Today, Western Australia ended the border controls that have kept its people safe for two years. During that time, only 10 people died from COVID-19, making the state’s response one of the world’s best.
Unfortunately, the emergence of the omicron variant finally made Western Australia’s elimination strategy unviable.
Nonetheless, the Government continues to follow a suppression strategy for now. Better vaccines may make this easier in future.
Nonetheless, the Government continues to follow a suppression strategy for now. Better vaccines may make this easier in future.
I’m not concerned by the border reopening, because it will now make little difference to the trajectory of the omicron epidemic in Western Australia.
The most important thing was that we bought precious time to get third dose levels up.
The most important thing was that we bought precious time to get third dose levels up.
https://twitter.com/covidbaseau/status/1499244172792180736?s=21
What does worry me is the growing narrative that the threat posed by COVID-19 is over.
It is not.
In many ways, this is the beginning of the pandemic in Western Australia, not the end.
It is not.
In many ways, this is the beginning of the pandemic in Western Australia, not the end.
We’ve been warned there will be more variants & more waves of COVID-19. This will test any health system & require some degree of restrictions going forward.
This is what living with COVID-19 actually means, and I suspect it will come as a shock to many.
This is what living with COVID-19 actually means, and I suspect it will come as a shock to many.
https://twitter.com/drzoehyde/status/1492775840140394497?s=21
People who wanted a return to 2019 should’ve backed a global elimination strategy while it was still possible.
Not that long ago, about two-thirds of infected people didn’t transmit the virus to anyone. The world’s governments squandered that opportunity.
Not that long ago, about two-thirds of infected people didn’t transmit the virus to anyone. The world’s governments squandered that opportunity.
https://twitter.com/drzoehyde/status/1306635443262218240?s=21
Perhaps the world will get a second chance at elimination, or at least the opportunity to keep transmission at low levels.
Second generation vaccines are in development, which may better prevent infection and transmission and be more resistant to variants.
Second generation vaccines are in development, which may better prevent infection and transmission and be more resistant to variants.
But there’s still much that can be done with the tools we have today. Improving indoor air quality with better ventilation and HEPA filtration could put a big dent in transmission and make the buildings in which we live and work safer.
This is a #VaccinesPLUS strategy.
This is a #VaccinesPLUS strategy.
Western Australians must now be prepared for a new, higher baseline of mortality.
Even with our high levels of vaccination, the virus will scythe down the vulnerable - and some completely healthy people too.
Exactly how great the toll will be is up to us.
Even with our high levels of vaccination, the virus will scythe down the vulnerable - and some completely healthy people too.
Exactly how great the toll will be is up to us.
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