Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

I'm glad I'm not their QC officer - the report they're going to have to write for NATA will not be fun. I suspect NATA will keep a close eye on them for a while

Could actually have some medico legal issues down the line too…. Yikes what a mess.

 

[jakeseven7]

We are slowly slowly getting there…

I certainly hope QLD, ACT, TAS and SA are onto this as well… if WA tested they could do this too

——

Rapid tests could clear close contacts in major testing change​

People exposed to COVID-19 in workplaces, social settings or at businesses and events would be able clear themselves from isolation using rapid antigen tests rather than queuing for a PCR test under a major change being considered for Victoria’s testing rules, with New South Wales expected to follow.

The government placed a large pre-Christmas order for rapid tests, and the push to allow asymptomatic contacts to use at-home tests is partly designed to take pressure off the state’s PCR testing sites, where people faced hours-long delays again on Boxing Day.

Rapid tests could clear close contacts in major testing change

The Andrews government placed a major order for rapid 15-minute tests before Christmas.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Milboo]

While not downplaying the seriousness of the SYDPATH error, I think it was always a high risk of happening.

There is such tremendous (and unnecessary) pressure on our labs and so much public anger/frustration/abuse re test results.

 

[jakeseven7]

And another good step

——-

NSW government plans to lift COVID-19 isolation for healthcare workers​

Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 would no longer have to isolate under new measures being considered by the NSW government, which is battling a staffing crisis across Sydney hospitals.

As NSW recorded more than 6300 new cases on Sunday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard declared that most of the state will contract the highly transmissible Omicron, but stressed the new variant was believed to be less severe than Delta.

Most COVID-19 patients in NSW intensive care units are suffering from the Delta variant despite Omicron representing about 80 per cent of current cases.

NSW government considers lifting COVID-19 isolation for healthcare workers

Sydney’s hospitals are battling a staffing crisis with more than 2000 health workers furloughed statewide.

www.smh.com.au

 

[kpc]

And another good step

——-

NSW government plans to lift COVID-19 isolation for healthcare workers​

Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 would no longer have to isolate under new measures being considered by the NSW government, which is battling a staffing crisis across Sydney hospitals.

As NSW recorded more than 6300 new cases on Sunday, Health Minister Brad Hazzard declared that most of the state will contract the highly transmissible Omicron, but stressed the new variant was believed to be less severe than Delta.

Most COVID-19 patients in NSW intensive care units are suffering from the Delta variant despite Omicron representing about 80 per cent of current cases.

NSW government considers lifting COVID-19 isolation for healthcare workers

Sydney’s hospitals are battling a staffing crisis with more than 2000 health workers furloughed statewide.

www.smh.com.au

I'm not sure having to wear PPE all day is a good step for us poor health care workers....wearing it for 1/2 hour is bad enough!

 

[N860CR]

I know of someone who worked 17 hours across two sites for two pathology companies. At public holiday rates they chose to work and cleaned up.

No one thanked me for going in to work on Christmas Eve or Christmas night all night. Because it's my job and I'm a grown up...

Exactly. There seem to be some on this forum who just want to complain and attack for the sake of it. Totally kills any logic in their arguments (which are generally nonsense anyway)

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm not sure having to wear PPE all day is a good step for us poor health care workers....wearing it for 1/2 hour is bad enough!

I’ve been wearing it for 10hr shifts straight since the June outbreak. You get used to it.

 

[N860CR]

I’ve been wearing it for 10hr shifts straight since the June outbreak. You get used to it.

And it’s part of your job, so I’m sure you do it happily.

I really struggle to grasp this concept of “poor health care workers” who are simply doing what they’re paid for. Yes, I felt sorry for a lot of them in early 2020 when they were being stood down, but that’s in the past and there’s plenty of work (and money) available now. There are plenty of others who wish they could say the same.

 

[Pushka]

I’ve been wearing it for 10hr shifts straight since the June outbreak. You get used to it.

As are the people doing the Covid testing, outside in the heat now, in pavilions. They are legends. SIL who was in the testing clinic attached to the public hospital described the day's work being in PPC, even getting a drink or loo break was an onerous task.

 

[jakeseven7]

More good news - Tasmania are now just classifying all flights with covid cases on board as ‘low risk’ which in Tasmanian language means you don’t have to do anything apart from monitor your symptoms.

Big step up from immediately classifying all the plane as casual contact immediately. Clearly they were getting swamped.

 

[RooFlyer]

More good news - Tasmania are now just classifying all flights with covid cases on board as ‘low risk’ which in Tasmanian language means you don’t have to do anything apart from monitor your symptoms.

Big step up from immediately classifying all the plane as casual contact immediately. Clearly they were getting swamped.

Swamped with what, exactly? The plane 'contacts' nearly all went into self iso. 4 dozen or so dozen cases imported, no community spread reported as of a few days ago, almost all cases managed from home, no path lab crunch, one in hospital because of a fall.

? Swamped

Oh and the case where all the plane was considered a close contact was when there was an FA who turned out to positive and had been walking up and down the isle serving etc. It was never all the plane all the time as a policy.

So lets dial down the hyperbole, eh?

The Tas CHO and Premier clearly said prior to 'opening' that there would be an easing off of restrictions, which would need to be strict at first, so as to ease the system in.

Looking out the gym window towards a Woolworths car park in outer Hobart, a lower % of masks being worn outside ( not required) compared to pre Christmas. ~60% rather than ~ 80%.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW (48,553 active)
20/12 2501 positives, 144k tests, 261 hospital, 33 ICU
21/12 3057 positives, 136k tests, 284 hospital, 39 ICU
22/12 3763 positives, 151k tests, 302 hospital, 40 ICU
23/12 5715 positives, 160k tests, 347 hospital, 45 ICU
24/12 5612 positives, 164k tests, 382 hospital, 53 ICU
25/12 6288 positives, 149k tests, 388 hospital, 52 ICU
26/12 6394 positives, 109k tests, 458 hospital, 52 ICU
27/12 6324 positives, 97k tests, 521 hospital, 55 ICU

Victoria (16,467 active)
20/12 1302 positives, 71k tests, 406 hospital, 81 ICU
21/12 1245 positives, 66k tests, 392 hospital, 73 ICU
22/12 1503 positives, 92k tests, 394 hospital, 70 ICU
23/12 2005 positives, 85k tests, 398 hospital, 72 ICU
24/12 2095 positives, 81k tests, 397 hospital, 75 ICU
25/12 2108 positives, 83k tests, 361 hospital, 71 ICU
26/12 1608 positives, 72k tests, 374 hospital, 77 ICU
27/12 1999 positives, 57k tests, 368 hospital, 80 ICU

SA (3196 active - 26/12)
20/12 105 positives (1 interstate, 39 local linked), 20.2k tests, 5 hospital
21/12 154 hospital (1 overseas, 3 interstate, 16 local linked), 17.9k tests, 5 hospital
22/12 198 positives (15 interstate, 33 local linked), 22.0k tests, 5 hospital
23/12 484 positives (10 interstate, 106 local linked), 25.1k tests, 7 hospital, 1 ICU
24/12 688 positives (5 interstate, 66 local linked), 23.4k tests, 8 hospital, 1 ICU
25/12 634 positives (10 interstate, 24 local linked), 21.5k tests, 12 hospital 2 ICU
26/12 774 positives (14 interstate, 79 local linked), 20.6k tests, 17 hospital, 3 ICU
27/12

Qld (2857 active - 26/12)
20/12 59 positives (1 overseas, 9 interstate, 49 local), 13.3k tests
21/12 86 positives (1 overseas, 6 interstate, 79 local), 34.5k tests
22/12 186 positives (2 interstate, 7 local), 29.9k tests, 1 hospital, 1 ICU
23/12 369 positives (1 overseas, 3 interstate, 13 local) 33.7k tests, 1 hospital, 1 ICU
24/12 589 positives (1 overseas, 3 interstate, 23 local) 30.6k tests, 2 hospital, 1 ICU
25/12 765 positives (4 interstate, 28 local), 33.9k tests, 6 hospital
26/12 714 positives (1 overseas, 4 interstate, 5 local), 29.9 tests, 7 hospital
27/12

ACT (511 active - 26/12*)
20/12 13 positives, 4.0k tests, 3 hospital, 0 ICU
21/12 16 positives, 4.5k tests, 3 hospital, 0 ICU
22/12 58 positives, 3.7k tests, 3 hospital, 0 ICU
23/12 85 positives, 5.2k tests, 3 hospital, 0 ICU
24/12 102 positives, 5.0k tests, 2 hospital, 0 ICU
25/12 no update
26/12 71 positives, no tests noted, 1 hospital, 0 ICU
27/12

NT (140 active - 26/12)
20/12 3 positives (all local), 3.2k tests, 13 hospital, 1 ICU
21/12 14 positives (3 non-local, 11 local), 2.4k tests, 15 hospital, 1 ICU
22/12 5 positives (2 non-local, 3 local), 2.5k tests, 10 hospital, 2 ICU
23/12 10 positives (5 non-local, 5 local), 2.6k tests, 11 hospital, 1 ICU
24/12 10 positives (9 non-local, 1 local), 2.9k tests, 10 hospital, 1 ICU
25/12 19 positives (10 non-local, 1 contact of interstate, 8 local), 1.9k tests, 19 hospital, 1 ICU
26/12 12 positives (6 non-local, 2 contact of interstate, 4 local - outbreak 144), 1.4k tests, 18 hospital, 1 ICU
27/12

Tasmania (194 active)
16/12 1 positive, 416.4k coughulative tests
17/12 2 positives, 417.7k coughulative tests
18/12 1 positive, 418.9k coughulative tests
19/12 3 positives, 420.3k coughulative tests
20/12 3 positives, 422.5k coughulative tests
21/12 4 positives, 424.4k coughulative tests
22/12 12 positives, 428.3k coughulative tests
23/12 26 positives, 431.3k coughulative tests, 1 hospital (but not for covid)
24/12 27 positives, 434.5k coughulative tests, 1 hospital (but not for covid)
25/12 33 positives, 437.6k coughulative tests, 1 hospital (but not for covid)
26/12 44 positives, 439.6k coughulative tests, 1 hospital (but not for covid)
27/12 35 positives, 441.0k coughulative tests, 1 hospital (but not for covid)

WA (18 active - 26/12)
22/12 2 local positives, 0.6k tests (state-run)
23/12 1 local positive, 0.7k tests (state-run)
24/12 1 local positive, 10.7k tests (state-run)
25/12 6 local positives, 8.6k tests (state-run + private)
26/12 0 local positives, 3.3k tests
27/12 at least 1 local positive expected - outbreak 8

 

[Quickstatus]

swamped

The only service getting swamped are some CovidPCR testing facilities in NSW.
Some hospitals are seeing holes in the staffing due to unexpected self isolation.

Otherwise the only other situation where people are swamped are the Christmas catering leftovers
I was in a food coma for a bit…
No testing required to make that diagnosis.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Covid going through Ashes-related people - support staff, family members, media production crew.

It might be a minor miracle to finish this Test and keep Sydney Test

 

[Quickstatus]

Test

No probs.

Rain delays can often change Test duration. So reduce the duration

AUS is ahead 2-0. Draw the 3rd and retain the Ashes as AUS are the incumbent holders.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

No probs.

Rain delays can often change Test duration. So reduce the duration

AUS is ahead 2-0. Draw the 3rd and retain the Ashes as AUS are the incumbent holders.

For World Test Championship purposes, Australia wants a win or a no result cancelled game (whatever its called to make no points allocated), not a tie or draw.

edited

 

[jakeseven7]

Swamped with what, exactly? The plane 'contacts' nearly all went into self iso. 4 dozen or so dozen cases imported, no community spread reported as of a few days ago, almost all cases managed from home, no path lab crunch, one in hospital because of a fall.

? Swamped

Oh and the case where all the plane was considered a close contact was when there was an FA who turned out to positive and had been walking up and down the isle serving etc. It was never all the plane all the time as a policy.

So lets dial down the hyperbole, eh?

The Tas CHO and Premier clearly said prior to 'opening' that there would be an easing off of restrictions, which would need to be strict at first, so as to ease the system in.

Looking out the gym window towards a Woolworths car park in outer Hobart, a lower % of masks being worn outside ( not required) compared to pre Christmas. ~60% rather than ~ 80%.

If you listen to the CHO speaking they said they wanted to relieve the pressure on the Tasmanian testing sites because they kept classifying the whole plane as casual (and in 2 cases close). If you then go to the TAS corona website it explains the difference between all the levels and you will see the low risk setting does not require testing which removes pressure on the testing stations in TAS which is what they wanted. Hope that helps!

The only service getting swamped are some CovidPCR testing facilities in NSW.

Everything is relative though for population

 

[Lynda2475]

And my SIL and niece are now over the 100 hours since testing and no result. Both have symptoms.

Curious as to where they got tested as this is very unsual - and I wonder if they have either lost the sample or it wasnt registered properly?

Rumour has it only places regularly exceeding 48hours are those run by Laverty Pathology. I only had my first ever test on Xmas day but friends who have needed to go previpusly have always said need to go to hospital test site as they process pathology onsite (less chance of transport delays) or Histopath run site.

I queued for just under 4 hours on Xmas day, gave my mobile, name, dob and address when checking in, then I got swabbed. More as an after thought the girl asked me if I knew how to get my results and I was i thought you sms'd them, only then did she ask if it was my first time there and hand me a flyer.

Now the flyer didnt mention needing to register for results just said to send a sms to get it, I went merily on my way and only sms'd yesterday at about 9:30am being my usual impatient self. Turns out you have to send the initial SMS to register for sms results.

I got my negative result earlier today 42 hours from time the swab was taken, and my flight upgrade came through The SMS doesnt have my name or DOB, but did give me a link where I entered my medicare details and could download a official NSW QR coded result. and letetr which does has the time of the test, my full name, dob etc.

 

[kpc]

Results from RNSH (major NSW public hospital) took 80+ hours for a colleague and we are now up to 52 hours from same place and still waiting....to get out of isolation (Close contact). Above colleague's son finally got his +ve results back after 6 days...had symptoms with 3 positive rapids...irony is that in 4 days time, he no longer has to isolate and needs no more testing! The collection and PCR testing in Sydney is completely overwhelmed and broken...more "special" leave for us.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well Im just glad that waiting 4 hours in 35 degree heat on Xmas day at Concord Hospital paid off with results in under 48 hours and my border pass approved. Friend who also got tested on Xmas day at the Histopath Walk-in at the Rocks also got her results in 36 hours.

Depends on where you get tested I guess.