I like news from the front-line of Covid, if I can put it that way. How our National Plan is playing out in…

I like news from the front-line of Covid, if I can put it that way. How our National Plan is playing out in everyday life. A short thread about a meeting. /1 #auspol #covid19aus

I was in a meeting with the senior managers of a large organisation today, discussing Covid. A few things really struck me: 1) the government's refusal to eliminate Covid in the community has just meant a flick-pass to business to eliminate it in their businesses instead. /2

2) Business is very unhappy about this, and the requirement to notify SafeWork Australia for any positive case is the economic equivalent of the Inquisition. (It's excellent that they have to, SW don't muck about, but SW are overwhelmed and unhappy too I suspect.) /3

3) You can see the power of slogans and spin listening to these meetings. When I suggested that the vaccines won't stop infections, they immediately said 'yes but it's like the flu, you'd expect people to become infected now, it's normal, this virus won't go away.' /4

No workplace can allow infection of staff with SARS-Cov-2. The national spin about 'we have to live with the virus' was never going to fly in workplaces. Business knows this, and are scared and angry, because it's up to them now to do what government won't - eliminate it. /5

Workplaces want vaccination to be their get out of jail card, their due diligence. It won't be enough, because WH&S runs on science, not bullshit. Maybe this is an own-goal, as the business lobby groups were strong proponents of opening up. Sowing, reaping etc. /end