My name is Josh Butler. I’m a journalist from Sydney, Australia.
I’d wanted to start this regular newsletter under a more positive climate, but shit’s kicking off and there’s too much going on in the world right now for any sane person who isn’t hyper-online to keep up with — so let me try to give you some semblance of information, some modicum of the day’s essence, of this worldwide pandemic situation we find ourselves in.
This is called 5+5 and each day I’ll try to bring you 5 big things to know, and 5 other bits, about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak that has (as of time of writing) infected 151 nations and 167,000 people. More than 6600 are dead.
I’m going to be calling out misinformation and dodgy claims; sharing good news and bad news; giving you resources to do your own fact-checks, to not fall for shit, and keep abreast of the latest info.
I’ll be doing this as often as I can. You can email me at joshb2@protonmail.com or find me on Twitter at @joshbutler if you have feedback, ideas or just wanna chat. I’ll be here.
Wash your hands and sneeze into your elbow.
5 BIG THINGS
Today’s statistics:
As of 10am central European time on 16/3/20 (8pm, 17/3 in Sydney time), the World Health Organisation reported there have been 167,515 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide. There have been 6606 deaths. In Australia, where I’m coming to you from, there have been 375 confirmed cases, according to the federal Department of Health, as of 6am on 17/3.
Interestingly - especially for younger people who aren’t taking messages for self-isolation seriously - in NSW, the state with the most cases in Australia, the age bracket with the most cases is 30-39, according to NSW Health.
Which brings me to the next point…
Self-isolation is vital
Seriously, just stay home for a while, if you can. My office has just reverted to working from home, so I know I’m in a better position than many. But experts worldwide are talking about the need to “flatten the curve” of new COVID-19 cases (for more on that unbelievably important concept, read this fascinating piece) and stop the spread. Australia is a few weeks behind the disastrous scenes seen in Italy and the USA, but we could soon join them. Self-isolation, even if (maybe especially if) you’re not sick, is vital. Read this powerful Medium post and you’ll see why.
Misinformation is rife
No, Australia is not going into lockdown yet. No, the border to Western Australia (nearly 1900km from top to bottom) is not being closed. No, a letter is not going to parents from federal health minister, Greg Hunt, saying schools are closing. Hunt has been forced to call out two lots of misinformation in the last two days, saying rumours spreading online in Facebook groups and via social media apps were false. Enough is going on with the response to this unfolding potential disaster, without cooked idiots making up clever falsehoods and forged documents. Just stop it. You’re actively making this situation worse, contributing to panic and confusion, and straining precious resources. Stop it.
“Herd immunity” isn’t working
Britain reportedly started down the path of simply allowing lots of people to contract COVID-19, in the hope of enough citizens getting immunity to the virus — similar to how vaccinations work. The only problem is… this a virus, a pandemic, not a vaccine. Britain swiftly changed tack when their government was told their strategy could cost 250,000 lives. Oops. More on that here.
Worldwide recession is on the way
Even if we limit deaths, even if we manage to escape this without much more carnage, even if we manage to get over this in a few months… coronavirus is feared to tank the world economy for some time. Jobs will be lost. Businesses will close. Markets are already tanking. People will go bankrupt, homeless, below the poverty line. I spoke to some economists today about what we can expect - but one quote from Dr Simone Kelly, associate professor of finance at Bond University, really stuck with me:
“We can't look long-term now, we need to look short term and save lives. Basic health and food should be the focus. Forget about the economy, go back to that”
5 OTHER THINGS:
I wrote this piece on Australians organising in lovely, hyper-local community Facebook groups to help neighbours and strangers through lockdown, isolation and more
Idris Elba has coronavirus (link), while Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson are out of hospital (link)
Splendour In The Grass is moving to October (link)
Even ISIS is warning its fighters to avoid Europe (link)
And to leave you on a positive note: these penguins wandering a Chicago aquarium during a coronavirus shutdown are the most wholesome thing you’ll see today (link)
IMPORTANT EVERY DAY:
be hygienic; wash your hands properly, for at least 30 seconds, multiple times a day (here’s how you need to do it, plus a handy Dr Karl video tutorial); sneeze and cough into your elbows.
Listen to only official information from the World Health Organisation and legitimate health bodies
World Health Organisation latest statistics here
Australian government latest statistics here
Don’t share dodgy stuff on Facebook. If it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it often is. Verify, fact-check, don’t be part of the misinformation problem