Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

Is high level sport an essential service? Personally I think it is, maybe not to all, but certainly to a large proportion of the Australian population.

With people stuck in isolation entertainment including sport to me is very much an essential service.

Just imagine living through this pandemic without access to the internet, netflix etc.

Then just imagine if you are doing it in a single person household. And if that person is not able to work at home then they are further cut off from other people. The negative effects on mental health is huge. Having something to look forward to each week, and to think about will be important to many. In addition just as the Cinema was an escape for many, then watching the AFL, NRL, A league, Netball, Tennis etc will be an escape for many.

Sport is an entertainment that is of benefit to many. For some it is just an entertainment, and outside entertainment at present is more essential than it has ever been been as for some the entertainment options are very limited.

For a significant number of Australians however though sport is not just entertainment, it is a sense of belonging, a sense of community and at times like this this is vital. It is essential. For many in Australia sport has been part of the fabric of their entire lives. Those lives at present are torn asunder for many and having some parts of what was normal, of what was routine to occur is indeed vital to them.

In my daughter's ward at present the largest problem they have is not from Covid 19 directly, but from dealing with the effects from Covid 19 disruption has had on some patients. From patients who are not dealing well with the routine of their former lives having been disturbed. Those who are autistic , who have dementia, and the like need routine, they need the familiar and the disruption of their routines Covid 19 causes them great angst.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I think we are still going for suppression but the extent and speed of the Vic situation caused a rethink. In SA because of crowding on Saturday, bars and nightclubs got closed again today. Good move. Assaults etc increased significantly on that night.

Is it better to move away from suppression and elimination terminology (which has become so politically/emotionally charged in recent weeks especially on AFF forum) and just talk about finding and minimising community transmission?

Not intending to have a go at you specifically because I find myself agreeing with your comments often......just a general observation and my feelings at this point on the likelihood of another chance from some to have another rant.

 

[tgh]

There was a lot of owner driven (newscorp) brouhaha in the qld media a while back when Rugby league was suspended.
I thought it was all a bit shallow at the time but , upon reflection, now consider the entertainment value to those shut up as worth the transmission risk .

 

[lovetravellingoz]

, and yes players can be tools at time (being polite here).

Yes some can be, but there are tools in all walks of life too.

The life of a professional player/sportsperson " on the road" is not always as glamorous as some may think. Some relish it, some tolerate it and some hate it. Some are fools and some are just doing their job, but are doing it in a "fishbowl".

One of my BILs is an ex Socceroo with about forty caps, and to ply his craft he often had to work overseas both for those games, but also at club level in various international leagues. When he had to work overseas it he did not at all relish it and moreso later when he had kids, but it was just something he had to do. (As an aside he was/is very driven and a neat freak and did/does most of the housework as things just had to be spotless).

Many years ago I also had a minor role in supporting the Player Welfare Committee at the Fitzroy Football Club. They were not my club, but my then boss was on various Fitzroy Committees and so I chipped in like Aussies do at times of need, and they had many needs and not enough money. When things are falling apart a lot of stress gets generated. I know that from that experience that the professional players will be feeling all sorts of stresses at present.

 

[Pushka]

Is it better to move away from suppression and elimination terminology (which has become so politically/emotionally charged in recent weeks especially on AFF forum) and just talk about finding and minimising community transmission?

Not intending to have a go at you specifically because I find myself agreeing with your comments often......just a general observation and my feelings at this point on the likelihood of another chance from some to have another rant.

Works for me too

 

[lovetravellingoz]

. Not sure whether AFL got to the stage of bubbles and frequent testing.

All clubs have been in bubbles (in the sense of being strictly limited with whom they could mix with) with frequent testing basically since restrictions came in. The team bubbles included their wives and kids.

The actual restrictions have varied. For example for a period of time every AFL player was paired with just one other team mate with whom they could train. They were not allowed to train with any other player. Note that there were some existing households consisting of three players living together.

Now yes some players have at times breached the rules, and if discovered have been punished in various ways.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I think sport is a bit like dogs. Some people love it/them, and others just don't understand the connection. All good as we are all different.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The PM helping NSW (and other States that pay) by flagging that new returning travellers from overseas might need to pay for their own quarantine at hotels.

He said it would be "completely understandable" for returning travellers to begin paying for their own hotel quarantine.

"There's been many opportunities for people to return. If they're choosing to do so now they've obviously delayed that decision for a period."

From ABC website

PM proposes limiting overseas arrivals to ease quarantine burden

Prime Minister Scott Morrison flags the number of people coming into Australia could be further reduced to ease the burden on states and territories administering hotel quarantine.

www.abc.net.au

 

[TonyDoh]

I hope that the Directors of the Security firms who were awarded the contracts, as well as the Directors of the firms who were awarded the subcontracts are prosecuted to the full extent of the law. This could well include criminal charges if the genomic sequencing links deaths to the hotel security guard outbreaks. Duty of care to employees will also have been breached.

If it does result in deaths, it is likely it would fall within the scope of the recently - introduced Victorian industrial manslaughter legislation.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Three cases from the same household in ACT, linked to Victorian outbreak

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Oh dear ....breach at Sydney airport in relation to a flight from Melbourne last night

Passengers on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney last night disembarked without being screened by NSW Health officials, in a major breach of the state's coronavirus protocols.

An email from Sydney Airport leaked to the ABC claims Jetstar breached NSW Government health orders by allowing travellers on flight JQ520 that landed at 6.53pm to get off without being checked.

"The final JQ flight arrived and staff enabled disembarkation without NSW Health and police in attendance, breaching the arrivals screening protocols," the email read.

From ABC covid live blog

 

[RooFlyer]

Tas Premier Gutwein has just announced, from midnight tonight:

* Non Tasmanian, non essential travellers from Victoria (have spent past 2 weeks or so in Victoria) not allowed to enter - will be turned back at the airport and on the Spirit of Tasmania car ferry. Tas biosecurity officials will be at Melbourne ends to advise pax before they board. He was just asked on the radio if that was mandatory, or if they will be 'asked' to turn around and he didn't give a definitive answer. I gather it will be enforced.

* Transit direct through Melbourne airport from other states will be allowed.

* Tasmanians returning from Victoria will be required to holiday for 14 days in Government-paid hotel, not their homes.

* Businesses importing 'essential workers', who get an exemption from quarantine will be required to show that the skills are not procurable from other states.

* If essential workers are brought in from Victoria, masks must be worn. No mandatory testing, but 'under consideration' (only). Odd.

* Still looking at 24 July to open border to other states, except Victoria - will not be opened then.

Apparently some of these measures were introduced last Sunday, without announcement. Odd.

 

[drron]

Oh dear ....breach at Sydney airport in relation to a flight from Melbourne last night

Passengers on a flight from Melbourne to Sydney last night disembarked without being screened by NSW Health officials, in a major breach of the state's coronavirus protocols.

An email from Sydney Airport leaked to the ABC claims Jetstar breached NSW Government health orders by allowing travellers on flight JQ520 that landed at 6.53pm to get off without being checked.

"The final JQ flight arrived and staff enabled disembarkation without NSW Health and police in attendance, breaching the arrivals screening protocols," the email read.

From ABC covid live blog

Well JQ should cop a very big fine.

 

[Lynda2475]

s high level sport an essential service? Personally I think it is, maybe not to all, but certainly to a large proportion of the Australian population. With people stuck in isolation entertainment including sport to me is very much an essential service. Just imagine living through this pandemic without access to the internet, netflix etc.

Have to agree to disagree, interet acces is an essential service like eletcrity or water as it is allowing people to work from home and manage their lives from home (i.e bank, order food etc). Not being able to watch a footy game, not so essential as plenty of other of content to stream or watch on FTA TV.

I do not feel attending a religious service is essential, nor is is attending or watching a footy (or any other sport)) which many treat as a religion.

The AFL players have not been in a genuine iso bubble unlike say the Auckland Warriors (in a hotel away from everyone but the team) because they have been living with their families and have kids who have been going to schools in hot spots.

 

[p--and--t]

Well JQ should cop a very big fine.

Is it up to an airline to enforce border controls?. I would have thought that was outside their brief and powers (to restrain)

 

[Flying mermaid]

Is it up to an airline to enforce border controls?. I would have thought that was outside their brief and powers (to restrain)

They are not supposed to allow them to disembark if officials aren’t there to do checks. Jetstar have said they have “refined” their procedures. I guess things are changing so fast it is hard to keep up ....

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Well JQ should cop a very big fine.

Is it up to an airline to enforce border controls?. I would have thought that was outside their brief and powers (to restrain)

I wish DrRon was right, but I think p—and—t is right because I’m not aware of any declarations imposing a requirement on the airline or the airport (or trains/buses or stations/stops/terminals).

Maybe declarations need to be made in relation to interstate travel, not just international travel.

They are not supposed to allow them to disembark if officials aren’t there to do checks. Jetstar have said they have “refined” their procedures. I guess things are changing so fast it is hard to keep up ....

edit: I’ve had a look to see if I could find it, but if someone finds the appropriate one, it would be good to get a link.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Three cases from the same household in ACT, linked to Victorian outbreak

Two from a Melbourne hotspot who arrived on Thursday plus a close contact. They visited Fyshwick markets and Belconnen Mall - so now we wait and see .....

 

[jakeseven7]

They are not supposed to allow them to disembark if officials aren’t there to do checks. Jetstar have said they have “refined” their procedures. I guess things are changing so fast it is hard to keep up ....

I wonder if Jetstar charged a special bundle to evade NSW Health screening Add a 'Don't want no screen' bundle to your airfare for $20...

Well, off go 180 people merrily into Sydney...

Luckily NSW Health aren't all that busy they should be able to trace them all pretty quickly!

 

[Must...Fly!]

Regarding sport...if the sport's administrators can prove there is no risk to the greater community then they should be able to play. I am no sympathiser of footballers but it is their job so they should have every opportunity, just as others do (including myself) who cannot work remotely.