The urgent search for Melbourne's missing link

05/25/21 • 11 min

What started with just four coronavirus cases in Melbourne a few days ago has now more than doubled, as close contacts are tracked down, isolated and tested.

While cases are being linked to each other, how they relate back to a hotel quarantine breach in South Australia is still unclear.

The other big challenge facing health authorities will be making sure every case is tracked down, but that's a job that gets harder with every new positive case.

So on today's Coronacast, what are we hoping for in the days ahead?

Also on today's show:

The TGA allows more flexibility for storing Pfizer vaccine

What information is there on how the vaccine works for people with blood disorders?

A few of your vaccination stories

What started with just four coronavirus cases in Melbourne a few days ago has now more than doubled, as close contacts are tracked down, isolated and tested.

While cases are being linked to each other, how they relate back to a hotel quarantine breach in South Australia is still unclear.

The other big challenge facing health authorities will be making sure every case is tracked down, but that's a job that gets harder with every new positive case.

So on today's Coronacast, what are we hoping for in the days ahead?

Also on today's show:

The TGA allows more flexibility for storing Pfizer vaccine

What information is there on how the vaccine works for people with blood disorders?

A few of your vaccination stories

Previous Episode

Melbourne's outbreak and the coming winds of winter

Several cases of community transmission of coronavirus have been detected in Melbourne, as authorities rush to identify exposure sites and close contacts.

While we brace for more cases, much is still unknown, such as where the virus came, its genomic information and how many missing links there might be.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says it's a concern as we head into the winter months, as people are more indoors where we know the virus is far more likely to spread.

Also on today's show:

More on the British vaccine and data that were discussed yesterday. It seems Astra might not be as effective as hoped, but could mixing it with a Pfizer booster shot make it better?

Next Episode

Australia's been caught with its pants down

It often takes a crisis to expose all the weak points in a system, and this week's coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne has done just that.

The whole thing started with yet another breach of hotel quarantine. Then there's the slowness of the vaccine rollout, which has left millions of eligible people exposed.

Add to that the state issues of lacklustre QR code usage, and a testing system that is groaning under huge demand.

With herculean efforts by contact tracers and a bit of luck, Victoria mightn't suffer too much damage. Or maybe the virus will get away. It's still too early to know.

But on today's Coronacast, did it have to be like this?

Also on today's show:

We had our 1st AstraZeneca shot a month ago. We have decided to have the 2nd dose in 8 weeks, rather than 12. What do you think? Also, is clotting risk present with the 2nd shot?

If I have AstraZeneca for doses 1 and 2, with both shots completed by August, could I have a Pfizer shot in December? Would this provide better protection or could it be harmful?

I received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine 10 days ago. Can you tell me if I'm less likely to catch COVID-19?