Dr Magdalena Simonis talked to Neos Kosmos for The Interview podcast. The GP has a significant career as a government health advisor. She is a Senior Honorary Research Fellow with Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence, at University of Melbourne and one of Australia’s leading women’s health experts.

Dr Simonis said that often poor communications by well-meaning bureaucrats had a negative effect on community communications.

“The CHO was dressed casually, talking to inner suburbs and forgot that for many older and multicultural communities, wearing a white coat shows seriousness and gravity.”

She also talked about conspiracy theories and how they undermined many in the Greek community during the height of the COVID pandemic.

She emphasised that COVID and the lockdowns, also generated heightened level of domestic violence, isolation, and confusion. Moreover, people neglected other underlying conditions such as diabetes.

 Dr Simonis said that long covid syndrome was more common in women but can impact on patients of all ages, with symptoms, that last for months.

Listen to the podcast.