Pandemic Advisory Group Says Higher Vaccination Rates, Ventilation, And Masks Needed Before Reopening

A new pandemic advisory group, OzSAGE, has warned that additional measures are needed before restrictions are lifted. Without these, OzSAGE says COVID-19 cases will surge dramatically. NSW is currently set to ease restrictions once 70% of the adult population are vaccinated – which only comprises around 56% of the total population. So what additional measures are being recommended before we open up? 1) Ventilation upgrades for schools and businesses to mitigate airborne transmission 2) Vaccination rates of 80%+ for people over the age of 12, rather than just adults 3) Continued mask mandates 4) Booster shots for frontline health workers vaccinated earlier this year 5) Access to rapid antigen home test kits Without these additional measures, OzSAGE says reopening at the proposed levels “will turbocharge Covid-19, as seen in countries that lifted restrictions at about 60 per cent whole population vaccination rates.”