As the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to heighten around Australia, new measures continue to be implemented to reduce the rate of infections.
At the time of reporting, there have been more than 2,400 confirmed cases of the virus in Australia. Of those confirmed cases, 11 people have died from COVID-19.
From the closure of non-essential services, to strict interstate and overseas travel bans, the Australian government continues to introduce new strategies to stop the spread of the virus.
In press conferences and announcements, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has continued to reiterate that the future of the virus – and exactly how long it will take to contain – is uncertain.
However, new modelling from the University of Sydney has demonstrated how the spread of COVID-19 could be controlled in Australia within 13 to 14 weeks.
The research, which was led by Complex Systems academic and pandemic modelling expert, Professor Mikhail Prokopenko, found the spread of the virus could be controlled in that time frame if 80 per cent of the Australian population adopted social distancing.
As an example, this could mean that one person in a household could leave the house once in five days. Alternatively, one person in a family of five could leave the house daily if the other four people remained at home all the time.
The research also found that if less than 70 per cent of the Australian population adopted social distancing measures, the pandemic would not be suppressed in Australia.
Top Comments
What about kindergarten children? The fees are astronomical & we are forced to still pay if we choose to have our children home. Unlike the school system, kids this age cannot home school. Where is the value? If we pull our kids out of enrolment we lose the spots that are so hard to get. So current options are - place our kids in an environment where social distancing is a joke and we all know germs spread, regardless of best efforts, keep them home and still pay or lose enrolment. Can the government do the right thing and close them? This would allow us to maintain enrolment when they are back on board and also provide some financial aid to this sector. Whilst kids don’t get severe symptoms they are carriers. If both parents fall ill from a result of exposed kids who takes care of the baby or toddler then? Grandparents - nope.
Interesting that closing the schools didn't have a major effect.