Economic implications of a SARS/Coronavirus outbreak

[Dona Ferentes]

.. for people to self isolate it really has never been easier than right now and to stay well supplied/occupied.

Uber eats - you won't go without your favourite take away.
Coles / Woolworths - get all your basics delivered to the door(provided you don't need toilet paper).
Booze delivery - not as silly as you think
Netflix / Stan - entertainment through the internet


I've been crook with a cold since last Monday, I had enough supplies on hand for a week. Family kindly re-upped my supplies over the weekend and I'm almost back to 100%. If trucks stop running we're stuffed but I think Governments realise that too.

Doctors /medications need to be sorted ... (but can listen to nice music while U wait)

 

[Belli]

Doctors /medications need to be sorted ... (but can listen to nice music while U wait)

And the TV channels in the waiting areas need to be changed. To have them on a station which continually advertises Funeral Insurance. In a medical facility? Really?

 

[Austwide]

My son suffers Sinus problems and get migraines. This happened again on Monday and went to the docs on Tuesday for a certificate.

Doc said, stay of work until Friday and if things haven't changed call the Virus hotline.
He called the hotline (40 min wait) on the tuesday as he wanted to return to work.

They said basically, since you haven't travelled, had contact with possible victims and have no symptoms, we consider you no risk and that's about it.

Only small numbers here, but there is cost to him or/and his employer for no ones benefit but then multiply that by how many cases.

He went to a different doctor to see if he could get a return to work cert.

That doc said he couldn't give a return to work cert unless he was tested, but he can't test him becauce he has no symptoms.

Seems like things will only get worse due to the fear and not the actual virus.

 

[Knobby22]

My son suffers Sinus problems and get migraines. This happened again on Monday and went to the docs on Tuesday for a certificate.

Doc said, stay of work until Friday and if things haven't changed call the Virus hotline.
He called the hotline (40 min wait) on the tuesday as he wanted to return to work.

They said basically, since you haven't travelled, had contact with possible victims and have no symptoms, we consider you no risk and that's about it.

Only small numbers here, but there is cost to him or/and his employer for no ones benefit but then multiply that by how many cases.

He went to a different doctor to see if he could get a return to work cert.

That doc said he couldn't give a return to work cert unless he was tested, but he can't test him becauce he has no symptoms.

Seems like things will only get worse due to the fear and not the actual virus.

Which state are you in Austwide?

 

[Smurf1976]

That doc said he couldn't give a return to work cert unless he was tested, but he can't test him becauce he has no symptoms

All other issues aside, that sort of bureaucracy isn’t at all helpful.

 

[sptrawler]

Great opportunity to market a self test kit if that's possible. Get it from the Chemist, test yourself instead of clogging up doctors or hospital waiting rooms.

Great idea Rumpy, posting out a test kit to all Australians so they can test if they become unwell, is a great idea and would solve the problem.
Whether or not is practical or achievable, is another story.

 

[CBerg]

Great idea Rumpy, posting out a test kit to all Australians so they can test if they become unwell, is a great idea and would solve the problem.
Whether or not is practical or achievable, is another story.

Stuff it, get a bulk order and send 1 to everyone.

Get the local members of parliament to be responsible for sending the kits out!
They'll think great marketing opportunity, society actually gets a boost from their local mp for once.

My letterbox is full of their junk every month!

 

[Smurf1976]

I’m hearing reports from self-employed tradies etc that work is drying up in a big way.

Meanwhile Dark Mofo festival in Hobart has been cancelled this year. That’s going to have a pretty big impact economically in Tas since it generates considerable activity and tourism.

There are also rapidly escalating concerns in critical industry eg utilities. The main concern is about major maintenance projects - do it and risk not having enough workers, logistics problems etc versus don’t do it and risk failure (blackouts) at a later time and also need government exemption from certain laws.

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

This is an interesting article from the ABC on where we are at now. It was written nearly one month ago and is spot on.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02...ins-customers-economy-business-sales/11965874

This is her twitter handle. She is a keeper.

https://twitter.com/NassimKhadem

gg

 

[Austwide]

Which state are you in Austwide?

Victoria, Melb

 

[Knobby22]

Victoria, Melb

So am I. The State Government are rolling out a program across all the major hospitals so they can increase testing levels. You can get tested but you have to wait in a long queue for hours.

 

[sptrawler]

Woolies stamping down hard on scalpers.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/con...ut-panic-buyer-s-remorse-20200311-p5494p.html

 

[rederob]

So am I. The State Government are rolling out a program across all the major hospitals so they can increase testing levels. You can get tested but you have to wait in a long queue for hours.

I guess I don't understand the pandemonium.
Whenever I got sick I stayed home and only ever got a doctor's certificate after I got better, if one was needed. Helps having a long-term family doctor!
Unless I thought bed rest was not sufficient, I would never contemplate going my doctor. Having a test for COVID-19 for the sake of having a test "to be sure" seems a bit pointless. Waiting with a lot of other people who probably are sick seems to me to be a recipe for disaster. This proved to be the case in Wuhan's hospitals in the early days where the main cause of the spread were the hospitals themselves until they became aware of what had to be done to mitigate risk. The success of their efforts shows the health issue can be largely resolved in a matter of months in the height of their flu season.
This time next year we will have a better idea of the actual mortality rate of COVID-19. With SARS and MERS early rates were exceptionally high as most data was from hospitals where those who got very sick also died in large number. But not everyone who was infected needed hospitalisation and these data were later captured and led to reduced mortality rates.
Maybe COVID-19 will ultimately prove to be a severe viral flu, but as I read the data it so far looks overblown unless you are old and have pre-existing medical conditions.

 

[Smurf1976]

I guess I don't understand the pandemonium.
Whenever I got sick I stayed home and only ever got a doctor's certificate after I got better, if one was needed.

Short answer is that many are employed under arrangements where there is little or even no sick leave without that certificate.

Person gets sick on Sunday afternoon, can't get into a doctor until Tuesday. Off to work on Monday it is then......

To be clear I don't advocate that but I'm aware that it's the reality for many.

 

[Rsthree]

I’m hearing reports from self-employed tradies etc that work is drying up in a big way.

Meanwhile Dark Mofo festival in Hobart has been cancelled this year. That’s going to have a pretty big impact economically in Tas since it generates considerable activity and tourism.

There are also rapidly escalating concerns in critical industry eg utilities. The main concern is about major maintenance projects - do it and risk not having enough workers, logistics problems etc versus don’t do it and risk failure (blackouts) at a later time and also need government exemption from certain laws.

One of my clients is an event management company and they are starting to feel the pain. They've already had cancellations of a number of their industry events. They would employ up to 20 other suppliers for stage build, lighting, signage etc. So the the ripple effect will be felt quickly.

 

[satanoperca]

Maybe COVID-19 will ultimately prove to be a severe viral flu, but as I read the data it so far looks overblown unless you are old and have pre-existing medical conditions.

So you are sick, old (>75years), overweight, haven't looked after yourself (no vegies or fruit in the diet, but plenty of sugar), a smoker, don't exercise, then be VERY VERY Scared.
Exclusion, those that have underlying medical issues that they did not contribute to.
For everyone else, look forward to a headache and sore throat, but if the majority play to this scaremongering, then look forward to not having a job, a house or being able to feed your children.

 

[Dona Ferentes]

So

Bring on the new Sparta, eh, bud?

 

[IFocus]

This is how the numbers work and where you are during an out break its very good.

 

[Humid]

Short answer is that many are employed under arrangements where there is little or even no sick leave without that certificate.

Person gets sick on Sunday afternoon, can't get into a doctor until Tuesday. Off to work on Monday it is then......

To be clear I don't advocate that but I'm aware that it's the reality for many.

Can’t pharmacies write sick notes?

 

[frugal.rock]

Can’t pharmacies write sick notes?

Yes, at $20 a pop, or so.
Maybe some are free?

F.Rock