Thread by @ellymelly

We're still fighting today. Watch along with us.
rebelnews.com/watch_now_we_r…

Epidemiologist Dr Charles Alpren now giving testimony.

Hypothetical of someone leaving for exercise in compliance with all other directions, if that person intents to wear a T-shirt with a political slogan while exercising? There's no scientific reason why that person shouldn't be allowed to leave their home?

"Correct." Dr Alpren

There's no scientific reason why they shouldn't be able to hold a political sign?

"Correct." Dr Alpren

"A type of coffee isn't a necessity ... is it?"

"No." Dr Alpren 😆

"There's no scientific basis to permit a person to leave their home to get a coffee vs standing outside to hold a political sign."

"The scientific basis is physical distancing." Dr Alpren. "Physical distancing and hygiene."

"Buying a takeaway coffee is likely to be more risky than putting a sign up?"

"At this point in my yes and nos, I would like to emphasize that the physical distancing is my scientific basis." Dr Alpren

"It's about the risk and how many people you will come into contact with." Dr Alpren

"Isn't it the case that a person leaving their home to go and get a takeaway coffee - that person is more likely to increase contact than the person putting their sign up."

"Yes." Dr Alpren

"While science informs the decision making, the decision making is also informed by other things?"

"Certainly the restrictions and decisions were based in science. [...] All the decisions were based upon the public health outcomes, and I see that as the science." Dr Alpren.

So far, it has been made clear that it is probably more dangerous to public health to allow someone to go & get a coffee than put up a political sign.

Yet everyone is holding to the 'we should still stop political communication in the interests of safety' idea without saying it.

It has been implied that the public would not tolerate the closing of liquor stores and that therefore the 'safety' of this decision has something to do with wider public behaviour.

Wouldn't that extend to denying people the right to protest?

(these are my thoughts, not theirs)

"Expressing political views while outside is not, in and of itself, something that would increase transmission. I would accept that." Dr Alpren

That's rather crucial.

"There is no difference in risk between giving exemptions to religious gatherings and political gatherings?"

"The more gatherings the more risk." Dr Alpren

"In choosing one over the other - is there a basis in the data?"

"No." Dr Alpren

Professor Marylouise McLaws is on now - expert advisor to the World Health Organization on Covid19.

"When you say that we must aim for the lowest risk possible - do you mean, at any cost?"

"In an unqualified way? As an non-econominist, as a non-mental health expert? Yes, that's what outbreak managers must do to protect health and reduce death." McLaws

"Economically or mental health is not part of the decision making made by the [outbreak managers] make." Professor Marylouise McLaws

In other words, expert advice does not reference the wider consequence on society or individuals beyond the spread of the virus.

"You can't expect an outbreak manager to understand all those things [the wider consequences of economics, domestic violence, loss of education] in their advice." Professor Marylouise McLaws

"I believe with the #BlackLivesMatter protests - there were no super spreader events." Professor Marylouise McLaws

Black Lives Matter - safe. All other activities - 'a risk to public health' 🧐

"So, your traffic light system [ which much of this report references ] hasn't been peer reviewed?"
"No..." Professor Marylouise McLaws

"I wasn't privy to how contact tracing was being done in Victoria. It [my advice] was based on how it is commonly done. [...] I was giving overseas experience that that's what they do." Professor Marylouise McLaws

What has become crystal clear is that the Victorian government and their health officials never thought they'd have their #covid19 decision making picked apart in full view of the public. Well done @RebelNewsOnline

"How many funerals are in a given week compared to how many protests?"

"That's a good point. There's one difference though & that's the age of those at the funeral. They're often older folk or middle aged. It could be considered to be a more emotionally contained group." McLaws

"Viruses can choose whether or not they are spread by droplets or airborne and that's brand new evidence coming out from #Covid19." Professor Marylouise McLaws

Weird how we already knew that when I was three years old???