Federal politics; the evidence for face masks and a COVID-19 elimination strategy; how Penguin brought down Australia's censorship system

Uncommon Sense

Professor Mary-Louise McLaws is an epidemiologist at UNSW, and a member of the World Health Organisation’s Advisory Panel for Infection, Prevention and Control Preparedness and Response to COVID-19. Mary-Louise joins Amy for an in-depth look at how wearing a face mask inhibits the spread of the coronavirus. They also discuss the evidence and arguments for Victoria and Australia undertaking an elimination strategy as opposed to the current nationally-endorsed suppression strategy. Mary-Louise shares the emerging evidence that COVID-19 causes medium and potentially long-term chronic illness and disability in some people, including young, previously healthy adults. This conversation occurs in the context of Victoria’s current increase in COVID-19 cases – the second wave. Historian and author Patrick Mullins returns to the show to chat about his new book, The Trials of Portnoy: how Penguin brought down Australia’s censorship system. Plus Ben Eltham on the latest in federal politics.