Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[N860CR]

And do you think we will be let of jail to visit the temples of Angkor Wat, maybe wander around the Louvre, sit on a beach in Hawaii anytime in 2022?

I'm not so sure. 2023 yes, 2022 maybe, hopefully, pretty please with sugar on top Mr Prime Minister.

Who knows. But I'd like to think that, come say October/November and we are seeing virtually zero deaths in the young and vaccinated, public opinion will shift very quickly (especially if states are still locking down)

So why is Iceland then (at 86% of population vaccinated) having such issues with Delta curently? It's never all over..it just changes the goalposts and we play again.

Fact Check-COVID-19 cases in Iceland are not proof that vaccines are ineffective

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

That's what I was referring to.

Actually refreshing to see a review consider where things may have gone wrong, and show some learnings. Compare that to the outbreaks of amnesia and finger-pointing that happens in other states.

The transcripts will appear here eventually

NSW Government’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic

www.parliament.nsw.gov.au

 

[Princess Fiona]

So why is Iceland then (at 86% of population vaccinated) having such issues with Delta curently? It's never all over..it just changes the goalposts and we play again.

Iceland is actually doing ok. I have posted this previously but despite the rising cases they have only something like 20 people in hospital.

The vaccines don’t fully stop transmission but they stop you getting sick enough to be in hospital and they certainly stop you dying.
We need to start moving towards this kind of mentality here in Australia.

Covid isn’t going away, it’s going to become more and more prevalent but if we are vaccinated that is what moves the goal posts.

 

[Anna]

Covid isn’t going away

I just want lockdowns to go away

 

[Pushka]

I just want lockdowns to go away

No fear of Covid. Full on fear of lockdowns.

 

[serfty]

So why is Iceland then (at 86% of population vaccinated) having such issues with Delta curently? It's never all over..it just changes the goalposts and we play again.

As @Princess Fiona indicated - is not having 'such issues' relatively speaking.

Often you need to go past the headline and look at the content.

See here:

...
The big difference, however, is in the severity of the symptoms.

Previous outbreaks of non-Delta variants among much lower vaccination rates claimed 29 Icelandic lives. The latest outbreak – despite its size – has so far claimed none. ...

General COVID-19 Vaccine Discussion

Iceland is experiencing its worst Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. That’s despite near-total vaccination levels. And what Delta’s doing there may now be a sign of things to come for Australia. The issue seems to be that once vaccination rates are high enough that all precautions seem to be chucked...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[tgh]

There is no end game visible, we play the cards we are dealt and make the best of our situation.
Covid has evolved very rapidly but substantial vaccination may truncate continuing evolution.
We are understandably immersed in our own back yard but whole of world vaccination is needed urgently.

 

[Saab34]

Will Gladys do anything different once 1000 arrives?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Will Gladys do anything different once 1000 arrives?

No

 

[nutwood]

No fear of Covid. Full on fear of lockdowns.

This is just so true. Our business revolves around industrial sites. Nasty dangerous places where getting stuff wrong kills people. Not two weeks later in hospital but immediately and messily. Hazops and risk assessments are normal tools. Covid is a risk, just like electrocution or being flattened by a large machine. Covid can be assessed and mitigative controls introduced but there's nothing that can be done to defend against political reactions, apart from shutting down all activity.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

One clear thing about today's NSW parliamentary committee is that the NSW CHO indicated that there won't be a recommendation from NSW Public Health to relax restrictions before 70% vaccinated (not sure 1 or 2 dose).

from news.com.au reporting

Dr Chant said that in her opinion, the state needs to have at least 70 per cent of its population vaccinated against Covid-19 before authorities can even begin having a “discussion” of easing restrictions.

Her comment came in response to a question about modelling prepared for national cabinet by the Doherty Institute.

“I can’t speak for the Premier, but certainly I’m very committed to the issues around getting our vaccine coverage up, but very much recognize that we need that 70 per cent before we have too much of a discussion about what easing restrictions look like,” Dr Chant said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has previously said that “additional options as to what life looks like” would become available after the state has ensured at least half the population has had their shot.

Dr Chant said it appeared to her Ms Berejiklian had “very much understood” the Doherty Institute modelling and that the state’s focus was on driving community cases down.

“But obviously I acknowledge the government balances, you know, as (Mr Hazzard) has said, mental health – you know there are other health risks, and I think there is the role for government to balance those range broad range of risks.”

Mr Hazzard said the discussion about easing restrictions at a 50 per cent vaccination rate was about trying to give a “sense of hope to the community”.

“I think it's fair to say that the Premier is trying to give a sense of hope to the community and trying to drive up, also, vaccinations because once we get to that point of about 50 per cent, what we’re thinking is that we can ease back on some, some restrictions,” he said.

“But we really just need to know a lot more, we’re taking advice obviously from the entire public health team on that, so I think that the Doherty one is the crucial one obviously.”

Decision to lock down Sydney revealed

NSW’s top health official has revealed her team underestimated the spread of coronavirus in western Sydney in the days before the city locked down.

www.news.com.au

 

[nutwood]

I was fascinated to read that NSW police have stopped "over 400 vehicles in the State's north..". There would have to be at least 4 million cars in NSW. I'm not exactly sure how many of these are moving about in the north but 0.01% of the total pool doesn't sound convincing. I would have thought serious enforcement would be close to five digit numbers at the barest minimum.

 

[jakeseven7]

Actually refreshing to see a review consider where things may have gone wrong, and show some learnings.

Yes NSW Health has come a long way from the denials about the boat that cannot be named!

 

[jb747]

I was fascinated to read that NSW police have stopped "over 400 vehicles in the State's north..".

Presumably they have exactly the same number plate reading technology that is in use in Victoria. They can very readily differentiate between vehicles that should be there, or those that are interlopers.

 

[jakeseven7]

I just want lockdowns to go away

Get every single person you know vaccinated, be that person

 

[nutwood]

Presumably they have exactly the same number plate reading technology that is in use in Victoria. They can very readily differentiate between vehicles that should be there, or those that are interlopers.

That would explain their success in preventing people from Sydney to party in Newcastle, or investigate real estate in Byron?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well Caroline Springs is remaining the main region of concern. Not so much from the number of cases, but more the concern that the cases are such that there could easily have been more possible transmission to unknown contacts at the shopping centre in particular, but also at other sites, who may not know that they have been infected. As opposed to say the schools which have large number of contacts, but they are all known and by now are all quarantining.

Testing had been low from the region as in people voluntarily presenting for testing and so there was a blitz on today in the region to encourage more people to get tested. This included creating more local testing sites.




The Square Shopping Centre has just been made a Tier 1 with the result that any staff member on site from 12.00am 2nd August to 11.59pm on 5th August (four whole days) must now get tested and quarantine for 14 days regardless of result.

 

[andye]

I don't think you can base a system on fallible humans keeping 100% compliance with doing the right thing.
I have encountered two cases this week where the covid isolation status of individuals was deliberately withheld, both times resulting in people being unnecessarily exposed and needing to isolate

So: Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate

I tend to agree with the Doherty modelling that 80% is the target where the number of expected deaths (and life-ruining prolonged ICU admissions) is close to tolerable (in the Australian context) for full reopening. Meanwhile, lots of restrictions (yes I am irritated at having to wear PPE on ward rounds but am lucky to have a job to go to) and gradually reducing lockdowns as rate gets over 70%. I have lots of family overseas but am not expecting to be allowed to visit them until the 80% threshhold is reached

I hope that we are not in the position where 80% is unachievable due to refusal as borders will have to reopen at some point and the serious illness and death of misguided individuals is still tragic. I must say I am optimistic that people will step up

PS: was proud of my 21 year old eldest getting Astra this week

 

[Must...Fly!]

No fear of Covid. Full on fear of lockdowns.

This, this and so much of this. Actually this afternoon I felt rather overwhelmed with almost everything being outside our control and being told what to do constantly, and had to focus on not letting the emotion take over. It's starting to build around the community I feel.

Governments who haven't invested in the necessary healthcare systems and resources to manage COVID long term have let us down. They are the reason that we are still demanding zero COVID. They are the reason many in the community are scared of an illness that is not going to leave us. And they are the reason why Australia will fall further and further behind the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, we build pointless quarantine facilities for billions.

 

[Pushka]

This, this and so much of this. Actually this afternoon I felt rather overwhelmed with almost everything being outside our control and being told what to do constantly, and had to focus on not letting the emotion take over. It's starting to build around the community I feel.

Governments who haven't invested in the necessary healthcare systems and resources to manage COVID long term have let us down. They are the reason that we are still demanding zero COVID. They are the reason many in the community are scared of an illness that is not going to leave us. And they are the reason why Australia will fall further and further behind the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, we build pointless quarantine facilities for billions.

It has been a bad day all round. Hopefully tomorrow will be better but part of the 'bad' of today is the reality it won't be and we aren't prepared physically in terms of vaccination availability and mentally in terms of managing a non zero Covid world.