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I can't speak for Freeze, or anyone else in the relevant field - but to me, the important statistic would be how many of the ailments you list would be easily transmitted, and on, and on......

I am happy to listen to the experts - ie the doctors and scientists, because us poor ignorant laymen (and women) really have no credible idea.

As probably already known, as of today there have been 248 cases and 3 deaths associated with the Corona Virus. This may be a load of crap to some or all and I appreciate the concern out there however according to an Australian Immunisation Coalition report relating to the influenza, in 2019 there were 313061 documented cases, 58570 in 2018, 249882 in 2017, 90837 in 2016, 100590 in 2015 and 59,042 in 2014. As of March 10, 2020 there have been 14816 documented cases of the influenza. Clearly no death is a good death however according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System there were 812 influenza related deaths as at October 6, 2019 with a median age of deaths being 86 years. Early indications by experts in May 2019 had predicted 4000 deaths for 2019. In 2018 there were 73 deaths and in 2017 an incredible 1100 deaths where 90% of them 65 years of age or order. All of these numbers absolutely blow out if you look at the USA and other higher density populations. Again, I understand the Corona Virus is new and who knows what might happen until a vaccine is developed and winter to come however some of the hysteria out there particularly in shopping land hasn't been great viewing.

we're an island nation...that's a big bonus in the fight against this thing and yet we're not taking advantage of it. the new infections we're getting so far are all people coming back from overseas....why the hell haven't we closed our borders except to Australian citizens, cancelled all visas and imposed mandatory 14 day self isolation on arrivals of Australians back into the country....it's a no brainer.

you see with the flu, the media collude in hiding the figures; it could have done the same with this, but chose not to do so.

BC wrote: we're an island nation...that's a big bonus in the fight against this thing and yet we're not taking advantage of it. the new infections we're getting so far are all people coming back from overseas....why the hell haven't we closed our borders except to Australian citizens, cancelled all visas and imposed mandatory 14 day self isolation on arrivals of Australians back into the country....it's a no brainer.

The borders should have been closed on Thursday and announced at that press conference BC along with the closed crowds to less than 500 but the marketing bloke had a rugby game to go to on the weekend!
Freeze's PM makes a meal of this bloke as a leader.

BH..Jacinda has done some big things very well, but farks up on the day to day basics with education, housing etc..the big decisions will see her re-elected, but without those triumphs, she hasn't delivered on a shed load of pre election promises...but I guess nothing new in the game of politics.

Amazing to read about Taiwan and their govt containment policy and practices...they are only 130km from China, population of 23.8 million and had only 53 Corona cases....apparently learnt big lessons from the SARS episode and implemented a designated control centre for diseases....soon as China had problems, Taiwan went into self / social isolation....using phone cell tracking and communication within the country...obviously not a tourist destination like Europe or Aust, but they acted immediately and have the results to prove their containment policy is effective....a lot of countries will be following their containment model in the future me thinks....and no hysteria about toilet paper either....

Yep our cousins across the dutch have trumped us again by doing what needed to be done. The key appears to be slowing the spread, how is that done? Social separation so the spread slows down, health infrastructure can cope as the peak infection is at a lower rate than what has happened in places like Italy where they pretty much ignored the warnings until the horse has bolted, now they have thousands of deaths. Close borders, mandatory 14 day isolation and we have a chance of controlling the spread to manageable levels until an immunisation is available in hopefully 6 to 9 months. Would be nice if we could see something substantial from our Premier, just watched the Vic premier on ABC giving his update which will happen on a frequent regular basis, informing people and advising what needs to be done, information from the proper sources, like the state and federal cheif medical officers will help to stop the irrational panic that is developing, State and federal leaders who dont do enough of this like Sneakers should be roundly criticised.

It is all very good that the Govt takes all these mandatory measures to close down businesses but most small business (like mine) will never recover from these measures. Imagine having a Lease in place like my best mate that costs you $50k a month in rent and outgoings with NO Recourse to the Landlord. How do you pay this cost, the cost of your home and business loans and manage essential living expenses. Foreclosures will be happening everywhere very soon. Add to that the loss of wages staff and key personnel. This will make the GFC look like a blimp for small business. Businesses will be stuffed for years to come and public confidence to resume normal spending will be very slow to recover. The Govt has to ensure that protections for All are in place when they make theses type of decisions!

Hawk Eye wrote: It is all very good that the Govt takes all these mandatory measures to close down businesses but most small business (like mine) will never recover from these measures. Imagine having a Lease in place like my best mate that costs you $50k a month in rent and outgoings with NO Recourse to the Landlord. How do you pay this cost, the cost of your home and business loans and manage essential living expenses. Foreclosures will be happening everywhere very soon. Add to that the loss of wages staff and key personnel. This will make the GFC look like a blimp for small business. Businesses will be stuffed for years to come and public confidence to resume normal spending will be very slow to recover. The Govt has to ensure that protections for All are in place when they make theses type of decisions!

Agree Hawkeye but governments can't force landlords to reduce their rent. Commercial landlords need to come to the party, if they don't we should name and shame them.

But then state governments and utilities also need to make concessions for landlords and lease holders.