COVID Latest: Dozens Of 5G Towers Torched Over Conspiracy Theories
Saturday: Long-term virus effects; CMO Brendan Murphy opens up; new NRL rules
Morning! It’s Saturday, May 16. Each day I’m bringing you 5 things to know about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak + 5 non-corona things to start your day off.
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You can email me at joshb2@protonmail.com if you have tips, feedback, ideas or want to chat
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Wash your hands and sneeze into your elbow. Practise physical distancing - at least 1.5 metres of separation. “Stay the fuck at home”.
Latest Australian stats: as of 9pm Friday, Australia has 7019 reported cases of COVID-19 (that’s +41 since the day before), with 6337 reported as ‘recovered’; there have been 98 deaths; and more than 983,000 tests have been done, according to the latest federal Department of Health stats. Full global stats breakdown below
5 CORONAVIRUS THINGS
14 conspiracy-fuelled arson attacks on phone towers in NZ
Kiwi authorities are fed up after at least 14 phone towers were set alight in recent weeks, ostensibly linked to the spiralling misinformation about 5G signal contributing to coronavirus (link). Video taken by alleged perpetrators in at least one of the attacks showed them making claims about 5G.
These theories are growing — you’ve probably seen them on Facebook somewhere recently. In the United Kingdom, dozens of towers have been damaged. For a start, these theories are incredibly and wildly wrong, and literally evidence-free; but for another, we don’t really know what to do about them, despite the best efforts of social media networks (story on that here). I tried figuring out why people believe conspiracy theories, and what to do about them, in this story earlier this week.
Inside Newmarch House outbreak
The Sydney Morning Herald has published this report on the Newmarch House aged care facility, where 16 residents have died and more than 70 staff and residents have been infected. The SMH reports it “ was battling severe shortages of expert staff and personal protective equipment”.
Brendan Murphy opens up
If you don’t know much about the doctor leading a lot of important decisions for Australia right now, you’re not alone. Chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy became, almost overnight, one of the most important people in the country as this pandemic exploded, going from nearly anonymous public service figure to appearing alongside PM Scott Morrison on TV most days. The Herald Sun has published this fascinating profile of the man, which gives some insight into who he is and what he’s about.
Long-term ‘weird as hell’ virus effects
At the start of this pandemic, some waved COVID away as ‘just a bad flu’. For many people, that may be true, and some might even have few or no symptoms at all. But researchers are now looking the long-term ongoing effects of this virus — which, as leading infectious disease expert Bill Bowtell reminded me a few weeks ago (link), “is SARS 2”. And it’s not pretty.
The Guardian has this report on a UK infectious diseases professor who spoke of lingering effects described as “[like] being ‘abused by somebody’ or clubbed over the head with a cricket bat… loss of smell, heaviness, malaise, tight chest and racing heart… a rollercoaster of ill health, extreme emotions and utter exhaustion.” It’s thought one in 20 cases might experience these longer-term effects. Don’t get complacent about this thing.
Today’s stats:
The latest stats from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (as of 9.30am AEST Saturday) report 4,543,673 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide. There have been 307,108 deaths.
The United States has 1,442,924 confirmed cases, with Russia next but far behind on 262,843, then the United Kingdom (238,004). The U.S. has the most deaths (87,493), then the United Kingdom (34,078) and Italy third on 31,610.
In Australia, the latest federal stats (as of 9pm Friday) show 7019 cases, 6337 people recovered, 98 deaths, and 983,816 tests.
The latest Australian graph:
5 NON-CORONAVIRUS THINGS
A manslaughter investigation is underway following the death of an Adelaide woman with cerebral palsy, who died under “disgusting and degrading circumstances” last month (link).
A major QLD police investigation into a body found wrapped in a blanket by the side of a busy highway has concluded, after it turned out to be a "life-like replica doll" — reportedly, a sex doll (link). The Courier Mail reports “the realistic, female doll was found alongside a user manual naming it 'Naomi', two sets of lingerie, one pair of mens underwear and a ‘used sock’.”
An Aussie man has filed a $350,000 defamation suit over comments allegedly made on messaging service Slack (link).
Police are looking for a man who allegedly broke into the Australian Museum and spent 40 minutes taking selfies with dinosaur bones before allegedly fleeing with a stolen hat (link).
The NRL is due to resume in less than two weeks. Since dropping from two on-field referees to one, some rules have changed, with measures like automatic sin-bins introduced. The Daily Telegraph has the new rules here.
IMPORTANT EVERY DAY
Be hygienic; wash your hands properly, at least 30 seconds with soap and water, 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 — Don’t share dodgy stuff on Facebook. If it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it often is.
World Health Organisation latest statistics here
Australian government latest statistics here
Signing off - stay safe, be healthy, look after yourself and others
Josh