Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Northern Territory to commence testing blitz in Katherine East​

Another testing blitz will commence in Katherine East, as authorities fear more cases are in the community undetected.

The first concerted testing effort in the four streets in Katherine East began last week, leading to the largest number of local cases detected in a single day on Monday.

Those same streets will now be followed up, with Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie warning some people who may have received a negative result could require a follow up test.

There were four local cases reported yesterday, including a mother and her son who tested positive while visiting Royal Darwin Hospital after travelling through Katherine.

The outbreak now stands at 94 cases.

Meanwhile, Northern Territory Health is yet to release any potential exposure sites associated with two cases detected at Royal Darwin Hospital.

The two cases, a mother and her son who were travelling to RDH for an unrelated medical procedure for the child, both tested positive after a test at the hospital.

Despite advising exposure sites would be made public for the two who travelled from Timber Creek via Katherine to Darwin, no sites have been published almost 24 hours after they were first announced.

 

[Lynda2475]

think NSW government has dropped QR checking in yesterday.

At most but not all venues. As of yesterday (15th Dec):

• Masks will only be required on public transport and planes, at airports, and for indoors front-of-house hospitality staff who are not fully vaccinated (previously all indoors front-of-house hospitality staff regardless of vaccination status). Masks will be strongly encouraged in settings where you cannot social distance.
• No density limits (previously one person per 2sqm).
• COVID safety plans will be optional for businesses and will be supported by SafeWork NSW.
• QR check-ins will only be required at high-risk venues including hospitals, aged and disability care facilities, gyms, places of worship, funerals or memorial services, personal services (e.g. hairdressers and beauty salons), limited hospitality settings (including pubs, small bars, registered clubs and nightclubs), and for indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.
• Proof of vaccination will no longer be required by Public Health Order for most activities (businesses can still require proof at their own discretion). Proof of vaccination will still be required for indoor music festivals with more than 1,000 people.

 

[CMA222]

I think NSW government has dropped QR checking in yesterday. Lots of anecdotal evidence of no codes and no QR security checks.

The NSW deputy Premier was on breakfast TV this morning saying the people of NSW should not need a law to encourage them to protect themselves and others. Despite the removal of most requirements to wear masks, and the CHO saying from a health perspective (as opposed to a political one) she preferred that people continue to wear them, she and the Premier and Deputy Premier are all repeatedly saying that they recommend that masks be worn in any group occasion indoors and/or whenever social distancing is not possible. QR code check-in seems to have immediately disappeared from supermarkets and most other retail. Even if you want to check-in the choice has been made for you. I suppose if it is not available the location cannot be named as hotspot or be required to close/clean.

 

[Lynda2475]

I suppose if it is not available the location cannot be named as hotspot or be required to close/clean.

NSW Health hasn't been publishing exposure locations for a couple of months now except in a handful of regional areas, the onus has been on individual to check their check in history which is where casual alerts show, like the one i got yesterday.

 

[N860CR]

Our clinics in NSW are now managing some omicron cases predictably. Some are completely and utterly asymptomatic and only got tested because of household contacts. This thing is going to move very very fast. Some people will have zero clue they have it.

Really, the only thing that matters now is the number of vaccinated, otherwise healthy people who are becoming seriously unwell. My care factor for the unvaccinated is now officially zero, and we do need to accept the reality that 90 year olds or seriously unwell people are sadly going to pass away, as they would from a range of other conditions.

Post automatically merged: Dec 16, 2021

Or don’t check in at all, I just left Sydney and only had to once the whole trip. And I think as of today (?) it becomes even easier not to right?

licensed venues in Sydney still seem to be a bit check-in crazy. No idea why. The last thing I’d want is my business getting pinged.

 

[justinbrett]

QR code check-in seems to have immediately disappeared from supermarkets and most other retail. Even if you want to check-in the choice has been made for you. I suppose if it is not available the location cannot be named as hotspot or be required to close/clean.

It fits with the new contact rules though, only close contacts need to be tested. You won't be a close contact from attending these kinds of venues.

The testing infrastructure is already at its limits, we don't need to adding these unnecessary tests to the pile.

 

[Lynda2475]

Really, the only thing that matters now is the number of vaccinated, otherwise healthy people who are becoming seriously unwell.

Agree!

licensed venues in Sydney still seem to be a bit check-in crazy. No idea why.

Because they are still subject to health order as have been deemed high risk venues. Majority of events driving recent cases have been at licensed venues - pubs, boozy harbour cruise and nightclubs.

 

[justinbrett]

licensed venues in Sydney still seem to be a bit check-in crazy. No idea why. The last thing I’d want is my business getting pinged.

I think the NSW Liquor & Gaming authority have their own powers when it comes to covid - they are the regulators for the industry and I guess it takes a load of Police & Health.

Suspension of liquor licence is a pretty good motivator to put someone on the door checking entry. Even without covid most of the bigger places do that anyway.

 

[N860CR]

Because they are still subject to health order as have been deemed high risk venues. Majority of events driving recent cases have been at licensed venues - pubs, boozy harbour cruise and nightclubs.

That’s true. Enforcement by the authorities seems loose, however. If I owned a pub, I’d probably be fairly relaxed about QR codes. Being forced to close and clean isn’t a cheap exercise (plus the publicity).

 

[jase05]

Test skipper Pat coughmins was a close contact of a positive person at dinner last night and some talk he may be sent in to isolation and be withdrawn from the test due to start today

 

[Pushka]

Test skipper Pat coughmins was a close contact of a positive person at dinner last night and some talk he may be sent in to isolation and be withdrawn from the test due to start today

He has to be. Maybe he trained with the team this morning too. Dammit. Smith as captain. But goodness he only dined there last night meaning that the positive person must have taken a test earlier that day and as per the current (stupid) requirements here didn’t have to isolate until the result came through. Which restaurant?

 

[Pushka]

More info
“coughmins was at a restaurant in Adelaide during the week where a patron at the next table got a message saying he had tested positive to Covid-19.

It’s understood that patron left and notified others sitting in his vicinity.”

 

[dairyfloss]

Agree!



Because they are still subject to health order as have been deemed high risk venues. Majority of events driving recent cases have been at licensed venues - pubs, boozy harbour cruise and nightclubs.

That’s true. Enforcement by the authorities seems loose, however. If I owned a pub, I’d probably be fairly relaxed about QR codes. Being forced to close and clean isn’t a cheap exercise (plus the publicity).

I'm wondering how many NSW venues, particularly licensed ones, will continue with requiring patrons to be fully vaccinated. There was a lot of talk over the period from Oct 11 (freedom day pt 1) to Dec 14 in NSW about who would continue with this after Dec 15, and that it could actually be a determining factor for people looking at where to shop / eat / drink, whether the condition applied... Perhaps it's just less relevant now with the vaccination rate where it is.

 

[jakeseven7]

More info
“coughmins was at a restaurant in Adelaide during the week where a patron at the next table got a message saying he had tested positive to Covid-19.

It’s understood that patron left and notified others sitting in his vicinity.”

I'm really thrilled to hear that coughmins didn't have to wait in line for hours anywhere for a test like many people visiting SA have to endure because of poor planning and infrastructure!

Such a perk being able to throw a ball accurately at something! Should have chosen another profession

 

[drron]

I am skilling in the art of the no check in checkin. Fiddle with my phone but bring up the check in app.press anywhere but the check in button. Point my phone at the QR phone and activate the SMS that gives a very similiar beep to the checkin app. Has pleased everyone so far. Fortunately the number of places insisting on looking at your check in has fallen to close to zero.

 

[jase05]

I'm really thrilled to hear that coughmins didn't have to wait in line for hours anywhere like many people visiting SA have to endure because of poor planning and infrastructure!

Such a perk being able to throw a ball accurately at something! Should have chosen another profession

Wait in line for what exactly?
And I’m not sure what being a cricketer has to do with anything. He has been forced to isolate for 7 days just like everyone else who is a close contact

 

[jakeseven7]

I am skilling in the art of the no check in checkin. Fiddle with my phone but bring up the check in app.press anywhere but the check in button. Point my phone at the QR phone and activate the SMS that gives a very similiar beep to the checkin app. Has pleased everyone so far. Fortunately the number of places insisting on looking at your check in has fallen to close to zero.

Haha ditto everything you said above.... I think in Melbourne today it might be a little harder but will see!

Wait in line for what exactly?
And I’m not sure what being a cricketer has to do with anything. He has been forced to isolate for 7 days just like everyone else who is a close contact

For a test. Maybe he was the one who did a U turn and had a fender bender

 

[jakeseven7]

Predictably a community case in Tasmania, good to see a less shrieky reaction 'We knew this would happen and its happened... Finally a little calm....

 

[jase05]

Haha ditto everything you said above.... I think in Melbourne today it might be a little harder but will see!



For a test. Maybe he was the one who did a U turn and had a fender bender

It depends what times their flight arrived but there are several test stations within a 5 minute drive that have no queues.
I can’t understand how people have no initiative though. Went past one drive through today and about 60 cars in line so probably 3hr wait yet less than 10 minutes up the road no wait at all

 

[Pushka]

I'm really thrilled to hear that coughmins didn't have to wait in line for hours anywhere for a test like many people visiting SA have to endure because of poor planning and infrastructure!

Such a perk being able to throw a ball accurately at something! Should have chosen another profession

He likely got tested last night as he left immediately he heard the diner say he was positive. And results come back within 12 hours in SA.

And just confirmed he was tested last night by team Doctor. And it was a table of NSW cricketers he was dining with, and one of those tested positive. This is a fundamental error allowed by Aus Cricket and SA Health who don't require people from interstate to isolate until test result is known. What could possibly go wrong? Oh yeah, wipe out the Test Captain.

Post automatically merged: Dec 16, 2021

It depends what times their flight arrived but there are several test stations within a 5 minute drive that have no queues.
I can’t understand how people have no initiative though. Went past one drive through today and about 60 cars in line so probably 3hr wait yet less than 10 minutes up the road no wait at all

But tourists won't know that.