Interview with epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws, the evidence for masks and an elimination strategy

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 the evidence and issues she sees in her work, including 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 her views on these issues as well as the emerging evidence from around the world 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 – a second wave – and the importance of making public health information accessible to people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Broadcast on 14 July 2020.