Just when all the voices merged together and the noise level mushroomed past 10, there was a clear, calm voice and, temporarily, order was restored.
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Well, for a few hours last night anyway.
Happily that voice came not from politicians or shouty journalists but rather from scientists - the Doherty Institute, specifically.
The institute's website tells us it is officially called The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity. It is a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The federal government has used its modelling to inform Australia's pathway out of the pandemic, and to determine when lockdown restrictions should be eased in line with the nation's vaccination rate.
In plain and easily digestible language it offered pandemic rationale that politicians have struggled to deliver - with any sense of authority anyway.
You can read the full statement here but if that's a stretch how about these two paragraphs - one from the top of the statement, the other from the tail:
"There is light at the end of the tunnel - once we achieve 70%-80% vaccination we will see less transmission of COVID-19 and fewer people with severe illness, and therefore fewer hospitalisations and deaths. COVID-19 won't go away but it will be easier to control in the future."
And: "We are moving towards better control of COVID-19 and a more stable future. We encourage everyone to stay vigilant, get vaccinated if you are eligible and take care of each other as we transition to living with COVID-19."
Of course, that moment of stillness did not last long. Today Greens leader Adam Bandt wrote to Prime Minister Scott Morrison requesting national cabinet includes the whole population in reopening targets. It's an argument many have floated in recent days.
Mr Bandt said the exclusion of under-16s meant the target could be met when 65 per cent of the entire population was vaccinated.
While the government expects advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation on vaccinations for children aged 12 to 15 to drop on Friday, there's good news for Victorians aged over 16: the 16 to 39-year-olds will be able to book to receive the Pfizer jab at one of the state's 55 hubs from 7am tomorrow.
Not so much joy for the national disability sector though as just over 26% of 265,000-plus NDIS participants aged 16 or older have been double-dosed. These stats come as the virus spreads into disability sectors in Canberra and Newcastle and Pfizer vaccinations open up to children with disability as young as 12.
"We've still got a way to go, but we are picking up the pace very rapidly," Senator Reynolds said today.
Let's return to the Doherty Institute for some reassurance. A team of modellers is "working through issues specific to the states and territories, specific populations, and high risk settings" last night's statement read.
Essentially, the scientists have our back. Phew.
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