Leading epidemiologist Catherine Bennett is perplexed by Mark McGowan’s comments this week that there isn’t yet enough data to produce the state’s Omicron modeling.
Mr McGowan said “there is no valid modeling at this moment in time” after dismissing infectious diseases specialist George Milne’s independent modeling.
He explained, “Omicron has only been around since late November.” “We don’t give out incomplete information since it’s useless.” Professor Bennett was taken aback by the remarks.
“We’ve got millions of Omicron instances around the world, and we can see how it’s changed over time,” she explained.
“You won’t get any more data once a wave turns, as it has seven times [across other Australian states and territories], since that’s seven relevant examples, and you can figure out what’s significant to Western Australia.”
“I’m not sure why they say they don’t have enough data.” Mark Duncan-Smith, President of the Australian Medical Association in Western Australia, agreed.
“South Australia’s Premier hailed Omicron modeling as ‘alarmingly accurate,'” he said.
