THE PANDEMIC Isolation escapee raises questions

THE recent incident of a Covid-19 positive man arriving in Hobart without a valid border pass who deliberately escaped hotel isolation to enter the community raises some very challenging questions.

How was this individual allowed to board a commercial flight on Monday without the required and verified G2G border pass? How was he able to simply walk out of mandatory quarantine into the community a day later?

If due to this man’s thoughtless and deliberate self-serving actions other people are impacted and catch the virus what are his legal responsibilities? If worst-case scenario someone dies because he chose to escape quarantine in full knowledge he was highly infectious, is he liable to criminal charges and if so to what level? If someone knowingly drives a car in a dangerous and reckless manner and harms or kills another person or persons they would most probably be charged with murder or manslaughter. Are this man’s actions less dangerous to the community?

We are all entitled to our own personal beliefs around vaccination and to risk our own safety, however we don’t have the right to harm others by our actions without paying the penalty.

Vyv Alomes Dodges Ferry

NO DISTANCING AT AIRPORT

I ARRIVED into Hobart on Sunday night at around 8pm. Fortunately, one day earlier than the bloke who arrived on Monday with no entry permit. When I arrived there were about 100 travellers from an earlier flight lined up for entry and passengers from the Jetstar flight that arrived after us were allowed to filter into our line. There was no social distancing in the queue for entry. If that had been Monday night, then not only would the people on his flight be at risk but all the people in contact in the queue. When I arrived in Perth we were held on our plane until the flight before us were processed so there was no mixing of passengers from different flights.

Darrell Booth Port Arthur

WELFARE AND WELLBEING

TASMANIA is in an enviable state of freedom from Covid restrictions compared to the rest of the nation, Premier Peter Gutwein says. (State envy of the nation, Mercury, October 12). Tasmanians appreciate the Premier’s decisive action to prioritise public health by taking advantage of our geographic borders. Is Mr Gutwein’s government also able to prioritise the mental wellbeing and welfare of Tasmanians by installing clear oversight and regulation of the powerful gambling industry and transparent electoral donation laws? Or would that kill the goose that lays the golden eggs?

Elizabeth Osborne North Hobart

ONLINE LEARNING PERSISTS

DAVID Pemberthy is right to lament the Covid-induced shift to online university learning (Sunday Tasmanian October 10). While Tasmania has not been hit as hard by lockdowns as the larger mainland states, our students have not been spared the online lectures and tectonic changes to campus life first introduced to facilitate social distancing and limit the spread of coronavirus. It appears likely these changes will remain, long after the pandemic has ended.

For some students online learning enables flexibility, but for others, it saps motivation and inspiration. There are some things that can never be replicated in an online environment.

Jane Franklin Hall is Tasmania’s only independent residential university college and we are proud to preserve the sense of community, friendships and peer-support that are so vital for a well-rounded education. Our students are supported by an extensive network of Fellows who are available to provide face-to-face mentoring and support. I have seen first-hand how important human connection can be for academic achievement.

While we should always embrace positive technological change, we cannot afford to lose the social connection that has been the heart of the university model for centuries.

Joanna Rosewell Principal, Jane Franklin Hall

WHERE’S THE PLAN?

THE Department of Health’s faceless and inaccessible decision-makers have shown no accountability or transparency. To date they have hung their hat on unjustifiable, irrational and illogical cognition in the handling of the virus in 2021. A palpable example would be football crowds in Tassie and WA. Both states had no community Covid-19 virus. The Tasmanian department restricted the Old Scholars football grand final crowd to 1900 and spectators were made to wear masks. WA, on the other hand, which had crowds in excess of 2000 had no restrictions. How did Tassie make that decision?

The reality is “you, me and everybody” will get this virus once the borders are open. I envisage it will be mandatory for everyone to wear masks.

It would be essential there be joint additional treatment available in conjunction with the available vaccines.

Even if Tassie achieve a 95 per cent double-dose target, the DOH have been negligent in their approach of a plan implemented to the public out of 2022. In 2020 an Australian proposed a low cost and effective triple therapy virus treatment. His therapy combines

Ivermectin with zinc and the antibiotic Doxycycline to kill the virus in its early stages. But despite the drug’s proven safety record and positive results on Covid-19, the government in Australia and the US do not have a curative plan. It’s all about lockdowns and vaccines.

Also, an Australian has produced a low cost 15-minute home Covid test kit, due to legislative reasons it’s not available for distribution in Australia. He sells them to an appreciative American market. Does the DOH have a plan? If they do, it would be considerate of them to advise us.

PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT

Les Young Austins Ferry

THE Liberal government has not had the decency to let the Tasmanian public know about the poor quarantine regulation, after a 15-year-old boy was allowed back in Tasmania with what I believe was the Delta strain of the virus. I hope there is no kind of cover up by the Government, because we haven’t heard what punishment or fine or if anything will be issued. This family and family members should have known better, the Health Minister does not seem to want the people to know what punishment, if any, is handed out. If no punishment is issued by the government, then this opens the door for other inconsiderate people to do the same, if you don’t deter people, they will keep breaking the rules.

I have talked to a lot of people about this, and the majority believe there is some sort of cover up. Let the public of Tasmania know that there will be a deterrent to others, who break Covid rules, stop all these secret acts by the government, we have a right (the public), same as you. Do not be like the Premier with his hidden reports.

Brian Ayers

Warrane