Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Must...Fly!]

Does anyone have access to the figures about how many of the people in ICU have delta not omicron?

In SA the only info we get is that 81% of the cases are omicron. But I have anecdotally heard that all or most of the 4 people in ICU in SA actually have delta, and that the majority of covid hospitalisations in SA are delta too. SA Health is apparently keeping the breakdown a secret though.

SA might want to keep things secret, but a human is a human so there is plenty of international data available. Such as below.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1475853849684586497

Side note I made the mistake of turning on the ABC, showed the press conferences and now the doomsday "professor" turn...

Edit: Oh yes now banging on about long COVID. Are we still going on about this? Yawn. Back to the textbooks...

 

[Quickstatus]

it’s also applicable to say

Well let’s see how it all plays out…
I’m not the expert, but one who reads the available data.

Back in September, I realised there was a disconnect between the prevailing public opinion/rhetoric that the hospitals was not going to cope and would be overwhelmed and what the coalface sentiment was.

And I mentioned it here. Is that on the same level as objective evidence as epidemiological modelling?. Of course not. However it was quite interesting to note the difference.
….

Here is some Tcell data which might explain why Omicron is not as bad as Delta or the other Covid variants. And additionally reminds us that antibody response is not the only immune response to an infection.

 

[Must...Fly!]

More news!

National cabinet changes isolation rule for COVID cases — a day after announcing the previous rule

National cabinet changes isolation rule for COVID cases, a day after announcing new rules

National cabinet already amends its new COVID-19 rules, further relaxing testing arrangements by removing the requirement for confirmed cases in isolation to do a rapid antigen test on the sixth day after being exposed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Quickstatus]

By the way you don’t need to sequence the viral sample to detect Omicron.

A PCR can do that because Omicron positive samples would drop out the S signal due to the level of mutations in the S RNA. The other 3 signals N,E and RdRp would still be there. Im not sure how this impacts on the accuracy of the PCR test - do they need verification, do they need re-doing? or running different primers?

 

[oz_mark]

Just for the record!

1 Case WA.

 

[Quickstatus]

plenty of international data available

Ok Got New York
But what about Rio and Old London town?

 

[Quickstatus]

SA Health is apparently keeping the breakdown a secret

Not just SA health

Its interesting (though not suprising) that Governments seeks to keep important information from the public or makes it very difficult to access.
I can only think of one reason - that they want to be the only source of information.

 

[ellen10]

A friend who was tested on Boxing Day, finally got his positive results today. Double vaxed, but is quite unwell. He is a frontline police officer. Such a shame it has taken so long. But it is the times at the moment.

 

[jrfsp]

Moulin Rouge in Melbourne just got shut down. Not sure for how long.

Its the same in the West End & Broadway

 

[Pushka]

Two thousand in SA and just now all our testing stations shut from 10.30 until 5.30pm because umm, like omicron, a hot summer day in South Australia was completely unpredictable. Apparently.

 

[Quickstatus]

Such a shame it has taken so long

Even if it was known on Boxing day, the management of his illness would not have changed.
And those around him would still have been on heightened alert.

There is actually fairly good evidence that people are not waiting to be told they are close contact before getting a test themselves.
But understandably it adds to the overall anxiety.

I wonder what the incidence of the Rona is for the B in B - they are on the front line out there in the Zoo, and often have to deal with reclacitrants...and CovidJabZeroes

 

[Denali]

Was just speaking to a client whose brother is in hospital with covid and it doesnt sound good. Im guessing it would be flagged as "underlining health conditions" but none of these conditions had him in hospital before he got covid.

Client said he's been invited out for fireworks and a party - his words were with "covid, crowds, alcohol and traffic", his plans are to go home, rest and be in bed by 9pm.

 

[N860CR]

Was just speaking to a client whose brother is in hospital with covid and it doesnt sound good. Im guessing it would be flagged as "underlining health conditions" but none of these conditions had him in hospital before he got covid.

Client said he's been invited out for fireworks and a party - his words were with "covid, crowds, alcohol and traffic", his plans are to go home, rest and be in bed by 9pm.

Ultimately, that’s what we’ve been aiming for now for nearly two years. A bit of personal responsibility. Good on him for doing what he feels comfortable with. I’ve currently got nine friends who are either “positive” or live with positives. None are sick in the slightest, however they’re doing the right thing and spending tonight at home. Just as we did in the past with a cold.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The Premier says NSW is in a 'strong position' with COVID. A leaked email from a hospital suggests otherwise

Soaring COVID-19 hospitalisations have left one of Sydney's largest hospitals in an "extremely vulnerable" position over the next few days, according to a leaked email obtained by the ABC.

www.abc.net.au

 

[moa999]

You read my mind . Happy to show vax cert but check in...no!

But reality is it's almost impossible to be identified as a close contact now.

At worst you get an alert to remain alert for symptoms (and the ServiceNSW app sends enough of those - think I've got 5 alerts for 2 crosses in my history)

 

[N860CR]

But reality is it's almost impossible to be identified as a close contact now.

At worst you get an alert to remain alert for symptoms (and the ServiceNSW app sends enough of those - think I've got 5 alerts for 2 crosses in my history)

So why are we doing this stupid QR code thing? So everyone can congregate around a single A4 sign and share their covid? Or so retail staff can engage even further with customers face to face by requesting to see it?

 

[Freq Flier 2013]

I have clients who are covid positive and not feeling well. I’ve read all the posts about how it’s not bad ect… but in reality who wants to be sick - with all the covid symptoms. Who wants to be sick and then possibly have long term life altering complications.
Some have minor impacts but others have very high temperature and not doing well

 

[drron]

The Premier says NSW is in a 'strong position' with COVID. A leaked email from a hospital suggests otherwise

Soaring COVID-19 hospitalisations have left one of Sydney's largest hospitals in an "extremely vulnerable" position over the next few days, according to a leaked email obtained by the ABC.

www.abc.net.au

So the change in contact rules is obviously going to help. funny that the ABC left that bit out.

 

[Quickstatus]

Who wants to be sick

No one.
It's the risk - benefit balance that most people seek and the balance is what the Govts are now trying to achieve having regard to the technical advice, and a sense of what the community wants.

There is also a lot that one can do if we think that the policy settings are too risky.
For example. woolies online shopping is difficult to book as everyone is doing it, so I try to go when there are less crowds.
Get some NIOSH approved N95 masks and do a fit test
Get Vaccinated and maybe consider a booster
Reduce exposure to crowds - especially the ones under 40

No one wants to be run over by a car - but they cross a road.
No one wants to get food poisoning - but they get food from outlets
No one wants to get eaten by a shark - but they go swimming at a beach

No one wants to get Covid, but today I see lots of people in restaurants at lunchtime, and a queue heading into the malls.

 

[Quickstatus]

I also note that the 2021NYE Sydney Harbour Paid vantage points are undersubscribed - especially the popular Botanic gardens Fleet steps $395 pp was still available this morning.

People are taking matters into their own hands and making decisions for themselves.

Despite the numbers, no one is panic buying - especially the toilet paper.
95% vax rates


And I think people are self isolating when positive and self contact tracing and letting people they know they are positive

Let the people buy in to the problem rather than force solutions on them, and maybe we might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. They just don’t want to be told what to do and they don’t want the police overseeing their every movement.

People are learning to live with Covid
The politicians and the media and those with a platform should learn the same.

My biggest hope is that in the population will continue to apply the hygiene lessons learnt during Covid and maybe reduce the high death rate during future winter months.