From:
Peter Daley
President SCCC Inc.
12th March 2020
To the SCCC Inc.
Committee members
RECOMMENDATION
My recommendation below is based on a professional background in health care working as a registered nurse. I have put in many man hours researching Covid-19, plus I have read numerous medial research papers on Covid-19.
My recommendation to the committee is that in the interest of the health and safety of our members, club meetings at Caloundra and Buderim should immediately cease until further notice.
This recommendation is based on the evidence and reports I provide below.
1. I have concluded from this research that most of our members will fall into the high risk category of a fatal outcome if they contract Covid-19. At present for COVID-19, people over 60 make up 31% of cases, and 81% of deaths. The vast majority of the club's membership fall into this high risk age bracket. Their risk of exposure to Covid-19 is greatly increased because the club meetings concentrate large numbers of these high risk individuals in close social contact.
2. We have these recent news reports of two infected local people.
The recent hospitalisation of the 81 man from the local community tells us that it is very likely in the local community.
5th March 2020 - Two new cases of coronavirus in Queensland
An 81-year-old man is in a stable condition in Sunshine Coast University Hospital after testing positive for the respiratory illness. He had recently returned from Thailand.
We also now have a report from the Sunshine Coast Daily of person at Maleny being confirmed to have contracted Covid-19.
‘Silent wildfire’: GP’s warning as coronavirus spreads
A Maleny doctor says at least one person in the hinterland community has tested positive for coronavirus, with others potentially exposed.
3. The advice of other health professions stating that high risk individuals should avoid crowds.
8th March 2020 - Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases: For Coronavirus And Crowds, 'If You're A Vulnerable Person, Take It Seriously'
Dr. Anthony Fauci clearly states a number of times in this interview that older people should avoid crowds.
Quote: 9news article 8th March 2020.
And it's Australia's elderly population that is causing the most concern, says Professor Leung.
"If you are 65 and over, you're probably two and a half to three times as likely to catch it, given the same exposure level as somebody younger," he tells Bartlett.
"And if and when you catch it, you're probably anywhere between six to eight times more likely to perish from it."
4. The fact that the WHO has set the case fatality rate from COVID-19 at a high 3.4%.
The case fatality rate - the new COVID-19 virus compared to the average common flu.
Average Flu fatalities = 0.1%
COVID-19 = 3.4% or higher. This is 34 times more fatal than the the average flu. It is not the flu!
5. The virus Covid-19 has an R0 value of 3 to 4, some medical specialist are saying the R0 is as high as 7. R0 number is the virus replication rate.
Example:
With an R0 of 4, each infected person on average will infect an other 4 people, and each of those four will give it to another four. At this rate it doesn't take long to spread locally to large numbers of other people. Also, around 25% of those infected do not show any symptoms.
6. Duty of Care and The Precautionary principle.
The club is operating under the legal guidance of "Duty of Care" and "The Precautionary Principle". These requirements mean the committee is obligated to doing everything possible to safeguard the health and safety of the membership during club activities.
I have provided the committee with a lot of evidence that the club is unable to meet these two legal requirements, and in the best interest of members health and safety, the club meetings should be closed until further notice.
I suggests in the interim that the club set up on line meeting technologies, eg. Skype, Zoom etc., forums, and volunteer phone help lines. This way members will still be able keep in contact, plus get advice and help as needed.
MOTION PASTED AT COMMITTEE MEETING, REGARDING THE PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION
The motion below was passed at 14th March 2020 SCCC Inc, committee meeting.
‘That Sunshine Coast Computer Club activities continue as normal with the committee monitoring the local situation, be guided by Queensland Health and Government recommendations, review and make changes as and when necessary taking into account the best interest of members’.
The latest government medical advice and official reports.
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
