Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

*Recording now available - see link below*

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to lift across states and cases continuing to fall, Australia is being warned to remain vigilant to avoid a 'second wave'. But what really is a second wave? What can we do to avoid it and what can previous epidemics tell us about our chances? Meanwhile this week, the World Health Assembly was held virtually for the first time. What is it and what did they decide?

Ask these questions and more by joining us for our new style of background briefing - ask an expert. There will be no specific presentations just an open forum in which you can have your questions directly answered by two experts.

How the session will run:

The session will be moderated and you will be able to submit your questions via the briefing platform throughout the event. All questions will be read out by a host. The briefing will be recorded and available following the event. If you can't attend live but still wish to submit questions please email them through to the AusSMC to be included.

Speakers:

• Professor Mary-Louise McLaws is a Professor of Epidemiology, Healthcare Infection and Infectious Diseases Control at the University of New South Wales and a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program Experts Advisory Panel for Infection Prevention and Control Preparedness, Readiness and Response to COVID-19
• Professor Peter Collignon is an infectious diseases physician and microbiologist at the Canberra Hospital. He is also a Professor at the Australian National University Medical School.

Briefing details:

Date: Wed 20 May 2020
Start Time: 11:15am AEST
Duration: 1 hour and 8 minutes
Venue: Online

This briefing was made possible with the assistance of the Google News Initiative.