Covid response: infectious disease experts lead from Canberra

Dr Coatsworth jokes Canberra's major drawcard was working with Dr Collignon and Dr Senanayake, so he's the least best placed to explain how three leading voices came to be based in the same place.

Dr Senanayake said Federal Parliament, the Legislative Assembly and leading universities made the "unusual place in Australia" attractive to specialists interested in policy.

"I think it's not uncommon that specialists in the hospital here in Canberra are drawn to and involved in federal matters," Dr Senanayake said.

While all three profess to excellent working relationships, Dr Coatsworth admits disagreements are far from uncommon.

"I've heard things that Peter has said and thought 'Peter, what are you saying that for?' And I'm sure it's been the same for him," he said.

"We don't need to share the same opinion all the time. But one of the crucial things about medical debate at the moment in Australia is that has to be respectful."

Professor Collignon said neither one of them always had the right answer, it was about being willing to say when a response should have been different.

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All three did agree the ACT got it right in regards to the mask mandate.

"It's all on the basis of what the risk is at the time," Professor Collignon said.

"If you've got almost no community transmission, or none as far as we're aware in Canberra, I can see why don't have to mandate masks indoors.

"But as soon as you've got any that's a different situation."

Despite there being being no cases of coronavirus in the ACT in more than 12 months, Dr Senanayake said infectious disease experts were far from relaxed.

"I'm definitely still concerned," Dr Senanayake said.

He said issues of non compliance in Sydney and an infected visitor visiting Goulburn had bought the virus too close for comfort.

"I think we have to be on high alert at the moment when there is a big Covid outbreak so close to us," he said. "Touch wood it won't reach us, but we have to be mindful of it and so do the public."

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