Let kindness shine through

Generosity and building communities while staying physically distant can counter the negativity of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia needs a national mobilisation committee – right now

Coronavirus is primarily a public health crisis, but it is also wreaking havoc with our financial, political, economic and social systems. Government as usual is not an option.

Who’ll be on the right side of COVID-19 history?

After the coronavirus nightmare has passed, harsh judgements will be made about which political leaders and health experts were on the right or wrong side in handling the crisis.

Modelling the spread of COVID-19

Forecasting the spread of COVID-19, including the likely number of undetected cases, is fraught and difficult, but a sense of the numbers is important for appreciating the challenges ahead.

Australia’s response to the Spanish flu tolls a warning for today

Australian states are finally enforcing social isolation, as they did a hundred years ago against Spanish Flu, but the worst is yet to come. Neither should restrictions be lifted too quickly, as many Australians were killed by a second wave of Spanish Flu in the autumn of 1919.

Mental health and resilience in the time of COVID-19

While the mental health risks of COVID-19 are of concern, there are measures that can be put into place now to support people emotionally, including clear communication, financial support, ways for people to socially connect during quarantining and social distancing, and adequate resources for work and education to continue.

We’re running out of time to fight this epidemic

Our best hope to limit the long-term economic damage and to save the lives of our friends and families is to do everything we can to reverse the spread of this virus.

The maths and ethics of minimising the COVID-19 toll

The Australian Government must clarify its COVID-19 strategy, but to do so means understanding the maths and ethics of either ‘flattening the curve’ or an eradication endgame.

An empty world

Images of empty public spaces – from the streets of Ginza, to soccer stadiums, to the Venice canals, to lone masked travelers on buses, trains and trams – evoke a sense of apocalyptic films and the end of days.

Endgame C – It’s time for a total lockdown

Nobody likes talking about the COVID-19 endgame, but we need to choose one. The appropriate interventions – public health, government spending, and freedom of movement – all depend on the endgame we choose.

Politicians are part of the problem

Australia’s politicians have bungled the nation’s response to the growing coronavirus crisis with a series of half-hearted restrictions and confused messages. It’s time for them to get out of the way.

How to care for yourself if you catch COVID-19

From managing your symptoms to good hygiene at home, if you have tested positive for COVID-19 there are some steps you can take to make your isolation more comfortable.