Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

Chicken pox parties of my youth revisited.

Yep my cousin had chicken pox the week before the school holidays, my Mum sent me to play with him so I got chicken pox for the exact 2 weeks of the Easter holidays and therefore didn't miss any school. No chicken pox vaccine in the early 80s.

Mum did the same when same cousin had the Mumps the next year.

 

[Quickstatus]

wearing masks at the Aus Open is probably a good idea.

Somehow I dont think it will attenuate the grunting in some tennis players.

 

[QF WP]

Well, I don't know who lives in unit 19 (as there are 40 units in the complex). Yes, I know exactly where it is, but doesn't mean I have anything more than a passing curiosity. I'm certain that they will remain in lockdown and be serviced by one of the multiple food delivery people who ply their trade regularly in our complex. I'm sure some people don't know how to cook

 

[Quickstatus]

We can’t test a million people a day. Rapid tests will probably be the answer

Neither is the answer.
The answer is to go back to basic epidemiological and practices which is to only test if symptomatic or a known close contact.

 

[Lynda2475]

Neither is the answer.
The answer is to go back to basic epidemiological practices which is to only test if symptomatic or a known close contact.

Agree provided the definition of close contact is reasonable i.e the person has been in very close proximity for an extended period of time (i.e. household member not someone on a plane 20 rows away).

 

[Quickstatus]

scary even more transmissible megatron variant

a well known decepticon - capable of moving at lightning speed and had great agility. Sounds familiar.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I read most of the comments as arguing for only test for seriously ill (sick), not necessarily symptomatic. And if NSW Health gets its way only household contacts will be close contact post AHPPC

 

[Quickstatus]

But what they need to report is how many of the hospitalizations are Delta vs Omicron.

Why, what difference would it make.

Whilst we know Omicron is the dominant strain in NSW now

Huh??? We don't know that. But current testing seem to suggest the total number of Omicron is currently around 300 but who knows
Who cares which one is dominant...(maybe the media)

In effect you'd want Omicron to "crowd out" Delta as quickly as possible

double vaxxed plus natural infection

The sooner people get exposed to the virus the better. That is the benefit of the vaccine - to get exposed to the virus with a level of immunity as protection. .
Exposure to the different virus variants gives excellent immunity.
All this daily reporting seem to suggest we are still wedded to CovidElimination

You can run, but you can't hide

 

[Lynda2475]

Why, what difference would it make.

It would prove Omicron is less severe and shut the panic merchants up.

 

[Quickstatus]

It would prove Omicron is less severe and shut the panic merchants up.

No it would not IMO.
It would also cost a lot of money, and just clog up the system.

Key numbers are deaths, ICU, and hospitalisations.
If we are really into Live with covid - then Live with Covid.

 

[Lynda2475]

It would also cost a lot of money, and just clog up the system.

No it wouldnt because you only check the variant for cases who are hospitalised which is tiny. You do know that they are continuing the genome sequence all hospitalised cases in NSW now even though they no longer sequence regular positive tests?

So it is not extra burden in fact it lightens the burden, as up until end of Nov they were sequencing 100% of positive where sufficient gentic material existed.

They have the info it costs nothing to share it, and prove that Omicron is fine to live with.

 

[Quickstatus]

You do know that they are continuing the genome sequence all hospitalised cases in NSW

Yep they have finally realised that targeted sequencing is the way to go. The Covid Variant does not change medical management. It didn’t for Alpha nor Delta.

 

[Lynda2475]

The Covid Variant does not change medical management. It didn’t for Alpha nor Delta.

I didnt say it did, but if they share the data that proves its residual Delta in hospital it will take away the ability for some premiers to use Omicron as a excuse for not living with Covid.

 

[Quickstatus]

proves its residual Delta in hospital

The Premiers have access to more data than the general public. But their reactions to the data have been variable. . If it were then they would all have similar policies. So I am not convinced that they will act any differently. Some are still in the CovidZero mentality even if they say they are not.

One of the important epidemiological responses to a pandemic is to make sure that the population exposure to a pathogen is more of less uniform. Lockdowns at the borders mean there are large pockets of the population which have little exposure to the wild virus.

 

[dairyfloss]

Other than meeting a client 6 months after she had COVID (in 2020), this is he closest I've been to a COVID case (got this today from our property agent who used to manage our unit, not even from the current managers):

"We have been informed that a tenant from Unit 19 has tested positive for Corona Virus in the complex. Should you be of close contact or have any symptoms we advise you to get tested immediately. This has only just been notified to us by the agent managing Unit 19."

The closest I've been is walking past their front door on the common driveway when out walking my dog.

In Omicron terms, isn’t this the equivalent of an open mouth kiss?

 

[jakeseven7]

NSW putting QR codes back in. Wonder how much compliance there will be.

——

NSW to bring back QR code check-ins, look at providing free rapid antigen tests​

NSW to bring back check-in codes, look at providing free rapid antigen tests

NSW will reintroduce QR code check-ins and is set to provide free rapid antigen testing kits as it looks to stem the tide of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

www.abc.net.au

 

[jakeseven7]

And some positive news hopefully for our future experience here in Australia

——

Rapid drop-off in COVID-19 Omicron cases suggest South Africa's peak may have passed, experts say​

It was a short wave … and the good news is that it was not very severe in terms of hospitalisations and deaths.

South Africa's Omicron surge may be receding, experts say

South Africa's noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases in recent days could signal the country's dramatic omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, according to medical experts.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Must...Fly!]

NSW putting QR codes back in. Wonder how much compliance there will be.

——

NSW to bring back QR code check-ins, look at providing free rapid antigen tests​

NSW to bring back check-in codes, look at providing free rapid antigen tests

NSW will reintroduce QR code check-ins and is set to provide free rapid antigen testing kits as it looks to stem the tide of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.

www.abc.net.au

Shame, I was hoping to enjoy a few days without QR codes...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Tested at drive thru test facility adjacent to DFO at MBW yesterday 08:45 - neg result rcvd 04:24 this morn

 

[Pushka]

And some positive news hopefully for our future experience here in Australia

——

Rapid drop-off in COVID-19 Omicron cases suggest South Africa's peak may have passed, experts say​

It was a short wave … and the good news is that it was not very severe in terms of hospitalisations and deaths.

South Africa's Omicron surge may be receding, experts say

South Africa's noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases in recent days could signal the country's dramatic omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, according to medical experts.

www.abc.net.au

I also read that many of the hospitalisations weren't for Covid at all but that it was discovered as part of the testing screening regime for entry.