%0 Journal Article %A Inglis, Timothy J. J. %T Logic in the time of coronavirus %D 2020 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 69 %N 5 %P 653-656 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.001191 %K COVID-19 %K countermeasures %K principles of aetiology %K SARS-CoV-2 %K coronavirus %I Microbiology Society, %X Much has happened here since the local news media trumpeted the first Australian COVID-19 fatality, and stirred up a medieval fear of contagion. We now need to take a step back to examine the logic underlying the use of our limited COVID-19 countermeasures. Emerging infectious diseases by their nature, pose new challenges to the diagnostic-treatment-control nexus, and push our concepts of causality beyond the limits of the conventional Koch-Henle approach to aetiology. We need to use contemporary methods of assessing causality to ensure that clinical, laboratory and public health measures draw on a rational, evidence-based approach to argumentation. The purpose of any aetiological hypothesis is to derive actionable insights into this latest emerging infectious disease. This review is an introduction to a conversation with medical microbiologists, which will be supported by a moderated blog. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.001191