They craft great chairs but terrible pandemic responses. A fair observation by Josh Depressionberg today:
In his address to the National Press Club, the Treasurer has rejected a Sweden-style open-economy approach to coronavirus, and warned that the crisis will affect different sectors disproportionately.CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
“Respectfully, I disagree,” Josh Frydenberg said regarding Sweden’s model of handling coronavirus with fewer social distancing measures.
“Sweden has 40 per cent of Australia’s population, but 70 times the death rate. The numbers speak for themselves,” he added.
The whole herd immunity notion rests on a dubious assumption: that the virus won’t mutate. This will mean that this year’s immunity only provides partial protection next year as coronavirus becomes the new annual flu event.
That is, you’ve killed a whole bunch of folk for little gain.
Sadly, the same may apply to a vaccine.
Our base case is the virus becomes, over time, the new AIDS. Treatments and preventative behaviour evolve to contain the blight in the new normal.
Thanking you, Xi Jinping.
