The global spread of COVID-19 is hardly the first pandemic the
species has faced. Probably the best known is the Black Death that
spread through Europe, Asia and northern Africa in the 1300s. The
chief measures to combat it were the same being taken now:
quarantine and social isolation.
The current COVID-19 prevention measures have been enacted into
law, under the
Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement)
Order 2020. This was signed off on by NSW health minister Brad
Hazzard at 10.20 pm on 30 March, while most of us were
contemplating sleep.
The order contains two prohibitions now enforceable by NSW
police. The first entails not being allowed outdoors with more than
one other person outside of your immediate household. The second is
a ban on being out in public without a reasonable excuse.
