Exposing a majority of Australians to COVID-19 is a “very dangerous strategy” because we still don’t know who will develop a severe reaction the disease, according to the University of NSW Professor Mary Louise McLaws.
According to The Australian Newspaper, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is investigating whether the strict social restrictions should be lifted slowly in order to expose more healthy people to the disease in the hope of developing herd immunity.
Herd immunity is where a large portion of a population becomes infected with a disease, but many recover and are then immune to it.
Some experts believe if the restrictions were lifted in a staggered fashion it would ensure Australia’s hospital system would not be overwhelmed.
However, Professor McLaws told Sky News the strategy is too risky to implement, and it would be “sensible” to continue the current social distancing policy until researchers learn more about the disease.
At present there are 5,997 cases of COVID-19, with 1087 people having recovered from the pathogen while 50 have died in Australia.
