What's That Rash? - TopPodcast.com

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What to make of Victoria's roadmap out of lockdown Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

Melburnians will face another fortnight of lockdown after September 13, but the Victorian Premier has also announced a plan for the eventual reopening of the state.

There will be a few small changes after stage 4 restrictions were originally going to end, like an extra hour before curfew and social "bubbles" for those living on their own.

But Victorians are being warned the trip out of lockdown will take a long time.

So why wasn't the original six weeks enough?

On today's show:

* Why wasn't six weeks enough for stage 4 lockdowns?

* What's going on in Queensland with the government furloughing hundreds of healthcare workers after a single staff member tested positive?

* What does a COVID-19 vaccine entail? Does it mean that you can get it without becoming sick?

* Will a vaccine stop other health complications that sometimes come from COVID-19?

Why Christmas could be a super-spreading event Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

No matter what else happens this year, Christmas 2020 is probably going to be like no other you've experienced.

You might opt to just celebrate quietly at home to avoid a potential outbreak, but some may decide to proceed with a big family gathering.

So how risky might Christmas be and could it be a massive super-spreading event?

On today's show:

* What's going on in Airlie Beach with SARS-CoV-2 being discovered in sewage?

* Should I be worried?

* How do we hold mass events over summer without a coronavirus disaster?

* Should masks be mandated now so we can all enjoy a semi-normal Christmas?

And Olivia Willis from Patient Zero drops by to talk about the hunt for the very first person to contract coronavirus.

Should you get pregnant in the COVID era? Sep 03, 2020

Show notes

There is still so much to learn about the novel coronavirus, but scientists have unlocked some clues about the way COVID-19 affects pregnant women and their unborn children.

A review of dozens of scientific studies has found that women who contract coronavirus during pregnancy may have a higher risk of premature delivery.

And while pregnant women also seem to have less severe symptoms initially, if they do get sick it's likely to be worse than non-pregnant patients.

Also on the show:

* Everyone has an opinion about mandatory isolation for positive cases!

* Can you tell if you've got COVID-19 by monitoring your resting heart rate?

* What percentage of people would need to be vaccinated to lift restrictions?

Is it time to make people who test positive quarantine in special clinics? Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

Australia was one of the first countries to require returning overseas travellers to isolate in hotel rooms, which has significantly helped keep community transmission of coronavirus down.

But if someone already in Australia tests positive, they're allowed to isolate at home, which risks infection to family or the wider community

So why isn't Australia following China's lead and making it mandatory for people with coronavirus to isolate in special clinics or hotels?

On today's show:

* Could COVID-19 positive clinics help bring Australia's coronavirus count down?

* How would you manage families or children?

And we return to a segment where we look into how other countries are going.

Today we focus on Spain, which is seeing a large resurgence of the virus. What can we learn from what's happening in Europe?

What could Victoria's path out of lockdown look like? Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

With the number of new coronavirus infections falling to double digits, Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews says he will reveal the state's roadmap out of lockdown this weekend.

Stage 4 restrictions are due to end on September 13, and many Victorians are wondering what happens past that date.

There are many ways the state could approach its return to a more normal existence.

So what are some possible benchmarks to reach before they can even consider opening again?

On today's show:

* What is the pathway out of lockdown for Victoria?

* What could stages of normality look like?

* What can we learn from how New Zealand got out of stage 4?

* How should we define what a hotspot is?

* Can a person have two vaccines to get better coverage?

Are gyms the weakest link in NSW? Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

Sydney's CBD coronavirus cluster has grown over the weekend, with more people being diagnosed with COVID-19 and being linked back to a city fitness centre.

A health notice was issued on Saturday for people who attended the Tattersall's fitness centre at certain times over five days in middle to late August.

There are also alerts for other gyms in the city, after an infected person visited them last week.

So are gyms becoming coronavirus hotspots and are they any riskier than other indoor environments?

On today's show:

* Is there something that causes gyms to be a riskier venue than other places?

* So should I avoid the gym and just stay home and watch TV?

* What about runners or people exercising outdoors?

* What can gyms tell us about how coronavirus spreads?

* What's happening with the healthcare worker numbers in Victoria?

* What's going on with China's authorisation of a vaccine for emergency use?

* Have there been any studies into the effect of climate or weather and COVID-19?

How many cases a day are we happy to live with? Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

As the number of new coronavirus cases in Victoria continue to fall, conversations are turning to coming out of stage 4 restrictions.

Part of that discussion is how many new cases will be accepted each day before restrictions can be eased.

NSW has been ticking along with a handful of daily cases, and so far seems to have been able to manage it without a massive outbreak.

So what can we manage day to day? And what can be tolerated?

On today's show:

* What level of virus would we be able to tolerate long term?

* Is zero community spread a long-term goal?

* How is it going in NSW and Queensland at the moment?

* Can Norman please say something nicer about Victoria? Is there any silver lining yet?

* What can Victorians do at an individual level to help get cases down?

And it's time for quick fire Friday:

* My kids are using an iPad for hours a day in lockdown. What's the impact on their mental health or their eyes?

* If the cold is often caused by coronaviruses, could any vaccine also help stop it?

* Are there any statistics on high-risk venues?

* Can COVID-19 spread via air conditioning systems?

Are Victoria's numbers really going down as much as we think? Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

While the decline in Victoria's coronavirus case numbers has been incredibly positive over the past few weeks, worryingly the number of people getting tested is also falling.

Yesterday, Victoria recorded fewer than 14,000 tests — much lower than NSW's 25,000 and even Queensland's 20,000 tests.

So could a lower testing rate be hiding the true situation in Victoria and are Victoria's numbers really going down as much as we think?

On today's show:

* How do we know what the true number of cases in Victoria are if there's not enough testing?

* Are the right people being tested?

* Why might people not be coming forward to get tested?

* Did the man in Hong Kong who tested positive for COVID-19 twice really have it the first time?

* What's the difference between the Oxford vaccine and University of Queensland vaccine?

* Why are scientists trying to make different types of vaccines when the Oxford vaccine might work?

The top 3 healthcare jobs most at risk of coronavirus Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

The Victorian Government has finally released information that provides a much deeper insight into how many healthcare workers have been infected with coronavirus in hospitals and aged care facilities.

It says that "70 to 80 per cent" of healthcare workers who were infected with COVID-19 caught it at work, which is up from its previous estimate of 10 to 15 per cent.

But yet to be published research has found that some jobs are far riskier than others and the risk of contracting the virus depends where in the system you work.

So which jobs are most at risk?

On today's show:

* What have we learnt from the Victorian Government's information on healthcare worker statistics?

* Which jobs are most at risk?

* Why are foetal cells and abortions being talked about in relation to the Oxford coronavirus vaccine?

* A Hong Kong man has been reinfected with coronavirus. What use is a vaccine if you can get coronavirus again?

What lessons have NSW and Queensland learned from Victoria? Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

Queensland health authorities say they're worried by the growing number of coronavirus cases in the state, and are recommending people wear facemasks.

In NSW, authorities say the virus is lurking in parts of Sydney and are urging people to get tested.

Both states have so far kept cases low, no doubt looking south to Victoria for an example as to what happens if it gets out of control.

So what other lessons have NSW and Queensland learnt from Victoria?

On today's show:

* Can you please, please, please talk a bit about NSW? Case numbers are rising, restrictions are being added and I feel lost and confused.

* You have said many times that Victoria isn't being transparent. Can you explain why you say that?

* Can you clarify if the vaccines that are being developed are live vaccines?

And Norman has some news about the way the Oxford vaccine (assuming it's proven safe and effective) will have to be transported, and why it's so different from other vaccines.

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