YOUR SAY: Lockdown poses a bigger threat than coronavirus

Misleading information is sadly being spread by the authorities, and amplified by the social media rumour mill, with Daniel Andrews' latest appeal "to all Victorians" the worst example.

Mr Andrews' claim that the coronavirus has "taken the lives of otherwise healthy people, of all age groups" is simply not true; government statistics on thousands of deaths around the world including Australia, show that deaths from COVID-19 of healthy people under 50 are extremely unlikely. In fact, younger people often show no symptoms, and children are effectively immune.

Unless we wish to repeat the destructive lockdown-to-outbreak cycle indefinitely, it's time to accept the alternative - quarantining the old and vulnerable while allowing the infection to spread, mitigating its effects and progress with the now well proven drug combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.

As many people in the hotspot Melbourne suburbs have already realised, the ongoing lockdown restrictions pose a far greater threat to their lives and livelihoods than the novel coronavirus.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Mass testing for COVID is an expensive waste of time and lockdowns are useless. Lockdowns in confined spaces will only spread the disease.

A negative test does not grant immunity. You may test negative today and acquire the virus tomorrow. Thus, if the virus is rampant in the community, testing is only of value to differentiate COVID from other viral diseases.

The proper course of action is:

1. Normal social interaction (no lockdowns) with awareness of the need to be careful to avoid spreading any infection to others - particularly the aged.

2. Social distancing and general health measures such as hand-washing to minimise spread.

3. If respiratory symptoms (sore throat, cough, runny nose) occur, wear a mask and get tested for COVID. No general testing for COVID.

4. Isolation only of those with positive COVID tests.

The blame of leaders at present must hurt and achieves little. The public has failed to continue to distance and keep us all safe. We need bipartisan politics at present and leaders have the trust and confidence to make the tough decisions required.

City living people have failed the state and the nation and need to do what is required. They also need to stay away from regions that have done what is required.

The wash up from COVID should cause big changes to planning and set up a way to spread population.

A good start would be an infrastructure project that fast-tracks a high speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne, prompting investment in regions and creating jobs and growth.

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