Covid-19 Protection

In this current coronavirus climate Clinical Nutritionist BROOKE BENSON CAMPBELL (BHSc Nut Med) shares her tips on how you can bolster your immune system while doing your bit to flatten the curve…

Flashback to 1918. The Spanish flu came into Australia via returning World War 1 soldiers. The precise source of first known infection — in Melbourne 1918 — was never discovered. However, once in Australia, the flu rapidly escaped a quarantine system whose efficacy relied on the honesty of ship medical officers and captains to volunteer past or present cases on board and the willingness of returned soldiers to self-report and voluntarily isolate themselves.

Now, flashforward to the returning Ruby Princess cruise ship that docked in Sydney on March 19, following an exemption made by the Australian government allowing them to disembark without testing or health monitoring. In this case, an email from the ship’s master on March 8 had stated there were “no ill passengers or crew on board” even though to date there have been over 160 cases of COVID-19 in returned passengers logged onboard. Also take into account those willingly self-isolating over the last few weeks on crowded beaches and in restaurants and bars.

In 1918 there were too few doctors and nurses to deal with the crisis. Health facilities were overrun. Schools were shut down at various times in various states. Individual states did their own thing as a national argument fell apart. There were shortages of food and essential goods. It was compulsory to wear a mask in the street. Places of entertainment such as theatres, cinemas and dance halls were closed, as were churches (sound familiar?). The Sydney Easter show was called off in 1919, as it has been for 2020.