection onto. The flu has an R0 of 1.2. The Coronavirus
5/18 appears to be much higher at 2 or more.
Most worryingly it appears that many infected individuals are asymptomatic - meaning they don't have symptoms. This makes containing the virus nearly impossible. When you add to that the fact that there are now reports the virus could
Most worryingly it appears that many infected individuals are asymptomatic - meaning they don't have symptoms. This makes containing the virus nearly impossible. When you add to that the fact that there are now reports the virus could
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be transmissible for 2 or even 3 weeks. So you can see how quickly this could spread if not contained.
This is why we are now hearing doctors say that nearly everyone that lives in suburban areas will likely come in contact with the virus.
The good news is it may spread
be transmissible for 2 or even 3 weeks. So you can see how quickly this could spread if not contained.
This is why we are now hearing doctors say that nearly everyone that lives in suburban areas will likely come in contact with the virus.
The good news is it may spread
7/18
less affectively in warmer climates. Let's hope this all blows over before we come into winter.
Most people will be fine, especially if you're young, fit & healthy. It's older, younger & immunosuppressed individuals that are most at risk.
The death rate is currently
less affectively in warmer climates. Let's hope this all blows over before we come into winter.
Most people will be fine, especially if you're young, fit & healthy. It's older, younger & immunosuppressed individuals that are most at risk.
The death rate is currently
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estimated at 2% vs 0.1% for the flu. We also don't have any vaccine like we do for the flu, that can help protect those at high risk from previous season's strains. There's also some antiviral tablets for the flu can help but only if taken within 24-48 hours of onset of
estimated at 2% vs 0.1% for the flu. We also don't have any vaccine like we do for the flu, that can help protect those at high risk from previous season's strains. There's also some antiviral tablets for the flu can help but only if taken within 24-48 hours of onset of
9/18
symptoms.
So while the majority of people have nothing to worry about, you can see how something that is 20x more deadly than the flu, but spreads far more easily could turn into a pandemic, as Australia has declared in recent days.
So what can you do? The same thing you
symptoms.
So while the majority of people have nothing to worry about, you can see how something that is 20x more deadly than the flu, but spreads far more easily could turn into a pandemic, as Australia has declared in recent days.
So what can you do? The same thing you
10/18
do if you get sick or hopefully you do everyday to stay healthy! Eat a super healthy diet, exercise, destress, get some sun & plenty of sleep.
Do natural things work? It depends who you ask! They certainly don't have the clinical studies behind them, but many people have
do if you get sick or hopefully you do everyday to stay healthy! Eat a super healthy diet, exercise, destress, get some sun & plenty of sleep.
Do natural things work? It depends who you ask! They certainly don't have the clinical studies behind them, but many people have
11/18
found them beneficial for 1000s of years. That's another whole rabbit I won't go down today.
Do masks help. Depends on the grade of mask. Likely yes but we still don't know for sure. Most people will wear a mask all day then take it off with their hands before they then
found them beneficial for 1000s of years. That's another whole rabbit I won't go down today.
Do masks help. Depends on the grade of mask. Likely yes but we still don't know for sure. Most people will wear a mask all day then take it off with their hands before they then
12/18
touch everything around their home...
Certainly more important for those in close contact & health professionals than when you are walking in the park.
Was this man made by China?
Well China’s only Level 4 microbiology lab that is equipped to handle deadly coronaviruses,
touch everything around their home...
Certainly more important for those in close contact & health professionals than when you are walking in the park.
Was this man made by China?
Well China’s only Level 4 microbiology lab that is equipped to handle deadly coronaviruses,
13/18
called the National Biosafety Laboratory is part of the Wuhan Institute of Virology located right near where the outbreak occurred. We don't know for sure & it doesn't really matter. Mutations happen every day in nature, in animal hosts & in labs. Clinics world wide will
called the National Biosafety Laboratory is part of the Wuhan Institute of Virology located right near where the outbreak occurred. We don't know for sure & it doesn't really matter. Mutations happen every day in nature, in animal hosts & in labs. Clinics world wide will
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sequence the genetic code, study the virus in detail, then let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
So why do I think we will see 100s of cases in Australia?
We have now seen outbreaks in countries around the world where travellers have returned from infected regions.
sequence the genetic code, study the virus in detail, then let's cross that bridge when we come to it.
So why do I think we will see 100s of cases in Australia?
We have now seen outbreaks in countries around the world where travellers have returned from infected regions.
15/18
The world has never been more interconnected. Australia is a multicultural capital & a country of travellers. China is our largest neighbour & trade partner. As the saying literally goes, when China sneezes Australia catches a cold. We're so dependant on China for tourism,
The world has never been more interconnected. Australia is a multicultural capital & a country of travellers. China is our largest neighbour & trade partner. As the saying literally goes, when China sneezes Australia catches a cold. We're so dependant on China for tourism,
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education, manufacturing & exporting our resources. China's economy has ground to a halt & you'd be naive to think Australia won't be hit hard by this.
The retail sector is Australia's largest private employer & was already struggling before the bush fires & now this.
education, manufacturing & exporting our resources. China's economy has ground to a halt & you'd be naive to think Australia won't be hit hard by this.
The retail sector is Australia's largest private employer & was already struggling before the bush fires & now this.
17/18
For more info on the economic side of things you can check out this video I did a few nights back. But hopefully you can see why I think this has the potential to get worse unless contained in the coming days. We will know a lot more by the end of the week.
For more info on the economic side of things you can check out this video I did a few nights back. But hopefully you can see why I think this has the potential to get worse unless contained in the coming days. We will know a lot more by the end of the week.
18/18
I hope it passes, but I'd rather everyone have the facts than act like this is nothing. Please share with friends & family. Looking forward to reading your responses in the comments. 🤓⚕️🏥
I hope it passes, but I'd rather everyone have the facts than act like this is nothing. Please share with friends & family. Looking forward to reading your responses in the comments. 🤓⚕️🏥
