Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald there was “a strong possibility of a pandemic” which had “increased in recent days” and has not been contained.”   At this point “There is still no sign the virus is spreading in Australia.”

  • it is now clear the virus can readily spread through coughing and sneezing.
  • “This is a proper respiratory virus, with all the bells and whistles,” Professor Mackey of UQ said
  • The WHO has yet to declare COVID-19 a pandemic – “a disease that spreads across the globe”
  • The WHO’s declaration of a pandemic is  “no longer a designation triggering a formal response“!!!
  • A sudden eruption of cases in Italy has forced them to lockdown
  • The virus is spreading undetected, probably by people who are infected but not showing symptoms.
  • Australian hospitals preparing for “the surge in patients a pandemic would cause”
  • Age care expected to be worst hit
  • Coronavirus poses a very small risk to healthy people aged under 60″ like the common cold