Are The NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Effective?
We will need to live with restrictions so long as Delta is around, so long as Delta has presence in the world, even if we had zero cases and we were at 80% double dose, you will still have to respect some rules that exist around vaccinations, around social distancing, around mask wearing. So long as Delta and deadly Covid is around we will always need to live with a measure of restrictions- Gladys Berejiklian at NSW Covid-19 Conference on 16 August 2021
Mandatory Mask Wearing
The Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) provides expert advice and information to support best practice related to infection prevention and control in community, hospital and other institutional settings. The ICEG in The Use of Face Masks and Respirators in the Context of Covid-19, cited a study that compared surgical masks to respirators for source and transmission control which found that neither surgical masks nor N95 respirators completely blocked transmission of virus droplets/aerosols even when completely sealed. However, the ICEG nevertheless proposed the use of surgical masks and respirators in health-care and residential care settings as a precaution to prevent healthcare workers from transmitting the virus from patients infected with Covid-19.
Sign the NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Explanatory Memorandum Petition Here
In relation to surgical masks and the general public, the ICEG cited a
study which provides that COVID-19 has been associated with super-spreading events in which case clusters have resulted from exposure to one or more highly infectious individuals present at a gathering in an enclosed space. Examples include public transport, choir practice, weddings, religious venues, bars, restaurants or nursing homes. Other than this, the ICEG said that a mask can protect others by decreasing the spread of infected respiratory secretions. This is called source control. Ultimately however, the ICEG does not suggest mandatory surgical mask wearing for the general public in either enclosed or open public settings.
Again, mandatory mask wearing orders are not based on public health expert advice. A NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Explanatory Memorandum is in urgent and critical demand.
Moreover, the
Therapeutic Goods Administration Division of the Australian Health Department provides that Surgical masks have different grades of filtration and are useful for blocking splashes and large particle droplets or sprays which may occur. They do not provide complete protection from germs and other small particle contaminants. Quality assurance control by the Division does
not include inspections into whether face masks reduce or prevent the transmission of disease or micro-organisms (such as bacteria or viruses) between people. So why is it mandatory to wear masks indoors? A Explanatory Memorandum is warranted and has been since the pandemic began a year and a half ago.
Lockdown Orders and Restrictions
The ICEG, in the above-mentioned document, also spoke on how Covid-19 is transmitted. The ICEG explained that SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted by close personal contact (via respiratory droplets) or via contaminated fomites. It is less likely that transmission occurs via small respiratory particles (aerosols) that remain suspended in the air for prolonged periods. Airborne transmission is believed to mainly occur because of specific procedures or behaviours, in particular in poorly ventilated, crowded indoor settings, the procedures or behaviours include:
- Aerosol-generating procedures (usually in healthcare settings);
- Certain (‘aerosol-generating’) behaviours, such as singing, shouting and heavy breathing during strenuous exercise.This can produce increased amounts and forced expulsion of respiratory particles, including aerosols. These can travel and contaminate the environment, further than 1.5–2m from the infected person.
Transmissibility levels of the Delta Variant reflect the chances of being infected with the virus should one be in close contact to infectious respiratory particles . In simpler terms, one is more likely to transmit the virus if the infected person within 2m of them does not completely block respiratory particles becoming airborne as they cough or sneeze. Therefore, regardless of the level of transmissibility, chances of infection are significantly reduced if the infectious person covers their mouth and nose as they cough or sneeze.
If one is sick, they should stay home to make sure they don’t spread aerosols infected with whatever they are have regardless if it was Covid-19 or not. As for those who may be infected but unaware should cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing to stop expelled particles from going airborne and prevent touching anything until they’ve cleaned their hands. Meanwhile, NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard reportedly had this to say in relation to Delta's level of transmissibility:
“Last year, we talked about this particular virus when it first came to our shores as being obviously dangerous but it wasn’t a long jumper and it wasn’t a high jumper. “[But] we also need to recognise that the Delta variant of the COVID virus is actually a gold medallist when it comes to jumping from one person to another - it is a long jumper."
Sign the NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Explanatory Memorandum Petition Here
The NSW Government, on the basis of public health expert advice, made the decision to announce that NSW regions would be entering lockdown on 26 June 2021. The public health expert advice hadn’t been released and is yet to be released. However, the NSW Government did reassure the Citizens of NSW that the Covid-19 Public Health Orders are necessary because the
Delta Variant is a long jump gold medalist. People who refused to accept such justification were met with hefty fines, additional police powers and an increase in police presence.
Covid-19 Vaccinations
Source: Click here for link to 16 August 2021 NSW Covid Update Conference
If you may recall, Sydney entered into lockdown at 6:00pm on 26 June 2021. According to the Australian Immunisation Register, as at 27 June 2021, 2, 127, 175 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in the State of NSW. Right from the very beginning of the current lockdown to date, Gladys Berejiklian, Brad Hazzard and Kerry Chant consistently reiterated that the only way out of lockdown is if 80% of the NSW population has been fully vaccinated. As at 15 August 2021, 5, 208, 888 vaccines have been administered in NSW with 52.1% being the first dose and 27.1% being the second.
It's worth pointing out that the Commonwealth Government Vaccine Roll-Out initiative commenced on 22 March 2021. Up until 27 June just over two million vaccine doses were administered. That is two million doses in 16 weeks. The weekly average of vaccines administered increased over 300% from 27 June 2021 to 15 August 2021. The truth is that the weekly average increase was caused by people who simply just wanted the lockdown to end, as Gladys Berejiklian promised it would. As shown in the above video, Gladys Berejiklian said that even if the vaccination rate reaches 80%, lockdown and restrictions will still be enforced based on the number of active cases in NSW. Now that NSW has gained momentum on its way to reaching the threshold she changes the narrative. Why? No new information regarding the delta variant has emerged since the beginning of the outbreak so why didn't she say that restrictions are based on active case numbers from the very start? Gladys wanted you to get vaccinated.
Sign the NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Explanatory Memorandum Petition Here
The NSW Government is taking measures that are less effective than one simply covering their mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. To stop the spread, all it takes is extra care in covering your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. If you stop respiratory particles from going airborne, you prevent people around you from inhaling the respiratory particles and getting sick.
You must understand that the effect of contracting Covid-19 can only be caused by released infectious respiratory particles. Covering the mouth and nose blocks infected respiratory particles from going airborne, thus eliminating the cause. That's it. No need for lockdown orders and restrictions, no need for lockdown restrictions, mandatory mask wearing and additional police powers.
We demand that the NSW Government to produce an Explanatory Memorandum explaining the rationality behind enforcing the NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders. The NSW Government owes Citizens of NSW their duty of serve as parliamentarians, not the science community. Lockdown measures and mandatory mask wearing were enforced last year, the NSW Government has had ample time to prepare an Explanatory Memorandum since the end of last year's lockdown up until late June this year. The excuse that this outbreak is an emergency and a matter of urgency, warranting the bypass of an Explanatory Memorandum is inadequate. The ending of last year’s lockdown in NSW did not indicate the end of a global crisis. NSW has not been immune from another potential outbreak, the NSW Government should have diligently prepared for an outbreak in accordance with legislative making protocols and procedures.
Sign the NSW Covid-19 Public Health Orders Explanatory Memorandum Petition Here
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Article by Adham Tebbie
Click or Tap on Opinions for more articles by Adham.
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