SHINING A LIGHT ON CLAIMS
Greg Adamson recently submitted a critique on Prime Minister Scott Morrison's early handling of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Australia, as espoused in a Keith Wheeler opinion piece ("Dismal handling of pandemic", September 15).
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His opinion is that the initial handling of the pandemic was dismal.
My understanding is that Morrison actually handled the situation well initially by imposing strict international border measures aimed firstly at foreign nationals who had been in China and later extending it to other countries of high concern.
So successful, in fact, were these measures that eventually Australians were enjoying near normal lives while case numbers and death tolls skyrocketed around the globe.
Mr Adamson says initially "the virus wasn't all that contagious and the extreme UV light and high temperatures kept it at bay".
Firstly, may I submit that the virus was contagious enough to see some 121,000 cases in Europe by March 16, 2020, four days before Australian borders were closed to all non-residents.
Secondly, while sunlight does contain UV light it's mostly UVA and UVB light and these types of light are less effective at killing SARS-CoV-2.
Where he mentions "extreme UV light" one presumes he is referring to UVC light which has the most energy, but is mostly absorbed by the earth's ozone layer.
As to high temperatures keeping the virus at bay, it has been postulated by Professor Brian Oliver of UTS that we know the virus survives in the human body at normal body temperature of 37 degrees "so if its 37 or 40 degrees outside it would probably survive".
He goes on to say it would take temperatures in the order of 50 degrees to have an impact. That's pretty hot.
The World Health Organisation has also stated in a mythbusters advice that "You can catch COVID-19 no matter how sunny or hot the weather is".
Overall it would be a generous appraisal of his commentary to say that it is somewhat misleading.
Tony Smith, Kooringal
TIME'S UP FOR TITLE DEEDS
On October 11, 2021 certificates of title, which were previously known as title deeds, will be abolished in New South Wales.
We will also move to 100 per cent electronic lodgement of property dealings (electronic conveyancing).
This will create a faster and more secure system. It will also mean that property dealings outside Sydney will be registered just as quickly as capital city dealings.
Finally it means that if you're holding a certificate of title, it will be of no value after October 11.
If it's for your own property, you can keep it as a souvenir if you like. If you are holding a certificate to someone else's property as security, you need to get advice.
Rhys Bower, Wagga
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David Lauder, Wagga
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