Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

Ancient Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.”

Looks like 2020 will be the most interesting year in all our lifetimes, and all because of a little virus!

This has proven to be more effective than the worst terrorists in causing unprecedented disruption to our world….

Super losses, budget surpluses gone, massive stimulus packages needed….

Supply chains, (Toilet Paper) maybe White goods (China), computer hardware…

Entertainment, travel, airlines, hotels, sporting events all hit hard….As of Sunday night; the AFL has gone into recess for at least 10 weeks... Things must be bad!

What of this bug?

SARS CoV-2 is a corona virus related to the original SARS virus that caused havoc in parts of Asia in 2003.

That corona virus was not as successful, it killed too effectively! “Corona” refers to the “crown” of proteins on its surface.

Renamed COVID-19 (Short for Corona Virus Disease 19) It emerged in the Wuhan Province in Dec 2019 and has proven to be devastatingly infectious, leading to the pandemic we are witnessing today.

Infection is by aerosol into the air from coughing or droplet onto surfaces. The virus can survive 3 days on a surface, but is easily killed with bleach.

Symptoms. Fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, rarely gastro.

Most people it is relatively mild. Kids least affected. No increased effect on pregnancy. 80% mild, 17% Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome with up to 4% ventilation.

The illness can progress to pneumonia and respiratory failure needing ventilation.

Older people> 60 years are at increased risk, over 80, highest. Comorbidities such as diabetes, emphysema and hypertension increase the risk. Death rate said to be 2% OVERALL, (Standard flu is 0.1%) This is NOT a trivial “cold”.

BUT SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT DEPENDS ON AVAILABLE MEDICAL CARE.

If Health Care System gets smashed (Italy for example) Death rate sky rockets due to lack of resources…. Not to mention “normal business compromised.”

THAT IS WHY WE MUST “FLATTEN THE CURVE” to CONTROL the spread so as not to smash our health system

MUST SLOW THE SPREAD!! Death rates will be low if this is managed well.

What are the Governments doing?

State and Fed.

1. Travel advice, avoid high risk areas

2. Identifying at risk people, diagnosing quickly and contact tracing.

3. Incoming traveller self-isolation

4. Cancelling gatherings of large groups, spots, concerts, events

5. Education, self-protection

6. Social Distancing

7. Fever clinics

8. Procuring more resources

9. Economic measures

Future:

1. Close schools, coming soon.

2. All sports ceased AFL now off.

3. Close State Borders

4. Lockdown whole areas.

What can we do?

1. Don’t panic!

2. Stay informed with reliable information sources (Eg WA Health and Federal web sites. Be aware of scams and misinformation

3. Support and look out for your colleagues, families and friends

4. Protect yourself and your family (Cough-wash-stay home)

5. Be aware of and obey Government instructions

6. Call ahead to your GP if you are unwell, don’t just rock up! Telephone consults will become the norm for “flu” like illnesses.

In the light of the above, what is the risk in our meetings?

We won’t know where we are now for two weeks!

Ignore the warnings…. Italy…. WE MUST DO BETTER.

Soap and water for 20 seconds when hand washing!! Soap breaks down the virus’s envelope and kills it.