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Leading Epidemiologist Warns Australian COVID-19 Situation Could ‘blow Up’ If Bo

April 21, 2021

Prof Tony Blakeley, Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Melbourne has broken down what could happen if Australia opens its borders to the rest of the world – describing the situation as a ‘tinderbox’ ready to blow.

Taking the example of the UK, Prof Blakeley explains that letting in 10,000 Brits would equate to around 50 infected people arriving per month. With vaccinations reducing the number of people unknowingly carrying the virus, this number could drop to 5 infected persons each month. Add in additional measures such as home quarantine, Prof Blakeley expects just one infectious Brit to be out and about.

Although this may sound harmless, this could lead to huge outbreaks given Australia’s largely unvaccinated population, and difficulty managing hotel quarantine. This also does not take into account more countries and more travellers. “Until most adults in Australia are vaccinated, any loosening up of how we respond to the virus incursion is unwise,” Prof Blakeley warns. The good news is that the risk of opening up to New Zealand, Taiwan, many Pacific Countries and China is close to zero – making travel bubbles still feasible.

The CPAP Clinic is a leading Australian provider of Respiratory, Sleep Disorders, Cardiology and PPE services and products. Based in Sydney, it has a network of 40 clinics nationwide.