How a
'terrible' decision saved thousands of lives in Australia: One of Australia’s
leading infectious disease experts has highlighted one move the Australian
government made that ultimately prevented a surging coronavirus death toll
witnessed in other countries.
Professor Sharon Lewin, head of the Doherty Institute, which has led the way on coronavirus research and worked closely with the government on modelling, said she doesn’t believe Australia’s success is “around good luck”.
She stressed a quick and thorough response from Australia has allowed numbers to stay low in comparison to the rest of the world. She singled out Scott Morrison’s “brilliant” decision to ban any foreign traveller arriving from China, or anyone who had spent any time in the previous two weeks in the country, from February 1, which she believes prevented a widespread outbreak.