Letters to the Editor, March 26, 2020

In your Letters to the Editor today: Smoking and coronavirus, heartfelt gratitude from survivors, and making do in a crisis.

In your Letters to the Editor today: Smoking and coronavirus, heartfelt gratitude from survivors, and making do in a crisis.

Never a better time to quit

THOSE of us in healthcare and medical research are practising and recommending physical distancing and handwashing, which are critical to reduce COVID-19 transmission to oneself or others.

Because there is no effective treatment, the most important additional thing is to stop smoking as it is estimated to increase your risk of the complications of the infection, including death, by 14 times.

I don’t think authorities have provided public education or messages yet to let you know this. It is incredible that Italy, the epicentre of the epidemic, has allowed tobacconists to continue to trade. We should not follow the Italian model.

Consumers continue to purchase tobacco products, even in the hardest hit areas. “We don’t see any change in patterns of consumption of cigarettes because of COVID-19,” said Jack Bowles, chief executive officer of British American Tobacco. Our hospital intensive care units could become overwhelmed, as they have in Italy and in other countries, if large numbers of people are infected. Outcomes will be particularly poor if those admitted have illnesses likely to exacerbate their condition. Many respiratory and other conditions are caused by smoking. There is no better time to quit. Call Quitline 137848 or see https://www.quittas.org.au/ or ring your GP or pharmacy for advice.

Prof Mark Nelson , chair of General Practice, University of Tasmania

Mortgage shock

I OWN my gardening business, am separated, and mortgage a unit. I went to the bank, as I don’t know what’s going to happen. I heard on the news you can stop payments on a mortgage for six months. Bank said yes you can, but at the end of six months, you have to pay that six months you haven’t paid back to them. If my business goes like everything else at the moment, how am I going to survive? A gardening business only brings in enough to survive week by week and enough for bills.

Jonbarrie Wilson , Howrah

Compassion from PM

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison in his address to the nation on Tuesday night showed sincerity and compassion in the unenviable task of delivering a message that is, of necessity, abhorrent to him and to Australians. To his credit he only once spoke the jaded word “unprecedented” that has been used in description of our tragic bushfires. Yet his message came through loud and clear, with dignity and aplomb. No other Australian prime minister has had to face a situation that has been so potentially damaging to society and to the health of all Australians. It is not helpful for opposition parties to snipe from the sidelines about Scott Morrison’s strategy in his strict adherence to the welfare of all. This is not a political pointscoring issue.

Meanwhile, our nation must continue to be run efficiently (despite huge impacts on the budget) while daily news about the fight against coronavirus dominates headlines. Like the sun shining through storm clouds, we will come through with renewed enthusiasm. We are Australians!

Alan Churchill , Glenorchy

Go hard now, Tasmania

A HARD lockdown and total quarantine of all Tasmanians is required. This will reduce the critical time to three to seven weeks with fewer deaths than a “soft” lockdown which may mediate but not control the disease. It’s not enough to “flatten the curve”; it must be smashed down as far as possible. This is hard, but do-able. We need school closures, social distance requirements, stricter travel restrictions and quarantines with supervised or phone track-and-trace control.

The state needs to work with banks and landlords to put a moratorium on rent and mortgage payments. This need only last 3-7 weeks before we can restart the economy and society. It will be a hard month (maybe two) but we’ll be through it sooner than the projected 8-18 month disaster with overloaded hospitals and services and many more deaths. Let Tassie be the leader in Australia. We can see what is working in France, China and Korea. Please don’t wait. Every day counts.

Jeffrey M. Stander , Derwent Park

Retirees exposed

WELL done Peter Ontatzis for outlining the plight of self-funded retirees (Letters, March 23). My wife and I are self-funded retirees and while we have some cash reserves, they will run out well before this crisis is over, leaving us to cash in shares worth considerably less than they were two months ago. This leaves us feeling very exposed for the future, but there is no assistance. We seem to be invisible.

Colin Appleby , Sandy Bay

US forces risk

DESPITE warnings that COVID-19 will wreak havoc on indigenous communities in the Northern Territory, it is business as usual for the 2500 marines scheduled to begin arriving in Darwin next month. Why should there be an exception for US military personnel? US forces in Europe have already had cases of COVID-19. PM and Marise Payne, where are you?

Jo Errey , South Hobart

Heartfelt gratitude from survivors

IT is with amazement that staff, supporters and survivors from Beyond Abuse saw the amendments of S194K pass the second reading of the Legislative Council on Tuesday. The law prohibiting survivors being identified if they so wish has been changed, so you can be identified if you meet the criteria.

To say it is an impressive show of support to all survivors of sexual assault is an understatement. It has taken so much time and lobbying to have this Bill passed, but we in Tasmania are very lucky. We have a Government that listens and consults with survivors and survivor groups.

Having worked with Beyond Abuse for 17 years trying to make change and now to have a Government that listens and cares is so amazing I could cry. Congratulations should also go to every other member of parliament and, of course, the Legislative Council.

To see a Bill as important as this pass with bipartisan support is something we at Beyond Abuse could only dream of. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Steve Fisher , Sandy Bay

HOT TOPIC: MAKING DO IN A CRISIS

Wonders at the supermarket

AFTER overnighting in town, I headed to Coles Kingston at 6.30am for the first Elderly Hour shopping last week. I moved to Great Lake from Kingston three years ago, and am quite used to stocking up for winter when I’m snowed in. I usually have at least two weeks’ worth of food for myself (especially chocolate, milk for cappuccinos and bubbly) and cat food. This shop was going to be a big one. The staff were wonderful. Everyone was cheerful. Strangers were chatting as we waited to have our ID checked and the doors to open.

As I was about to exit with a laden trolley, manager Adam, who had come out to greet us all about 6.45am, was surveying the scene. I joked I wished I had a hand to help me unpack when I got home. Adam offered to help me unload my trolley into the car. How could I refuse such a kind offer? He took control of the trolley and with great skill, fitted everything, including ice I had bought to pack around frozen items, into the boot. He put my usually haphazard organisation to shame. Everything was still cold when I made it home by 7pm. It took me an hour to unload and store it. Fortunately the possums were not yet awake. On occasions, a couple have jumped into the car when the door was open. Thank you Adam. Your terrific staff are fortunate to have you as their chief.

Jane Shoobridge-Malecky , Tods Corner

Let’s talk ... and talk

A REQUEST and a suggestion. Change “social distancing” to “physical distancing” because we need to increase not decrease social contact to know how to help each other. The suggestion is to form internet groups (FaceTime, Messenger, Zoom). Contact four friends, ask each to contact two friends to meet once or twice a week. Aim for a group of seven to nine and expect five to seven. Keep it going for months. I’ve set up two to meet on a Monday and/or Wednesday. We may just chat or have a topic everyone can talk about. Talk gardening, fears, schools. Talk helping friends, and keeping safe. Encourage one-to-one talks between sessions.

Ian Fletcher , Dynnyrne

Ration pack security

THE story by Helen Kempton reminded me of my year in Antarctica in 1971 (“Science boffins iced in,” Mercury, March 23). We had 12-man day ration packs. The “man” bit is politically incorrect now but let me stick to the story. Although some expeditioners grizzled a bit, the packs were well-designed and ideal for my “open it, boil it, eat it” dining habits. I haven’t done my Armageddon shopping yet, and my friends nag me often. But the Armageddon food seems to be in parts of the supermarket I usually bypass and I have no idea what to buy. Presumably lots of frozen and tinned stuff. But frozen what and tinned what? Then I had a brilliant thought. I wonder if anyone still makes ANARE ration packs. How do I order one? Maybe oodles of people would enjoy the simple security of a stock of ration packs.

Keith Anderson , Kingston

The “F” word

REMEMBER a time when it wasn’t just the “C” word that was on everybody’s lips? Well, I can confirm the “F” word has made a comeback! That’s right people, that scourge of the early 21st century, the Tasmanian fox, appears to have returned in the state’s South. I saw one, with two cans of baked beans in its mouth, scurry across Row 4 of Woolworths Kingston, as I was picking up some more toilet rolls to sell on Gumtree. Has anyone else had sightings?

Stephen Jeffery , Sandy Bay

All aboard for quarantine

WITH Tasmania in the unique position of being a small island state, and there being an excess of empty cruise ships floating around aimlessly, I wonder if anyone has thought about using them as enforced quarantine vessels, not just for non-essential travellers, but everyone. Two weeks and we are free of coronavirus, then we could open up all the businesses that have just been shut down.

Rod McMahon , Richmond

QUICK VIEWS

Why do we need meters?

IF all shops are closed and the city shut down except for essential (as per PM, anyone who has a job) and public transport is being discouraged, why are HCC parking meters not being made available for free for those few workers going to city and avoiding public transport. Only reason to be in the city is work or quick in and out for groceries, getting away from groups as quickly as possible.

Judy Martin , Sandy Bay

Stop the boats

SCOTT Morrison proudly displays in his office a small boat with the inscription: “I stopped these”. If only that were true when it actually mattered.

David O’Halloran , North Hobart

Keep an eye on government

FULLY aware of the health crisis, I just want to make the plea to the media to please not ignore what pollies might be doing in the back of this crisis, while the media is looking elsewhere. Please keep an eye on the actions of the government in regards to permits and green lights to dodgy projects that would otherwise be scrutinised by you. This are perfect times for corruption.

Joana Cubillos , Kingston

Ham sandwich safety

IT is ironic that Australia’s Border Force, who would never allow a ham sandwich to pass through Customs, has allowed the 2700 passengers on a health-compromised cruise ship to be released into the community without any checks.

Ed Sianski , West Moonah

Too much sharing

SHARED parking meters, no thanks, shut them down.

Stephen Crane , West Hobart

Cheating the curve

WONDER how many COVID-19 cases we would have if diagnostic testing was readily available? We flatten the curve by just not testing.

Mike Radburn , Leslie Vale

Closed to everyone

CAN someone please explain why government has closed our borders yet are letting people into Tasmania that are coming off infected cruise ships. These people should be treated on board the ships. And why are people still coming here from overseas countries. If borders are closed they should be closed to everyone.

Robin Aitchison , Mornington

Hair-raising concept

WHAT genius came up with the harebrained notion that a two-hour hairdressing appointment posed more risk than a 30 minute one? PhD in logic!

Frank Martin , Orford