Australians brace to find bliss at their homes

SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease, identified just about a few months ago has spread in nearly 210 countries and territories, infecting more than 20,00,00 people and killing above 1,34,000 people worldwide. The virus has disrupted trade and supply, jolted markets, closed schools and businesses forcing the world to go into a complete lockdown severely dragging down their economies.

The coronavirus crisis has caused a panic in governments, central banks, policymakers, health experts and international organisations to contain the spread of the virus and revive their economies. The crisis is already pushing millions of workers out of their jobs and income loss to households and businesses.

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Australian region has had 6,447 cases so far with 63 deaths till date with the everyday surge in the number of fresh cases declining to a single digit of 9 percent. The rate of infections has been slowing for more than a week escalating Australia’s position in beating the virus.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly stated that the nation of Australia was currently in a better space. Still, social distancing measures were needed to be in place in Australia until September. He said the country must stay at course and 6 months is an indicative time to get through the winter period, when flu cases are high asserting the need for a further lockdown of 6 months.

Clearing 3 tests to ease lockdowns

Greg Hunt, Health Minister of Australia, has applauded Australians to adhere to lockdown restrictions but warned that it would be too early for the restrictions to be lifted. He has laid down three tests that the country must pass to avail easing up of lockdown restrictions.

1. Sustained fall in cases- Australia is on the path of flattening the curve recording less than 100 cases a day in the past week, but further falls are needed. Authorities met on 15 April to plan the road out with the National Cabinet on lockdown restrictions.

Hunt stated that one test is a clear indication that the case numbers within the country are suppressing.

2. Rapid response capabilities- The country has been engaged in increasing the supply of ventilators required for Intensive care units (ICUs) since last few weeks. This is to prepare itself if the country sees a sudden surge in cases.

As per the Health Minister, Greg Hunt, “If individual cases break into a local spike, then how the country, contains, responds and isolates will be most important to bring down the number of cases, lift restrictions on a step by step basis.”

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3. An Exit Strategy- Rapid response capabilities- The country has been engaged in increasing the supply of ventilators required for Intensive care units (ICUs) since last few weeks. This is to prepare itself if the country sees a sudden surge in cases.

As per the Health Minister, Greg Hunt, “ If individual cases break into a local spike, then how the country, contains, responds and isolates will be most important to bring down the number of cases, lift restrictions on a step by step basis.”

Vaccine development a must

Vaccine must be developed if we want a way out of the pandemic. WHO and CEPI (Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) are actively working on getting a successful vaccine to fight COVID-19. But the vaccine has to go through different segments of clinical trials before it can be rolled out around the world.

Jodie McVernon, Doherty Institute said that it would take a vaccine to turn-off the risk of infection, and even if infection rates are down to very low levels in the months ahead, there is no assurance that Australia will remain guarded against the resurgence of the virus.

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She said that given how contagious the virus can get, actions for a complete removal locally would be highly rigorous and tough to realise. The virus can be imported quickly, looking at its spread all around the world.

Disease experts and the Australian government are expected to meet in the coming weeks to find a way out of the pandemic crisis as demonstrations on community transmission rates becomes clearer.

Australia must enlarge its testing capacity, do a much active contact tracing, greater surveillance of the infected and keep health systems ready and equipped for any new transmission of the disease. The country must take lessons from other countries to move towards the elimination of the virus.

Hence, it is very uncertain at present to predict when Australians can leave their homes.

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