Brendan Murphy says "we don't know" if COVID transmission can be prevented "even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated": What then is Scott Morrison (& Gladys Berejiklian's) Plan B?

 by Ganesh Sahathevan

Australia spent FOUR TIMES MORE than necessary to save 14,000 lives: Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has revealed economy crushing lockdown saved about FOUR TIMES LESS the number expected

From Australia's state owned SBS, under the headline  Overseas travel for Australians is unlikely this year, even with coronavirus vaccinations: 

Australia's international borders are unlikely to open this year despite the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, the federal health secretary says.

Brendan Murphy said on Monday free-flowing travel to and from the country was not expected to resume in 2021.

"I think that we'll go most of this year with still substantial border restrictions," he told the ABC

"Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus.

"And it's likely that quarantine will continue for some time."

PM Scott Morrison ,the premiers, chief ministers and in particular NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian have said  that lockdowns and other restrictions are all necessary until vaccines are available. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has over the past few days pushed the idea of vaccinating the entire population. 

It was  Brandan Murphy's advice that sent the entire country into lockdown and the economy into near depression, on the basis that it was the only option available bar a vaccine.

However he has now declared:

"Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus";

What then is Scott Morrison's alternative plan? What is Plan B? The public and business need to be told now, in order to plan for the coming months and years. 

END 

SEE ALSO FROM APRIL 2020 

NSW coronavirus social-distancing to stay 'until vaccine is found', Premier Gladys Berejiklian says

By Paige Cockburn

Posted TueTuesday 7 AprApril 2020 at 8:16am, updated TueTuesday 7 AprApril 2020 at 3:22pm

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the state's tough coronavirus social-distancing restrictions will stay "until a vaccine is found", after Australia's death toll climbed to 46.

Ms Berejiklian's announcement comes after NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller revealed last week that the social-distancing laws which allow police to issue on-the-spot $1,000 fines for any breaches, would last for 90 days.

The state's chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said there had been 49 new coronavirus infections and two deaths.

• A 90-year-old man with the virus died at Liverpool Hospital yesterday
• An 87-year-old woman who had been a passenger on the infected Ruby Princess cruise ship also died

The number of new infections in NSW is the lowest since 40 were recorded on March 19 — the day the Ruby Princess docked in Sydney, sparking a sharp increase in the number of cases.

The ship has been responsible for 14 deaths and more than 600 cases in Australia.

The Premier said although restrictions could be eased in the future, social-distancing was the new "way of life" until a vaccine was discovered.

"For the first time in a long time, every scientist on the planet is working towards a vaccine, working towards a cure, and, of course, we want NSW to be part of that story," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We want our best and brightest in NSW and across Australia working their guts out to make sure that we find a vaccine as soon as possible.

"Because the reality is that until we find a vaccine, we all have to live with this virus.

"And no matter what restrictions there are in the future, no matter what restrictions are potentially eased in the future, until a vaccine is found, social distancing is a way of life now."

The Premier stressed Easter was not an excuse to flout the social-distancing restrictions and told people to cancel any holidays they had planned.The NSW Government announced a $100 million package to support health care workers with $35 million going toward vital vaccine research and $58 million for temporary hotel accommodation.

"We cannot have communities who currently don't have the virus get contaminated unintentionally because people are moving around when they shouldn't," she said.

Ms Berejiklian said although coronavirus restrictions would disrupt many family's Easter traditions, sticking to the rules now would ensure the best long-term outcomes.

"I know how devastating this is for families who feel that they've been cooped up in their homes, and for people like me, who were looking forward to the holidays," she said.

"I bought myself a treadmill instead of going on holidays."

Mr Fuller said tomorrow over 200 people who had been quarantining in the Swissotel in Sydney's CBD would be allowed home after completing their 14 day-isolation.