Coronavirus update, 18/3 - NO LOCKDOWN
Gathering bans; schools and society to remain open; fake news called out
We’re back, this is day two of 5+5: coronavirus edition - and today was a big one.
Each day I’m bringing you 5 big things to know, and 5 other bits, about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. I’ll 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.
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 17/3/20 (8pm, 18/3 in Sydney time), the World Health Organisation reported there have been 179,111 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide (up 11,525 since 24 hours earlier). There have been 7426 deaths (up 475 since yesterday).
In Australia, where I’m coming to you from, there have been 454 confirmed cases, according to the federal Department of Health, as of 6am on 18/3 — up from 375 a day earlier.
No lockdown
Despite massive rumours spreading virally online, the government did not announce an Australian lockdown today. Schools aren’t closing either. In fact, PM Scott Morrison and chief medical officer Brendan Murphy hugely distanced themselves from the idea, and in fact actively said Australians should stop preparing (i.e. panic-buying) for such an event. The rumours went wild on Facebook and Reddit—but bizarrely, what purported to be a leak from a “credible source” inside the federal government, was a copy-paste of an announcement from Malaysia’s government. BuzzFeed’s Cameron Wilson goes into this particular bit of misinfo here.
What Morrison did announce, however, was further restrictions on gatherings — just 100 indoors, while 500 can gather outside. The 100 limit applies to cinemas, clubs, restaurants, weddings and more. All the info here.
“Stop hoarding”
That’s the message from PM ScoMo, who said the panic-buying of pasta, toilet paper and essentials was “unAustralian” (my full story here). Morrison said there was “no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lock down or anything like this”, and it’s something supermarkets are struggling to deal with — there are no shortages really, the country has enough food and essentials, it’s just that the supermarkets can’t get stuff on the shelves quick enough before it’s cleared out again.
That’s why (starting from tonight) they’re closing earlier, to give staff a chance to restock shelves overnight. Let’s see how that strategy goes (full story on that here).
Australia’s curve isn’t flattening
We need the curve to flatten. It’s not. Australia’s infection rates are going up, fast. On raw numbers we are behind other countries, and our line looks OK — but we want our line to be far flatter, like Japan or Singapore or Hong Kong, rather than sharp like the USA, Italy or China.
BTW: this graph, from Financial Times (ft.com) uses data from Johns Hopkins University. Their data is incredibly useful too, and updated more regularly than the WHO. You can find their data dashboard here.
The airlines got a big assistance package
$715 million in fees and charges waived (story here). That’s a lot of in-flight peanuts. Of course it’s important that airlines stay afloat — people are going to want to take some long, loooong holidays when all this is over — but I can’t stop thinking about this tweet
5 OTHER THINGS
Interested in just how different COVID-19 is to the regular annual flu? I looked into it — it’s startlingly different and way more serious (story link)
Australia’s music and nightlife industry is, to put it bluntly, rooted. Venues are closing, bands are cancelling tours, and the thousands of people employed in the industry are at risk. The government’s gatherings ban could cost the industry half a billion $$. I spoke to bands, venues and managers (story link)
The AFL will go ahead this year — with a shortened season, and even shortened game lengths (story link)
In rare good news, coronavirus might help George R. Martin fina-fucking-lly finish the ‘Game of Thrones’ series (story link)
And after Coles said it was taking on 5000 extra casual workers to stock shelves (see above), they were inundated with applications — some 36,000 (story 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; use hand sanitiser
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
Signing off - stay safe, be healthy, look after yourself and others
Josh