Australia a ‘standout loser’ for damaging economy without COVID-19 immunity, Nobel prize-winner says One of the world’s top scientists has branded lockdown measures a ‘huge mistake’ and Australia a ‘standout loser’ for damaging its economy. Picture: Getty Images One of the world’s top scientists has branded lockdowns a “huge mistake” and called Australia a “standout loser” for “massively” damaging its economy and society without obtaining immunity to COVID-19. In an extraordinary 30-minute interview Michael Levitt, who won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 2013, also slammed Baby Boomers for “really screwing up” the world. “If I was a young person now I would say, you guys are going to pay for this,” said Professor Levitt, 72. Professor of structural biology at Stanford University, he said “panic” stemming from “incorrect numbers” had prompted lockdowns whose damage “will exceed any saving of lives by a huge factor – there is no doubt in my mind”. Uploaded to UK website Unheard overnight, the professor said Germany and Sweden, with deaths so far per million from COVID-19 of 81 and 264, respectively, were “standout winners” in their response. “They didn’t practice too much lockdown, enough people got sick to get some herd immunity,” he said. “And the standout losers are Austria, Australia, Israel, which have had strict lockdowns without many cases. They have damaged their economies, society, harmed the education of their children but not obtained any herd immunity,” he added. Deaths per million so far from COVID-19 in Austria, Australia and Israel were 66, 4 and 26 as of Sunday. The remarks came as virus-stricken Newmarch House nursing home in Sydney confirmed another fatality, bringing the national death toll from COVID-19 to 95. “Children, even if infected never infect adults, so why not have children at school? Why not have people working?” Professor Levitt said. His comments came as Education minister Dan Tehan accused Victorian premier Dan Andrews of taking a “sledgehammer” to students’ education for refusing to re-open its schools in line with other states. Roads have been largely empty across Australia in recent weeks. Picture: Getty Images On Friday the Prime Minister indicated that National Cabinet might ease restrictions a week earlier than planned, if new infections remained low. Professor Levitt said “excess deaths” in Europe so far this year had been around 140,000, which was “actually not that much” when seen in context of severe flu seasons. “In some of the worst flu episodes we get to those kinds of numbers, sometimes a bit more or sometimes a bit less,” he added. “Flu kills young people two or three times more than the coronavirus … if we put those facts into the situation the burden of death from coronavirus will in Europe be less than that of bad flu,” he explained. Professor Levitt said the response was “another foul up” for his boomer generation. “We’ve caused pollution, global warming, allowed world’s population to increase three fold, and now we’ve left your generation with a real mess,” he said. The federal government has budgeted around $214bn in stimulus spending to curb the damage caused by lockdown policies, and the RBA expects the economy to shrink 10 per cent this year. Professor Michael Levitt. Picture: YouTube Professor Levitt said “herd immunity” was the “right policy”. Britain, with 441 death per million, “was on exactly the right track before they were fed wrong numbers, and now have made huge mistake,” he said, referring to modelling in March that said 500,000 people would die in Britain. “If we were to do this again we would insist on face masks, hand sanitiser, and some kind of payment that didn’t involve touching,” he added. The Stanford professor, who has been closely analysing the infection and fatality numbers globally since January, said the growth in infections was “never exponential” and tended to peter out after about four weeks regardless of the severity of lockdowns. Epidemiologists had a track record of exaggerating likely death tolls. “They see their role as scaring people into doing something,” he said. He also slammed the mainstream media for its reporting of the virus. “They should have stressed to people that every day someone dies and these people are in same age band as those who do,” he said. “I’ve become a huge fan of Twitter, I never used it before, but it’s the best discussion forum I’ve seen since I was a student at Cambridge,” he revealed.
Coronavirus: New Zealand had no new cases on Monday. What has it done right? https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ses-on-monday-what-has-it-done-right-11982934 The Pacific island nation enforced some of the toughest self-isolation measures in the world when it had only recorded six cases. New Zealand reported no new cases of COVID-19 on Monday - indicating that the country's bold strategy for trying to eliminate the coronavirus is working. The country has recorded almost 1,500 cases and 20 deaths since COVID-19 arrived. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been widely praised for her empathetic leadership style, with the public encouraged to "be kind" and "stay calm" as strict quarantine and lockdown measures were put in place. Here, we take a look at how the Pacific island nation managed to slow the spread of coronavirus. What has been New Zealand's strategy? The government's approach to the outbreak was reportedly influenced by a scientific paper from Imperial College London. The paper found stringent measures of "epidemic suppression" were needed to tackle the virus - including social distancing, isolating cases at home, and quarantining family members. In mid-March, Ms Ardern said everyone coming into New Zealand would have to self-isolate for two weeks. It was among the earliest and toughest self-isolation measures in the world, and came when just six cases were reported nationwide. New Zealand, which has a population of almost five million people, went on to close its borders from Thursday 19 March. A complete lockdown was imposed six days later. The "level four" restrictions meant only grocery shops, pharmacies, hospitals and petrol stations remained open. Vehicle travel was restricted, and social interaction was limited to within households. New Zealand also enforced an extensive testing and contact tracing operation. How did the public respond to the measures? New Zealanders are said to have taken the lockdown seriously from the first day, with empty streets and highways seen across the country. Sue Webster, an Airbnb owner in New Zealand, told National Geographic: "I think it's easier for us Kiwis to fall in line because we trust our leaders." When was it clear the measures were working? In late April, Ms Ardern said the virus was "currently" eliminated as community transmission of COVID-19 had been stopped. However, she later warned that "elimination doesn't mean zero cases". New Zealand reported it had no new cases of the virus on Monday. How has New Zealand's prime minister handled the crisis? Ms Ardern has been praised for her decisiveness - telling New Zealanders "we go hard, we go early" in the days before the lockdown. Helen Clark, New Zealand's prime minister from 1999 to 2008, told The Atlantic that Ms Ardern "doesn't preach at them, she's standing with them" in relation to how she communicates with the public. She said: "They may even think, well, I don't quite understand why (the government) did that, but I know she's got our back. "There's a high level of trust and confidence in her because of her empathy." Ms Clark described Ms Ardern as a "communicator", adding: "This is the kind of crisis which will make or break leaders. "And this will make Jacinda." Ms Ardern went on Facebook Live shortly after the lockdown saying she wanted to "check in with everyone". The government's message has also spread to road signs, with some reading: "Be kind, stay calm." Ms Ardern's intention was clear as she said at one of her daily briefings: "We have the opportunity to do something no other country has achieved: elimination of the virus." She also achieved an almost record-breaking approval rating while the country was in lockdown, the New Zealand Herald reports. A poll showed that the prime minister's Labour Party had reached 55% approval. What is life like in New Zealand now? The lockdown rules were eased a little last week to help reopen the economy, but many restrictions remain in place. Many businesses - including most retail stores and sit-down restaurants - remain closed, most children are learning from home, and people are required to maintain social distancing. Consideration is also being given to a trans-Tasman "bubble" which would allow movement of people between New Zealand and Australia. Australia has had about 6,800 infections and 95 deaths. Ms Ardern said a decision would be made next Monday on whether to ease the rules further. She said: "We cannot afford to squander the good work to date when our end goal is so close and within reach." New Zealand cannot afford to be complacent despite recording no new cases of COVID-19. Countries such as Singapore are said to have struggled with a second wave of infections despite appearing to have the virus under control. There is also the threat of the virus arriving from overseas, meaning restrictions on arrivals are likely to be in place for some time.
I was reading about how Hawaii has a low infection rate and the article was carrying on about how it;s isolated location and their shutting down to and fro traffic was the key. It made me think of New Zealand which - in article after article- is either promoted as or trying to promote itself as some kind of corona rock star. And, at the same time, there is messaging among scientists and the media that "the virus does not respect borders." Actually though, the lesson from New Zealand and Hawaii is that the virus does have to respect some borders- such as by being an isolated island- and does respect travel bans. I doubt that New Zealand would have the same outcome- not to detract from Prime Minister Rock Star- if it were sandwiched somewhere between Spain and Italy. So their corona "policies" come with a pantload of geographical advantages - as with Hawaii- and the not-so-progressive shutting down of their country to outsiders makes it all work well. You get some of this kind of happy horseshit from the Canadians as well. They are always pretending to be up on Mount Olympus when it comes to immigration compared to the barbarians in the U.S. In reality, most of it is just a luxury they enjoy from having the Polar ice caps on their northern border and the U.S on the south. Canada would be singing a different tune altogether if it had Mexico and Central America on its southern border or was sandwiched in between some of the european countries struggling with immigration. No doubt New Zealand has not struggled with the same problems as New York City has. There is a reason for that. Multiple reasons, actually. Most of them pretty obvious.
"Professor of structural biology at Stanford University, he said “panic” stemming from “incorrect numbers” had prompted lockdowns whose damage “will exceed any saving of lives by a huge factor – there is no doubt in my mind”." This what many of us said back in March while the leftist morons were hurling insults.
Yeah, like we should pay attention to a Stanford University professor who spends most of his time claiming how Boomers are screwing up the world. 'In an extraordinary 30-minute interview Michael Levitt, who won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 2013, also slammed Baby Boomers for “really screwing up” the world. “If I was a young person now I would say, you guys are going to pay for this,” said Professor Levitt, 72.'
“Children, even if infected never infect adults, so why not have children at school? Why not have people working?” Professor Levitt said.'' That's a killer argument. Thanks for sharing.
Children, even if infected never infect adults, so why not have children at school? Why not have people working?” Professor Levitt said.'' --- this has got to be one of the most stupid assertions from Levitt, but there are many others.
I think he's right about the herd immunity, but Australia really did slow the rate down. I think Sweden and Australia will show which strategy was better, but it's just too early right now.
you can't handle the truth if it messes with your world view. so, although I too find the statements a bit surprising... since you find them wrong... I am going to go with the Stanford professor until new data arrives.