I have had severe asthma since I was a child. I have been hospitalised perhaps twice prior to puberty when my chest muscles were weaker and unable to sustain the effort of breathe. I assume that there’s a good chance that one day, when I’m weakened by disease or old age, I may suffocate as a result of respiratory disease. I’m reasonably determined to try to avoid going out that way.
So you can imagine I have begun thinking about what I’m going to do in the very possible event that the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 starts spreading in Australia.
Here are my places to avoid. I’ve tried to think of a good time to enact each new set of measures but I’m not a scientist or expert, so I assume my decisions will not be optimal.
Right Now
- Cruise ships
- Iran, South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore, Italy
When Next Case Reported In Australia Or New Cases Outside China Reach 2000 Per Day
- International Airports
- Cruise Ship Terminals
When Australia Reports Likely Community Infection
- Pharmacies
- Hospitals
- Medical clinics
- Trains
- Buses
- Offices
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Concerts
- Sporting events
- Indoor swimming pools
When Sydney Reports Over 500 Confirmed Cases (if exponential growth)
- Schools
- Pre-schools
- Crowded Places
Australian Epidemic Declared or 2500 Cases In Sydney
- Stay at least 1m from everyone except family
- Ideally leave our apartment where there is a communal lift and head out of Sydney with the family.