Courtesy of The Guardian, some headline results of another weekly Essential Research poll on coronavirus, the full report of which should be published later today. This includes regular questions on federal and state governments’ handling with the crisis, of which we are only told that respondents remain highly positive, and on easing restrictions, for which we are told only 25% now consider it too soon, which is down two on last time and has been consistently declining over five surveys.
Beyond that, the survey gauged response to a number of what might be described as conspiracy theories concerning the virus. By far the most popular was the notion that the virus “was engineered and released from a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan”, which has received a certain amount of encouragement from the Daily Telegraph but is starkly at odds with the scientific consensus. Agreement and disagreement with this proposition was tied on 39%.
Thirteen per cent subscribed to a theory that Bill Gates was involved in the creation and spread of the virus, with 71% disagreeing; 13% agreed the virus was not dangerous and was being used to force people to get vaccines, with 79% disagreeing; 12% thought the 5G network was being used to spread the virus, with 75% disagreeing; and 20% agreed the number of deaths was being exaggerated, with “more than 70%” disagreeing. The poll also found 77% agreed that the outbreak in China was worse than the official statistics showed.
The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1073.
UPDATE: Full report here.
Ryan StruykVerified account @ryanstruyk
Reported US coronavirus cases on date:
Feb. 22: 35 cases
Mar. 22: 34,276 cases
Apr. 22: 846,982 cases
May 22: 1,645,094 cases
Reported US coronavirus deaths on date:
Feb. 22: 0 deaths
Mar. 22: 413 deaths
Apr. 22: 46,609 deaths
May 22: 97, 647 deaths
Diogenes @ #2994 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 1:16 pm
It’s ok, Albo will kiss it better and Jim will put a sticky plaster on it.
Simon Katich @ #2981 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 12:21 pm
I’m all for the South Pacific Bubble myself. I hear Fiji is a very nice place to visit. 🙂
“This 50 minute interview with Stephen Colbert yesterday puts those perceptions in the bin – not bad for a 77 year old who has struggled with a chronic stutter all his life.“
Don’t underestimate the advantage of Biden being at home all day. He can stay a lot fresher at his age than being on the road.
And he does seem to be able to pull it all together on big occasions. But just for short periods. He is going to absolutely struggle as President.
The Grauniad is back !
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/23/coronavirus-live-news-australia-hit-by-60bn-payout-error-as-trump-orders-places-of-worship-to-reopen
AFR
SMH
ABC
HERALD SUN
The title of the PMs media release.
Well, Australia lost 600,000 jobs and counting. The PM lied to get a pat on the back and is now pulling $60B from his promise when we need it most. $60 billion. The greatest heist of all time. Morrison the thief.
> Anna’s border closure is costing QLD $50mill a day in lost tourism revenue. Hopefully Anna’s health call on this is the right way to go.
And if their is an outbreak from opening the borders and then the lockdown has to be reinstated it will cost a lot more then 50 million/day in lost tourism revenue as the intrastate tourism will die as well.
Cat here is a current comparison of NSW and QLD.
Today nos of new cases : NSW – 2 , QLD – 2
Nos in ICU today – NSW – 1 , QLD – 1
Hospital cases – NSW – 20, QLD – 4
Total Tests : NSW – 411,618, QLD – 172,212
Active Cases : NSW – 385, QLD – 13
I not saying open the borders tomorrow, but 28 days of no community transmission is going to be difficult to achieve in NSW and Vic in the near future.
The premiers seem now to be going for an elimination strategy no matter the economic cost.
I reckon suppression down to a manageable level reduces the damage to the economy may be a better option.
What happens if a drug smuggler slips in by boat with the virus from say Mexico before the 28 days end. We start again judging by Anna’s rules.
I cant watch Bill Mahers monologue. It hasnt Covid well.
His New Rule still rules.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctA3i8UwG3M
michael
Suppression eh, ask Boris and co how that worked out for him.
Perhaps. But if ‘elimination’ is just around the corner it must be tempting. Just a couple more weeks?
Peeps in SA are holidaying domestically. Lots of people who otherwise would travel to QLD are travelling locally. It seems a good midway point to get tourism rolling again – without the need for peeps to get on planes.
michael says:
Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 12:16 pm
…
Anna is far smarter than me.
…
Probable should have left it at that.
michael @ #3006 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 11:34 am
The problem for the Premiers is that they have put their populations through the hard yards and if relaxing things like borders causes an new outbreak and some restrictions need to be reestablished, then I don’t think the people will be as forgiving.
michael @ #3007 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 1:34 pm
I reckon doesn’t realy cut it comrade.
Anna said today that they are relying on the advice of their Health Officials and they are looking at what is happening around the world in other jurisdictions.
I’ll trust political judgement based on facts over “I reckon” every day of the week.
For (place your favourite four letter naughty word here) sake! Yank TV sinks to a new low.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/may/21/labor-of-love-kristin-davis-fox
The LNP Corruption Corporation rolls on. And on and…
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/23/covid-commission-boss-nev-power-steps-back-at-gas-company-amid-conflict-of-interest-concerns
https://www.pollbludger.net/2020/05/19/essential-research-coronavirus-restrictions-conspiracy-theories/comment-page-61/#comment-3411953
North of the border will decide what their risk appetite is i/c Wuflu, never mind the whole 30 years back in time, give or take an hour.
Besides, there is a state election not that far off …
In the meantime, let’s see if Trump lite downunder, Shouty Mchappyclap on a foundation of Bronte slogan bogan, will follow his mate TDJT on pushing for opening up off with the fairies!
As in denials, delays, distractions!
michael @ #3006 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 11:34 am
….
The premiers seem now to be going for an elimination strategy no matter the economic cost.
…
You can’t do social distancing in the CBD. Death is not popular.
The economy will not restart until the virus is eliminated.
It is very unfortunate we have had the ruby princess, the level of incompetence displayed by the state and federal Liberal governments is unbelievable. That it what we have to live with. The lockdowns are longer the death greater because of the incompetence displayed.
The Liberal governments incompetence continues; can’t get a stimulus right. Want a policy that is unworkable or if people believed would send us back into lockdown. The incompetence of this Liberal government is incomprehensible.
The problem for the Premiers is that they have put their populations through the hard yards and if relaxing things like borders causes an new outbreak and some restrictions need to be reestablished, then I don’t think the people will be as forgiving.
This is exactly the point. One foot wrong and Anastacia Palascjuk cops it at the ballot box because no one wants to go through lockdown all over again.
McGowan on WA’s borders. (via Facebook)
The virus can’t be eliminated if you need the economy opened up to the world unless we have a vaccine.
Economies will have to be opened to the world at some stage. Otherwise the economic cost will become too great.
Older people wanting the lockdown to continue until vaccine is found are living with fairies at the bottom of the garden.
Kirky @ #3019 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 11:58 am
The border shutdowns relate to people, not goods and products, so much of the economy can open up with the border still shut.
International tourism into Australia is worth $44.6b then add Education and the $$$ keep mounting.
I certainly won’t be taking any domestic holidays (have seen most of Australia) just to satisfy the government. Get me to NZ asap then the world.
Here’s someone with a functioning brain, unlike the LNP fans who are now complaining that Albo wants to spend the money the gov has “cleverly” saved.
A Nobel Laureate chips in!
Prof. Peter Doherty
@ProfPCDoherty
·
1h
Let’s wait a month or so before we get too het-up about the cautious approach. Anyone who thinks this is over may be in for a very nasty surprise. Daniel Andrews: Victoria’s dictator, or just a wildly popular, unstoppable political force? | Gay Alcorn
Kirky @ #3021 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 12:18 pm
If you think international tourism is going to bounce back to those levels, I think you’ll be in for a surprise.
I certainly don’t expect to be able to travel easily until at least next year.
GG
When you have facts at your back in a political debate Nobel Laureates tend to back you.
Another example is Wayne Swan with stimulus spending.
He looks very much like an expert economic manager now.
Well here’s a huge up yours for the haters on PB.
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/05/22/politics/tara-reade-lawyer/index.html?__twitter_impression=true
Mundo: Last year after the election I used to refer to another day in Morristan, half joking, expecting he wouldn’t last 6 month, but, here we are. And here we’ll stay.
Welcome to Morristan.
Have a nice day.
———————————————-
Mundo’s account has been hacked! The real Mundo would never use the first person pronoun to refer to Mundo.
P1 went to the local supermarket today.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1263795671339085824
ICYMI.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/23/donald-trump-press-secretary-inadvertently-reveals-presidents-bank-details
A bit of a boon for Democrat investigators.
I’m going to go with ‘living’ as the key word there, and callous indifference to people living being a strong marker of an absolutely terrible human being the world would be better without.
Suppression?
.
To risk the death rate rising from 4 to some higher figure to achieve economic comfort sooner seems premature to me. We should go all out for elimination with a realistic target date for review, if it proves too difficult.
Elimination would allow full bore economic activity as well as minimising suffering and death.
The death rate per million of the population. It’s one table it’s best to be last in.
2 Belgium 795
4 Spain 612
5 Italy 539
6 UK 536
7 France 433
8 Sweden. 389
……..
10 Netherlands 338
11 Ireland 323
12 USA 295
………
115. Australia. 4
118. New Zealand. 4
Kirky @7:04am
“We are you so obsessed with elimination of the virus.”
Its because if we don’t eliminate the virus we don’t get to enjoy having a fully functional economy. Instead we continue to do things such as restrict public transport capacity to a fraction of normal. As a consequence we live in a depressed economy. Plus, it would be nice to be able to safely walk the streets, yes?
“At some point we are going to open our international bo rders. That is a given as we need the overseas tourist $$$. In the year 2018/2019 it amounted to $44.6b.”
We are not going to be able to open our borders without requiring qurantine until such time as there is an effective vaccine and the virus has been controlled overseas. This is true whether we eliminate the virus in Australia or merely suppress it.
“Nowhere else in the world will they have eliminated the virus.”
They’ve already eliminated the virus in Vietnam and will do so in New Zealand. In any case when there is an effective vaccine and adequate treatment, then we can consider going from having borders with quarantine to something more “normal”. Again, eliminating the virus within Australia makes no difference to the timing. Again, if we merely suppress the virus in Australia, there is no way we can safely reopen borders without quarantine – until vaccine/treament that is.
Trump openly supports Sessions’ opponent.
Kirky @1:58
“International tourism into Australia is worth $44.6b then add Education and the $$$ keep mounting.
I certainly won’t be taking any domestic holidays (have seen most of Australia) just to satisfy the government. Get me to NZ asap then the world.”
None of this is worth the cost of a depressed economy. One thing you don’t factor in is that suppression means a depressed economy. Whereas elimination means being able to do things like have fully operational public transport.
Also, suppression of the virus does not mean we can then allow people from overseas to transit our borders without going through quarantine – so it makes no difference to elimination. We will have to quarantine our borders until such time as there is an effective vaccine/treament.
Also, having borders that require quarantine will allow students and it will allow some tourism.
Oh and one other little kicker for you. You aren’t going to New Zealand unless Australia eliminates the virus. At least not without going through quarantine.
GG
P1 went to the local supermarket today.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1263795671339085824
…….
The US police are like untrained brats born with guns in their hands. Why can’t they just post the fine?
Kirky says:
Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 2:18 pm
International tourism into Australia is worth $44.6b then add Education and the $$$ keep mounting.
I certainly won’t be taking any domestic holidays (have seen most of Australia) just to satisfy the government. Get me to NZ asap then the world.
On that reckoning the USA has taken the best option. If you live in WA you can risk your life and come to NSW. If your from Australian I am sure there will come a time when you can risk your life and go to the USA. Fourteen days isolation to come back is not a high price.
I think asking for a couple hundred thousand to die because you want free travel is a bit much myself.
“The border shutdowns relate to people, not goods and products, so much of the economy can open up with the border still shut.”
Exactly.
Plus its also a fact that whether we eliminate the virus or suppress it, we will have to maintain quarantine at the border until such time as there is vaccine/treatment. This is something that people like Kirky don’t get. Supression of the virus does not mean being able to safely open international borders without quarantine. That’s just not possible.
frednk
I tell you what. If I were living somewhere else in Australia – in one of the six smaller states/territories I’d be feeling a lot safer right now. And I’d be very glad there are closed borders. And I’d feel comfortable walking the street and meeting people.
Where I live now, I don’t. We may still luck our way into elimination though.
Cud Chewer
Elimination starting to pay dividends already…..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Production Set to Restart on ‘Avatar’ Sequels
Producer Jon Landau on Thursday posted a message on Instagram that said the sets were ready and the team behind the film was heading back to the country “next week.”
Production on James Cameron’s long-in-the-making Avatar sequels is set to restart in New Zealand as soon as “next week,” according to producer Jon Landau.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/production-set-restart-avatar-2-new-zealand-1295609
Rakali @ #3036 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 2:54 pm
Arrogance and disregard for the law only gets you so far.
Cud
Eliminate the virus and we can make some exceptions to quarantine.
Vietnam Taiwan South Korea New Zealand The Pacific are some that would be considered. Sweden Brazil The USA not so much.
“Producer Jon Landau on Thursday posted a message on Instagram that said the sets were ready and the team behind the film was heading back to the country “next week.””
Which just goes to show that quarantine at the border doesn’t stop all movement of people.
guytaur
What I can’t invite my friend from Sweden? Oh no!
(actually that’s a bit of an in joke. he won’t travel anywhere that it doesn’t snow)
Rakalisays: Saturday, May 23, 2020 at 2:54 pm
The US police are like untrained brats born with guns in their hands. Why can’t they just post the fine?
.***************************************************
In the video, a white female driver explained to the cop she was scared to move her hands in order to get her cellphone
A police lieutenant in Georgia was caught on video telling a nervous motorist during a traffic stop saying “we only kill black people”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvBVA3wZLDE
Cud
🙂
Kirky @ #3020 Saturday, May 23rd, 2020 – 1:58 pm
And may soon find themselves buried at the bottom of the garden. I mean, how dare they demand to stay alive at someone else’s expense? 🙁
Simon
“When can I fly to NZ?”
Depends on whether you want to go through quarantine or not. If you don’t then you’ll have to cross your fingers and hope we luck our way into elimination.
phoenixRED
we only kill black people
———
Yes, i was thinking of that when i saw the video.
Why do they need a gun in their hand at all with a disobedient but harmless and probably self-entitled woman?
Surely it implies you are going to shoot unless she “obeys”. It’s very bad “policing”.