Alarmism in the west avoids management of the risk

Jacquelin Magnay states in her excellent article “‘Elimmunity’ could be corona magic bullet” (21/10) that the overall number of deaths in Sweden — which didn’t have strict lockdowns like most other countries — is on a par with previous years.

Last weekend, Premier Mark McGowan tried to frighten the hell out of people in Western Australia by stating he “feared” coronavirus returning to the state if he were to open the hard border and that he didn’t want to have “mass deaths” on his conscience.

This prompted me to do a few simple calculations. The average number of deaths in the world every year is 60 million, or five million a month. We are approximately 9.7 months into the year, so if I multiply 9.7 by five, the average number of deaths this year should be about 48.5 million.

As I write this, according to worldometers.info, there have been 47.7 million deaths so far in 2020. Just about right on target, even slightly under. Whatever this pandemic has caused (besides a lot of mass hysteria), it seems it hasn’t resulted in mass deaths. Perhaps there is some truth in the statement that most people die “with” COVID rather than “from” it?

It looks as though Sweden got it right, after all. Perhaps there’s something to be said for acquiring herd immunity, as it might be years before safe and effective vaccines are developed. But we need to be sure we can implement the necessary measures to protect the old and vulnerable, while trusting our own immune systems to make the antibodies we need to fight this virus as we learn to live with it.

Marleen Potter, Claremont, WA

Labor Premier Mark McGowan is a wily chap. Without relying on Commonwealth advice or resources he has banned international travellers through fear they may transmit coronavirus, but he knowingly exposes Western Australians to international traders: and the exact same coronavirus transmission risk.

McGowan seeks to eschew responsibility for a COVID outbreak — from the crew of a visiting ship — claiming it is Scott Morrison’s fault that crews on foreign shipping are not properly monitored. Truthfully, McGowan is too timid to properly manage the low-level risk of domestic tourism and too frightened to restrict international shipping; where iron ore royalties are critical to his longevity. The ACTU and ALP could demand all shipping visiting Australian waters be crewed by Australian seamen (who are not permitted to disembark overseas) until a coronavirus vaccine is widely available, and it is curious they do not. Meanwhile, McGowan needs to accept COVID contagion on his watch is his responsibility, not the Prime Minister’s, and it is pitiful to deny it.

Greg Jones, Kogarah, NSW

David Nelson (Letters, 22/10) states “Criticisms directed at Daniel Andrews have focused on the damage he is doing to Victoria’s economy”. Most criticisms centre on obtaining justice for the more than 800 dead, as well as the economic vandalism that has resulted from chaotic and faulty decisions made by his government.

Nelson also states “Andrews and his team made mistakes”. In my mind, the true test of leadership is to admit to your mistakes and face up to the consequences, which Andrews is doing all in his power to obfuscate on. Andrews will be judged not “on his courage and political leadership”, but on the outcome of a possible reference to WorkCare and the DPP and the possible charge of industrial manslaughter under his draconian laws set up to trap company directors.

Geoff Stevens, Ocean Grove, Vic

I usually enjoy Angela Shanahan’s writing but was disappointed to read her article in last weekend’s Inquirer (“What’s an ordinary person to do when ideology infects the health crisis?” 17-18/10). Shanahan traduces writers of The Spectator, of whom I am one, by saying we adopt a “let it rip” approach to the coronavirus and says our “commentary borders on the deluded”. We have consistently argued the best approach is to protect the vulnerable while letting everyone else live their lives as normal. It is the premiers and shutdown advocates who are “letting it rip”, “it” referring to the combination of business closures, unemployment, boredom, loneliness, misery and death from delayed referrals and consultations that the coronavirus restrictions have caused. Meanwhile, there is no hard evidence shutting down the economy has saved one person from coronavirus.

William Poulos, Sydney, NSW