Science commentator Dr Karl dispels the common 'lies' circulating about COVID-19 - and why 'eradicating' the deadly virus right now simply isn't possible
- Australian science commentator Karl Kruszelnicki has spoken about COVID-19
- He joined Fitzy and Wippa on Nova 96.9 to discuss common misconceptions
- Dr Karl said the coronavirus doesn't die at 30 degrees and requires soap
- He believes Australia may not have a vaccine for four years and needs to prepare
- In this instance we might be social distancing for far longer than first thought
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (pictured) spoke to Nova 96.9 hosts Fitzy and Wippa
One of Australia's leading science commentators has dispelled some of the 'lies' that have been circulating about the deadly coronavirus and put to bed rumours about how Australia will 'eradicate' the infectious disease.
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, who has degrees in medicine and biomedical engineering, spoke to Nova 96.9 hosts Fitzy and Wippa about the global pandemic on Wednesday, saying that there are rumours circulating about the proposed vaccine and how to kill the virus that are wrong.
As Australia begins to reemerge from a two month lockdown and focus on growing its economic activity, Dr Karl cautions against thinking that social distancing will no longer apply, because this is a long-term race against an unruly disease.
'THE VIRUS DIES AT TEMPERATURES OVER 30C'
'If it dies in temperatures over 30C, the inside of your body is at temperatures over 30C, so that is what we call a lie,' Dr Karl told the radio hosts.
Some individuals were suggesting that drinking something hot could 'protect' them, and there was also theories around summertime heat ridding the body of the virus.
'That was a lie to try and pick up who is really gullible. To kill the virus, you take it up to 92C for 15 minutes or you kill it with soap,' he said.
'With this virus we are so lucky because the coronavirus has a layer around it which is disrupted by alcohol and soap. That story about the virus dying over temperatures of 30C is a lie, it's 90C.'
'If it dies in temperatures over 30, the inside of your body is at temperatures over 30, so that is what we call a lie,' Dr Karl told the two radio hosts during the interview (Australians walking along Burleigh Heads foreshore)
'THE VACCINE WILL BE READY TO DISTRIBUTE IN 12-18 MONTHS'
As a timeline we are looking at anything from six months, which is 'really unlikely', to several years, Dr Karl said.
'As an example, three years ago they tried to come up with a vaccine against the AIDS virus. They succeeded in making a vaccine one-and-a-half years ago, they tested it for the remaining years and what they've got now is a vaccine that doesn't work so they have to start again,' he said.
'So in coming up with a vaccine against the coronavirus, you need to try many different ways and one of them will work.'
The reason it's hard to make a vaccine is because of the old law of Paracelsus; all drugs are poisons, what matters is the dose,' Dr Karl continued.
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As a timeline we are looking at anything from six months, which is 'really unlikely', to several years, Dr Karl said (A clinical staff member draws vaccine from a BCG vial in Perth, Australia)
This means scientists are hurriedly trying to come up with a vaccine that has virtually no side-effects or none.
There was a vaccine against SARS made, but as soon as scientists tested it they found it was causing problems for people, so it couldn't be released on the broader public.
Dr Karl is 'pretty sure' there will be a safe vaccine within four years, but 'really we want it within four months'.
'If we are lucky and we work hard I'm pretty sure we can get it within six months. Until then the only way to build up herd immunity is by people dying and to avoid people dying is by keeping people separate.
'But then the economy falls over, it's a complicated question.'
'THE DISEASE CAN BE ERADICATED IN AUSTRALIA NOW'
While there are many parts of the country who have developed no new cases in a number of weeks, that doesn't mean we can 'eradicate' it.
'The disease has many reservoirs. Think about smallpox, it has only one reservoir which is humans but the flu and coronavirus, they've got multiple reservoirs (like bats and for the flu, pigs),' Dr Karl said.
'So if the disease has multiple reservoirs you can't eradicate it, all you can do is come up with a vaccine and with the vaccine it depends on how quickly the virus mutates.'
While there are many parts of the country who have developed no new cases in a number of weeks, that doesn't mean we can 'eradicate' it (A woman sitting with her mask at the Opera House)
While there have been conflicting reports about when pubs, sporting clubs and concerts will be reinstated, Dr Karl believes it's going to be a lengthy journey before anything returns to 'normal'
'AUSTRALIA WILL HAVE SPORTING EVENTS AND CONCERTS SOON'
While there have been conflicting reports about when pubs, sporting clubs and concerts will be reinstated, Dr Karl believes it's going to be a lengthy journey before anything returns to 'normal'.
'Social contact will be changed until we get a vaccine. We are looking at a situation where herd immunity is going to be somewhere around 50 to 60 per cent of the population and to get there without a vaccine means to infect the population,' Dr Karl said.
When it comes to music festivals, things are going to be very different the next time you're moshing in front of a stage.
'Provided everybody says 1.5 metres apart and doesn't touch anybody...' he said, doubting that they would resume soon.
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