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University of Queensland is working on trials with an anti-Malaria and HIV drug cocktail. https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2020/03/researchers-set-begin-clinical-trials-coronavirus-cure Reports also down here that those on Micardis HCT hypertension meds may be showing early immunity to Covid 19. We have an implied advantage here, in that it's still quite warm weather and the Virus is overwhelmingly mild in the vast majority of cases. With most Nations quarantined from each other now, it's an ideal time for Medical teams everywhere to explore different pathways to arrive at a vaccine for this bug.

Yes, about 70 tonne combo Jeff... They only tow Heavies, not cars so they have a variety of Rigs, this was just the closest to me at the time. I was in a little 8.5 max with only two of the 8 pallet spaces filled, so about 6t all up. The ride with me on the back was smooth as butter, he said he could hardly feel the difference! Trouble again yesterday, Hydraulic leak from the right of the Tailgate, which dropped down on that side and because it was no longer symmetrical, popped the manual lock and lowered 15 degrees in transit. Very scary as I didn't have the camera on at the time and had no idea... I swear this Truck is jinxed. On a positive note though, no-one wanted to shake my hand! S

Homophobic Signifiers? That reminds me, I need to get some Mince... Meanwhile, look what came up next on my YouTube feed... "Rapture" Well, it's not quite end of days just yet. S

Well yes I realised this Steve, but often sarcasm on the Internet is much like having a Virus but not showing any symptoms... Sometimes hard to detect. This fellow is a TV anchor and Entertainment Reporter here in Australia... it's suspected that he got the virus from Tom Hanks or Rita Wilson, but is asymptomatic. He's having "a crisis" apparently, while otherwise feeling well and stuck inside his lavish home with a guaranteed job to return to. Give me a break. People are already losing their jobs and Businesses from this. There are Individuals with genuinely debilitating illnesses puking their guts up after Chemo or experiencing excruciating pain as a part of their daily existence. People like this Individual with mild or no symptoms need to be out in the Community contributing to Herd Immunity. Other than a Vaccine, it's the only way we'll be rid of this Virus in the foreseeable future.

I say... Top shelf, Old Bean!

Ah, yeah they would... UK Tourist defies quarantine S

Magnificent! What a pity those doors don't open downwards to highlight that lovely weathering. S

Total confirmed cases in Australia as at 18/3/20 is 568. Of this, currently 6 deaths recorded; all in their 70's or older, and 3 of these from the one Aged Care Facility. So at this point, just a little over 1% mortality rate. However this fails to account for the apparently increasing numbers of asymptomatic cases already at large in the community. One of the deaths was an elderly Woman whose daughter returned from the United states and transmitted the Virus to her without ever showing any symptoms herself.

It's funny you should mention that Martin... As Animal to Human pathogens go, Covid-19 is quite benign. You don't want to contract Lisser Virus or Hendra Virus, usually carried by Bats and Flying Foxes. Hendra Virus... Bat carries the Virus, and poops on the ground while flying over. Horse eats the grass, becomes sick very quickly and is tended to by Owner or Vet. Human comes into contact with mucus or saliva from the Horse, and if contracted Human dies a horrible death in 70% of cases. Can also be contracted by Dogs. It is the very literal definition of 'Bat Sh*t Crazy'. If your Dog is frothing at the mouth in Australia, it's probably not Rabies, but Hendra Virus.

I understand your predicament Harv... My Mum is in the same boat. She's 83, a Cancer survivor with type 2 Diabetes, but still the Secretary for a local Senior Citizens group in the regional town she lives in. Every Friday, they organise a lunch for other Seniors who aren't mobile much anymore or seldom get out of the house. Every week they get 150 - 200 people in, and along with the social interaction they know that they'll at least get one good meal for some who are on the Pension and money is tight. They use a Council Hall, and they've just been advised that the facilities are going to be shut down indefinitely. For some, Meals on Wheels will take up some of the slack, but others may be forced to go out into the Community at a point in time where they should be isolating themselves. It's much easier for an organisation to manage health protocols at the front door, than having to interact with randoms who should be in isolation but "just popped down to the shops 'coz I ran out of milk". Likewise, when they start to shut the schools, for many people who work the only avenue to have school age children looked after is to have the Grandparents sit with them. It's coming into Winter here soon, and everyone from the violently ill right down to someone with the sniffles is going to be at the Doctor thinking they've got Covid-19 and wanting to be tested. At least for us in the Southern Hemisphere, I say get it out of the way now while we can.

My commiserations Hubert... All jokes aside, I fear this will drag on for months. There are an increasing number of cases being detected amongst people who are otherwise well and not showing any symptoms. There is a high probability that an individual can serve a 14 to 28 period of self-isolation, and still become infected in a month's time by someone who is asymptomatic. We could be self-isolating for months under these conditions. I am increasingly of the opinion that we should all just push through and continue with life as normal. The majority of confirmed cases seem to have a mild illness or none at all. By all means, quarantine the Elderly and Infirm, and allocate resources to their care and wellbeing, and reserve the ICU beds and facilities for those who are actually in need of them. S

This is nifty and all, but... What exactly is the advantage of laying down a squiggly patch of composite material, flattening it with a metal ruler and buffing it with a Dremel; over say just using stock plastic card?

Aussie humour... A bloke at work says yesterday, "I remember when people in the Lift would cough to cover up a fart... Now it's the other way 'round"!

Happy Birthday Phil... Enjoy that Bimmer Harv is going to get you! S

We just had a bizarre interview here on the ABC public TV channel... You might have heard, the Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is in Hospital with Covid 19 (all Queenslanders confirmed as having the Virus must serve their 14 day quarantine in Hospital). On March 7th he was in Washington DC, and subsequently returned to Au. Then on Tuesday 10th March he was present at a Government Cabinet meeting held in Sydney. After Dutton was confirmed with Covid 19, images appeared showing the Sydney Cabinet offices being fumigated, and of the Aircraft he had travelled on being cleaned. Implications were made during this ABC interview that Dutton was the reason. One of the Journalist even refused to shake the hand of another Minister who was being interviewed and was at the meeting. Dutton has been confirmed by the Queensland Health department that he contracted the Virus on Wednesday the 11th here in Australia. After the Sydney meeting. After being in the USA. A little research by the Journalists involved would have highlighted this. The guy who refused to shake hands is probably more likely to contract the Virus from the Makeup Lady breathing on him for 15 minutes. Just wash your hands people. Hand sanitiser kills Viruses; if only it cured stupid as well.

Some info for Gaz and any other Briswegians looking in... My tip is that the PX May IPMS show in Albany Creek will cancel. At only 8 weeks away it's too close to this current ban of hosting crowds over 500 people for it to proceed. With the Melbourne Expo in mid-June now also cancelled, it's probably a wait-and-see for our big show in August. It's five months into the future, on the other side of our Winter, and at this point we don't know where the Country will be on the Covid 19 infection bell curve.

Here you go Jeff... It was a tricky hook-up, as my Truck for today had a tail-lift fitted. From the camera. Didn't get that many shots of the back. I was mostly snooping around the front of the cab.

... plus Murphy's Law Equals no coolant. Blown gasket or Turbo Hose or somesuch. But I got to ride in a Truck my Father-in-Law helped build. So silver lining and all... Hope your day is going better than mine. S

Yes. But McLaren weren't. The Victorian Premier says there won't be any spectators allowed if it does go ahead. FIA sources are telling News agencies that the race is going to be cancelled. Meanwhile, fans are lining up at the gates as I write this. A guy from my work has arranged his Honeymoon around the GP... Wonder what he'll be doing today? Hmmm...

Longer than a few weeks. The incubation period is considered to be two weeks, but may be three or even more in some cases. A member of the McLaren Formula 1 team has now tested positive in Melbourne. According to the guidelines the whole team may be quarantined here in Australia for two weeks. If they do back-tracing and find he/she has been in contact with members from other teams, the same may apply to them. I feel the problems are all about to compound very quickly now.

The Australian Government declared a pandemic on the 27th of February, a fortnight before the WHO. Might I add, to much sabre rattling by the Chinese authorities, who complained long and hard about Students being denied access to Australian Universities. https://7news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/7news.com.au/travel/coronavirus/coronavirus-pandemic-inevitable-says-scott-morrison-c-719483.amp?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15840383121733&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From %1%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2F7news.com.au%2Ftravel%2Fcoronavirus%2Fcoronavirus-pandemic-inevitable-says-scott-morrison-c-719483 This is now largely a moot point, as the Universities are themselves starting to close here. The Company I work for finally implemented a Covid 19 plan yesterday. I first raised the question a week ago when I started showing symptoms, to be told "We're waiting for the Sydney branch to make a decision." I self-isolated until cleared; but once again, how many aren't going to because of the consequences of having no income?

This is pertinent, but unfortunately Scientists don't make public policy. I'm not entirely sure the scientists are at consensus yet either. Depending on the source; the Covid 19 is either transmissible by instantaneous contact, or from continuous close contact for 15 minutes or 2 hours in a confined space. This understandably leads to confusion, compounded by Media hype. 27 cases now in Queensland, with 3,000 in self isolation.