Dr Andrew Rochford tells Ftizy & Wippa “We need to buy time” on coronavirus
12 March 2020 · News
With the world in a state of hysteria thanks to Coronavirus, Fitzy & Wippa brought in Dr Andrew Rochford to give an experts down low on the situation.
Dr Rochford says the biggest issue is the health...
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Tags: Andrew Rochford | Coronavirus | COVID19 | Fitzy & Wippa | Nova 96.9
This article raises the issues that journalists must ask questions in the medical event described by the WHO, as a pandemic, https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-media-briefing-on-covid-19---11-march-2020.
On the 12th March 2020, the SMH reported that the the Chief Medical Officer of NSW, Dr Kerry Chant said that 1.5 million in NSW may be infected with the COVID-19 virus. The SMH is not the only source. The ABC's radio and ABC24's reported this.
Source:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/authorities-warn-first-wave-of-infections-in-nsw-to-top-1-5-million-people-20200312-p549h2.html
The figure of 1.5 million people in NSW being infected is staggering. NOT ONE JOURNALIST FROM THE MEDIA ASKED THE QUESTIONS: (i) How long will it take for 1.5 million people to be infected and (ii) what are the risk management procedures to avoid being one of the 1.5 million people.
For example "The Drum" 12-03-2020 on ABC-HD and ABC24 had two professionals; a GP Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, and a biological mathematician Prof. James McCaw from the University of Melbourne. The latter was an expert in the mathematical modelling of the spreading of diseases, source https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/4554-james-mccaw .
Mathematical modelling of disease is an important discipline assisting heads of health departments and hospitals in planning and dealing with the COVID-19 virus.
While "Fitzy" and "Whippa" asked Dr Rochford such questions, the panel of "The Drum" failed to ask in-depth questions to the expert number cruncher and advisor to health departments.
When the number of infections increase, it will be impossible to report all incidents if there is expected to be 1.5 million infections in NSW alone as reported to the SMH and ABC by the NSW Chief Medical Officer.
According to the SMH report, the cause of an infection will be by an infected person making contact with two people. Then those two infected people will each infect two people. The pattern repeats until 1.5 million people are infected. While it was possible to report incidents of infection at a hospital, aged care facility or school or people arriving from high-risk countries infecting others,as the number of infections increase, it will be impossible for the media to report the all incidents of infection.
However it does not abrograte the media's responsibility on the current COVID-19 situation. In addition from "Fitzy and Whippa" show, there have been questions and answer sessions on other stations including the various presenters on 2GB and 2BL (ABC702) and RN.
To illustrate "Fitzy" in the above transcript asked Dr Rochford that it is unknown when we will "...come to the other side..." of the disease.
Nevertheless the media failed to ask the questions to the NSW Chief Medical Officer how long will it take for an infected person to infect two people and how close must these two people be in contact with the infected person.
One method of minimising risk is to wash hands thoroughly for the duration of two renditions of "Happy Birthday" is a start to minimising the risk of infection.
Another way of minimising risk of infection is to avoid attending non-essential gatherings greater than 500 as mentioned on Richard Glover's program on 2BL (ABC702) at 1606. At 1634, it was Sydney's Royal Easter Show in April has been cancelled.
In general at 1700 on ABC News,the Federal Government through our Prime Minister on advice from senior health chiefs informed the nation to not attend non-essential mass gatherings of 500 people or greater. That too is also a start.
But in the normal discourse of transacting with others via public transport, being in a queue, going shopping and other kinds of human transactions, the media failed to ask questions on (i) how close and (ii) how long contact between one person and another person in order to minimise risk.
When it comes to the normal discourse of life, it is not enough for the NSW Chief Medical Officer as per SMH report and ABC reports of a typical infected person experiencing mild symptoms.
People live in households whose other occupants are more susceptible to being affected by the virus such as those with heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes OR even being a frail aged person.
Consequently journalists must ask the questions about minimising the risk of infection when it comes to (i) distance between people and (ii) duration of contact with other people in the normal discourse of life.
This is especially so when households may consist of healthy people and those aged frail people and/or people with existing conditions.
Thank you,
Anthony of Belfield