Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[N860CR]

I think we should all be concerned about the infringement on personal freedom during the pandemic. We'd have to be kidding ourselves if we think this will all disappear in a couple of months. I support restrictions when it is justified, but over stepping the mark without any checks and balances is troubling. Surely parliament should have to debate these rules at a minimum. Even Dr Chant said the curfew was not health advice.

Well fortunately, we live in a democracy. If you’re not happy with the government, it’s your right to stand up, protest and have your voice heard.

oh…. Wait.

 

[moa999]

Well the Police Commissioner said that the curfew is required because people are not following orders and just go out at night for parties .... lots of infringement notices. So yes it is progressive but it is people who are not doing the right thing that causes this. I don't blame them.

If people are having a party/gathering (already illegal) then I don't think a curfew is going to stop them, it just gives the police another thing to charge them with.

It might help in enforcement by getting a few cars off the road, but you've still got to have enough police to actually enforce it.
And there will be an awful lot of authorised shift workers with legitimate reasons to travel after curfew.
And very difficult to tell whether they are heading home, or to a friend's place for a post-work gathering.

It's worth trying, but I can't see it making much of a difference unfortunately.

I think the main reason is to deflect any criticism that NSW lockdown isn't as harsh as Vic's.

 

[dajop]

To bring some levity to an all too depressing thread, maybe Victoria could achieve the same effect as curfews and restrictions by doing some cloud seeding at this time of the year if there's a forecast of a sunny day

It seems that typical Melbourne winter weather is a very compelling reason to stay at home, but if the sun shines for a day, that brings everyone out.

 

[OATEK]

NSW just announced curfew and masks outdoors.

I can hear Dan screaming “I told you so” 800km away.

But only in LGAs of concern not whole city.

 

[Must...Fly!]

To bring some levity to an all too depressing thread, maybe Victoria could achieve the same effect as curfews and restrictions by doing some cloud seeding at this time of the year if there's a forecast of a sunny day

It seems that typical Melbourne winter weather is a very compelling reason to stay at home, but if the sun shines for a day, that brings everyone out.

Mr Burns tried that one...

 

[Pete98765432]

But only in LGAs of concern not whole city.

Sure, the curfew is only those LGAs, but outdoor masks will be mandatory throughout the whole state.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

To bring some levity to an all too depressing thread, maybe Victoria could achieve the same effect as curfews and restrictions by doing some cloud seeding at this time of the year if there's a forecast of a sunny day

Well given the sun sets at 5.49 PM in Melbourne today I am not sure a sunny day is relevant to a curfew

 

[OATEK]

Sure, the curfew is only those LGAs, but outdoor masks will be mandatory throughout the whole state.

Unless exercising.

 

[justinbrett]

Sure, the curfew is only those LGAs, but outdoor masks will be mandatory throughout the whole state.

It's a very minor measure when the state is in lockdown and you don't have to wear them when exercising.

Pretty much just means you have to put them on when you leave your car instead of when you walk into the building, an extra minute or so.

 

[N860CR]

It seems that typical Melbourne winter weather is a very compelling reason to stay at home, but if the sun shines for a day, that brings everyone out.

Except we’re told it’s better in summer as people are out more

 

[Pete98765432]

Unless exercising.

Unless strenuously exercising

Our concern is that when people are walking past a group of people or accidentally bumping into people that, that can cause that fleeting contact that can cause transmission, and even when you’re exercising, you need to have the mask unless you’re doing some strenuous exercise.

 

[OATEK]

Unless strenuously exercising

Mate, at 70 yo any exercise is strenuous, even just getting out of a chair.

 

[N860CR]

It's a very minor measure when the state is in lockdown and you don't have to wear them when exercising.

Pretty much just means you have to put them on when you leave your car instead of when you walk into the building, an extra minute or so.

The problem is, it’ll send the local “neighborhood watch” to next level crazy. Even now the local community Facebook groups are full of people ranting about wearing masks outdoors, we’ll now have people in parks harassing each other because they didn’t think somebody is exercising hard enough. I even had some crazy kick the dog mid last year because I wasn’t jogging fast enough . I have no issues with masks, but they are largely symbolic (especially outdoors) and do enrage certain people.

 

[justinbrett]

Unless strenuously exercising

No, word is exercising. "Mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising" (actual wording has already been released)

You have to take your mask with you regardless - hence "have the mask", not "wear the mask".

This was clear if you actually watched the press conference.

New protections and compliance rules to carry NSW through to vaccination targets

In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September, and introduce new rules targeting the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging.

www.nsw.gov.au

I'm not sure if you deliberately cropped that quote for misinformation, if you did, that's not cool.

From Monday midnight [12.01am Monday, 23 August] unless you are exercising, masks should be worn outdoors everywhere across NSW. Our concern is when people are walking past a group of people or accidentally bump into people that can cause fleeting contact and transmission.

“Even when you are exercising you need to have a mask with you in case you are doing some strenuous exercise and you happen to come into contact with anybody else, the mask needs to be put on your face,” said Premier Berejiklian.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The fact that government can present a blunt instrument of enforcement which

a) Was not requested by the people responsible for health
b) Can not be evidenced to actually reduce case numbers
c) Does not have confidence of government to reduce case numbers
d) Is not consulted or debated through any democratic process

Should concern absolutely everyone. And I am not singling out NSW here, but VIC as well.

The fact that on top of all the restrictions and liberties we have had removed over the past 18 months by all levels of government has now fallen to the low of general curfews should scare everyone.

Fact is it is now on a slope of becoming a normalised response, so the next outbreak in QLD, or SA - don't be surprised to see a curfew introduced as well - "because Sydney and Melbourne have"

I think you're right that we need to consider the restrictions and the impact on freedoms or liberties. Whether or not people are 'concerned' depends how they view the restrictions in context.

The restrictions are clearly linked to a health emergency. If this was pre-covid and the restrictions were announced with no reason, of course people would be concerned. But that's not the case here.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

But only in LGAs of concern not whole city.

No, masks is now all of NSW (except exercising)

Lockdown extended, curfew introduced as NSW records 644 COVID cases and four deaths

Greater Sydney's lockdown is extended until the end of September and a curfew is introduced in several local government areas as NSW records 644 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Jacinta as well.

Her claim really unfounded as their community case came 2 months after closing border to NSW. So clearly a breach of their border controls somewhere. NSW doesnt determine who can travel to NZ, Jacinda does. Infected Sydneysiders cant just pop over to NZ on a whim.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

No jurisdiction can get to "covid normal" (living with covid) by vaccinating alone.

WA and Tas may be able to do it with only border restrictions. But with months to go, to not have one leakage whether that be from current community cases, or new HQ leakages, would be improbable except for Tas and even in with Tas essential workers are still coming in and out.

Everywhere else will need varying levels of local restrictions till then and these may go up and down. I would be very surprised if cases did not pop up in Qld before then.

 

[N860CR]

The restrictions are clearly linked to a health emergency. If this was pre-covid and the restrictions were announced with no reason, of course people would be concerned. But that's not the case here.

Just because it’s a “health emergency” doesn’t mean government can do whatever it wants. This “emergency” is simply not resulting in fatalities outside of those who have elected not to be vaccinated. The measures being taken do not reflect the risk.

The latest deaths are quite telling. More and more people in the vulnerable age groups who have “had one dose”. Why one? Because they didn’t pull their finger out when they were eligible and elected to wait until they saw a risk.

 

[justinbrett]

No jurisdiction can get to "covid normal" (living with covid) by vaccinating alone.

WA and Tas may be able to do it with only border restrictions. But with months to go, to not have one leakage whether that be from current community cases, or new HQ leakages, would be improbable except for Tas and even in with Tas essential workers are still coming in and out.

Everywhere else will need varying levels of local restrictions till then and these may go up and down. I would be very surprised if cases did not pop up in Qld before then.

Depends what you mean by covid normal. Covid Zero, no, you can't do that by just vaccination.

And I think a lot of people are using the "we're not there yet" excuse against relying on vaccination. Nobody is saying open the gates now. But once we get to 80% double jabbed, there will be cases if/when we open up. Tens of thousands of cases daily. You can't contact trace or close borders with that level of spread. But mostly asymptomatic cases, very few hospitalisations and rare deaths - like flu.

So the argument is do you stay locked down until 90% or even more, or accept that at 80% the deaths are acceptable.

I think too many people got too used to Fortress Australia. It has months of life left, absolutely foolish to think we can continue with this in 2022.