@powder All infections/epidemics/pandemics begin at the "micro-level' FYI since they ARE microscopic.
Also, Medical Experts ARE trained, etc, for ALL situations no matter what they are just as are nurses, Ambos, Paramedics, etc, etc.
Prior to this idiotic mania for Nurses to be taught in Universities BEFORE they can work with Human patients, nurses in the 70's and earlier had the 6 weeks in a Training School attached to the Hospital, then REST of the year in the Wards, etc, getting ACTUALLY hands on experience/s, then another 6 weeks in the Training school and so it was repeated for 3 whole years until you got your 3rd. and final stripe, then and only then did they become classed as Nursing Sisters qualified in General Nursing Duties.
After that the choices were yours as to whether or not you wanted to qualify/specialize in other fields such as Psychiatric, Paediatric, O.R., O.B.U., Mid-Wiferey, etc, etc.
Even the basic General Practitioner Doctor does his/her times as an Intern in Hospital/s AFTER studying for years in Universities, then and ONLY then can they too decide to choose IF they want to specialize or not.
And that also takes many years and countless hours of Experiences. It does NOT happen 'over night' FYI.
Now let us discuss the basic Protcols for Disease Outbreaks and Treatments shall we?
Protocol #1,
WHEN an Infectious disease is diagnosed/discovered, be it viral/bacterial or what ever,
Step #1, locate where possible the SOURCE, i.e. Patient Zero,
Step #2, Isolate and Quarantine Patient Zero if found PLUS any and ALL subsequent cases as soon as possible,
Step #3, set up, immediately ALL Aseptic and NON-Transference Measures including Specialized Nursing and Caring Procedures, Initiate and activate ALL Infectious Disease Protocols IMMEDIATELY, set up De-contamination facilities for ALL Medical Staff, ALL waste Medical or Human MUST be marked as being Bio-Hazardous Wastes, contained in Sealed and Specified containers, then transported and Incinerated, this includes Scrubs, Wound Dressings where applicable, etc, etc,
Step #4, ONLY Designated Staff may enter the Isolation/Quarantine Areas, STAFF MUST use A-septic techniques at ALL times when in and LEAVING such zones/areas,
Step #5, IF disease outbreak extends BEYOND the immediate Hospital/Community area, then initiate IMMEDIATE LY Protocols from Step #2 and through to ALL other Steps,
Step #6, Should Outbreak extend beyond IMMEDIATE area into the the General Population of a City/Town/State or Nation, ISOLATE and Quarantine the ENTIRE City/Town, etc, etc, as IMMEDIATELY as is Humanly possible,
Step#7, UNTIL there ARE NO further cases of Infection Protocols #2 through #6 MUST remain in place UNTIL a remedy/cure/ approved Vaccination, etc, IS found, approved and instigated.
These Protocols MUST BE strictly adhered to UNTIL the Medical Community and Medical Authorities DEEM they are No Longer needed.
So, I hope, as you can see these Protocols and Procedures, though they may be somewhat onerous, etc, to those on the streets or those fretting, etc, about limitations on their Personal Freedoms and Holdings elsewhere ARE designed to PROTECT the WHOLE Populace as best as is Humanly possible when fighting an almost Invisible Enemy.
And NO, C-19 is NOT Ebola but it IS still just as deadly so DO NOT treat it as mere Influenza Outbreak.

@powder A) For such measures as in Step#6, it unfortunately REQUIRES the Co-operation of ALL Governments and the Populace as well,
Sadly, we have seen these requirements either lacking or totally ignored, imo, from both sides as in Victoria with its outbreak not so long ago, and, with those, imo, totally selfish, self-centred IDIOTS who scream and moan about having their personal freedoms/liberties curtailed.
That, imo, ALSO includes those who moan about having/wanting to travel O/S to check on/sell their property/properties in other countries, etc, etc.
These Protocols are NOT designed solely for the protection of the Afflicted and Medical Staff, etc, etc, they ARE designed for the Protection of the Community/Communities at large BUT there are those who either CAN NOT encompass nor wish to encompass such things, imo, they SEE only themselves as being of Prime Importance and are, imo, quite happy to place everyone else at risk, INCLUDING themselves, just to satisfy their own delusions of self -Grandeur/Importance.
As to 'Isolating towns/communities,' well we here in Broken Hill did a quite great job with ONLY 2 reported cases in the last 12 months, both of which were only minor cases btw, and still none at all even though the Borders were, imo, Opened way too prematurely.
In such Epidemics/Pandemics as this and the Black Plagues earlier in history, society can function, but not as was normal, read up on the methods used with the Spanish Flu post WWI and the Black Plague in Europe please.
To protect workers AND everyone else REQUIRES/DEMANDS full co-operation of ALL not just the few.

@powder 1) Isolation Communities, towns, cities and the like do WORK BUT ONLY IF the Populace at large agrees to comply with those restrictions.
Something that, imo, SOME Victorians did not/refused to do as we have all seen quite plainly in their earlier outbreak AND the Genome tracing of the most recent one in N.S.W. which has shown that Patient Zero in this case actually came from Victoria.
As to it being "a political decision not based in science" exactly who and where do these advises come from?
As to YOU departing Australia to travel elsewhere O/S then, a) you MAY leave here C-19 fre, but you may also RETURN here either with C-19 and being symptomatic OR as an A-symptomatic Carrier.
You may ALSO become infected whilst O/S requiring hospitalization and treatments thus not ONLY placing yourself at risk but others as well.
I realise that you may have great experiences in Industrial Safety Procedures, etc, BUT try to understand that those Safety Procedures ARE vastly different to those required in times such as this Pandemic.

@powder Are you ACTUALY reading what I have written witn an OPEN mind or merely "cheery-picking" your way through it?
For example, Services such as Supermarkets ARE vital for keeping people SUPPLIED with necessities such as foodstuffs, etc, etc, or would it be preferable, in your opinion, to perhaps allow people to starve to death rather than die of C-19?
As to who can and who cannot travel outside of the country, is not this so-called 'Travel Bubble' that encompasses just Australia and N.Z. operating BECAUSE bot countries have achieve a 'reasonable' modicum of control over the pandemic.
Imo, IF these travel restriction are affecting you so badly then make application to do so and ACCEPT that the Onus WILL be shouldered SOLELY by yourself and Yourself alone including ALL costs, medical and otherwise INCLUDING the costs to ANYONE whom you infect upon your eventual return as well.

@powder I have NO idea how they are handling it in your area/s but here we have Strict Rules at Supermarkets, etc, etc.
I.e. limits on the number of customers permitted in store at any one time, customer spacing requirements at Check-outs, etc, limits on certain goods purchased, including Dunny paper of course, hand and trolley sanitising stations, etc, etc.
Plus for those who choose or elect to do so, a Click and Collect Scheme in play or Home Deliveries as may apply.
The infected, the ignorant, uncaring ones, will travel no matter restrictions, etc, are applied, that is the nature of the beasts unfortunately and sadly.
End of Discussion/debate imo.

You have to joking, it IS real, 100% REAL.