With healthcare workers across the country being asked to risk their lives to contain COVID-19, Australian Doctor’s editor calls on the Federal Government to explain how bad the shortage of protective equipment really is.

In times of crisis — personal or global — your best approach is to look at the world as it really is.

The official response to the growing alarm over inadequate protection from the virus being provided to healthcare workers seems to be some mumbles about the unavoidable shortages, some shoulder shrugging that it’s not easily fixed and an unstated expectation that everyone just has to do the best they can.

With the trajectory of the virus in Australia so far, the epidemiology suggests a surge in community transmission is coming very soon, if it’s not already happening.