Opinion

What flattening the curve really means

The "flatten the curve" approach is actually a "herd immunity" strategy. For Australia to achieve herd immunity, the virus would have to infect about 60 per cent of the population – about 15 million Australians.

Stephen DuckettHonorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne

Apr 15, 2020 – 12.00am

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Until there is a coronavirus vaccine, there is no exit strategy, only hard choices.

The Australian government must be clear about which strategy it is following – either we accept that the virus will remain at large in the community, flaring up occasionally, or we aim to eliminate it in Australia altogether.

Stephen Duckett is Honorary Enterprise Professor in the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne.