Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Must...Fly!]

It's interesting reading because you can almost picture the people in the room

As can I, there is probably a reason why I didn't last long in a government department before running for the exit.

 

[Milboo]

It's interesting reading because you can almost picture the people in the room. There's the solid legal types who carefully define a close contact and then there's someone else who throws in "a person who has been at an exposure site during the exposure period for that site.".
It's even more obvious in the notification section. They solemnly work through written notification and then chuck in "the relevant exposure site being published on the SA Health website".
Good luck enforcing notification, just because you published it on a website. First you'd have to pass a law compelling people to check said website!

When I had to work through the employer obligations on workplace notification (for NSW), I was chatting with one of my external lawyers for a sanity check as it was confusing - the NSW Health fact sheets have requirements in them that simply aren’t in the PHO wording.

Also didn’t help I rang NSW Health for clarification and the person I got literally could not tell me the definition of close contact (this was week prior to Xmas).

SafeWork told me to put aside what the Premier had said in the press as it wasn’t the law and we were obliged to follow the PHO.

 

[Quickstatus]

people in the room

Those who can lockdown, zoom in, and still be paid well.
Ruminating over the wording of their creativity.

While the working poor keep their online orders filled.

 

[nutwood]

As can I, there is probably a reason why I didn't last long in a government department before running for the exit.

It's actually scary how far down the scale Government positions have fallen. In my own field there was recently a quite senior Government position on offer. Nothing silly but still around the $120k area. I was surprised at just how little interest anyone had. Once upon a time a Government post was sought after as an early retirement, if nothing else. Nowadays, no-one competent wants to go there!

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear. And now Grant Stevens, SA Police Commissioner and the man running SA has Covid. As does the Opposition Leader, both announced today. Ooopsie.

 

[jakeseven7]

Oh dear. And now Grant Stevens, SA Police Commissioner and the man running SA has Covid. As does the Opposition Leader, both announced today. Ooopsie.

Everyone’s going to get it…

 

[Hvr]

Everyone’s going to get it…

I'm doing my best to avoid it.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'm doing my best to avoid it.

Sure same here but not compromising my enjoyment of life anymore though in the process. Everyone has different health situations and risk profiles.

 

[Port Power]

My Tasmanian 21 year old niece has just tested positive, although she is not unwell. She is vaccinated. They went to Hobart for the Taste of Tasmania so must have one into contact in the tent. All those infected visitors from the mainland! She and boyfriend now have to isolate for 7 days per the rules above. I guess in a hotel, but my brother didn’t say.

Another reason why, when states say open, they should mean it and get on with life. That’s what vaccinations are for. Only test if actually unwell or have symptoms. Those at risk will keep away from the populace and wear masks when out anyway.

I was somewhat surprised to hear her 28 year old sister is not vaccinated. However, by the time her age bracket came up, she was pregnant and didn’t want to take the risk (her words). She and hubby live west of Burnie and she is keeping away from people.

 

[JohnM]

Everyone’s going to get it…

The sooner the better - especially in the DPRWA...

Short term pain - but long term gain...

 

[andye]

Since the change in close contact definitions, most in NSW have made the rational decision that checking in QR codes is a waste of time unless there is someone checking
I do feel obliged to check in at work. As it's a hospital, I have received a bunch of notifications that a positive case has been identifed there. Quelle surprise!

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Officially passing half a million, 500,000 positives today (Tuesday 4 January 2022) at the 9am reporting of figures by NSW and Victoria.

Currently 499,958 positives

 

[drron]

My Tasmanian 21 year old niece has just tested positive, although she is not unwell. She is vaccinated. They went to Hobart for the Taste of Tasmania so must have one into contact in the tent. All those infected visitors from the mainland! She and boyfriend now have to isolate for 7 days per the rules above. I guess in a hotel, but my brother didn’t say.

Another reason why, when states say open, they should mean it and get on with life. That’s what vaccinations are for. Only test if actually unwell or have symptoms. Those at risk will keep away from the populace and wear masks when out anyway.

I was somewhat surprised to hear her 28 year old sister is not vaccinated. However, by the time her age bracket came up, she was pregnant and didn’t want to take the risk (her words). She and hubby live west of Burnie and she is keeping away from people.

Young with minimal symptoms stay at home. They will be looked after by the Covid@home program. Even interstaters with risk factors and in theit 70s can do so. I was on for the program on Sunday and was informed by public Health south that a couple with covid were allowed to isolate in their campervan and were going to move into the North Health District.

 

[woodyren]

Clinical Labs just pulled the plug in Sydney effective immediately no more testing until further notice. 30 sites gone.

Not sure what’s happened however there goes the testing system.

I am sitting in a long car queue at a Clinical Labs site at Castle Hill in Sydney. It is due to open in about 20 minutes.

No signs or word that they will not open.

Feeling unwell and really need a test as we have a trip to Melbourne planned next week.

 

[jase05]

I am sitting in a long car queue at a Clinical Labs site at Castle Hill in Sydney. It is due to open in about 20 minutes.

No signs or word that they will not open.

Feeling unwell and really need a test as we have a trip to Melbourne planned next week.

Sounds like you are in luck

“Private company Australian Clinical Labs on Monday announced the closure of 28 of its 29 sites "effective immediately", leaving open only its Bella Vista clinic for paid international travel tests.

Sites at Castle Hill, Charlestown and Parramatta are due to reopen on Tuesday, according to the company's website, but the majority remain closed.”

 

[andye]

Clinical Labs just pulled the plug in Sydney effective immediately no more testing until further notice. 30 sites gone.

Not sure what’s happened however there goes the testing system.

Either they are trying to renegotiate the Medicare fee or they are struggling to staff (I imagine with the prevalence of NSW covid, staff are testing positive or staff are not keen on the contact risk)

 

[Quickstatus]

Either they are trying to renegotiate the Medicare fee or they are struggling to staff

They said they are temporarily closing Dow to clear the backlog of tests

Could be a staffing shortage - note holiday period.
Plus lots of people wanting to be tested.
Hey it’s free compared to a RAT

I doubt very much that it is a strike to get more Medicare fee. Any requests to Medicarec to increase rebate would have quickly been made public.

 

[Quickstatus]

Feeling unwell and really need a test as we have a trip to Melbourne planned next week.

NSW health has not specifically addressed what the symptomatic but PCR negative cohort should do.

They just say if symptomatic (consistent with Covid symptoms) get a test. But what if the test is negative. Would have thought all those high paid lawyers and politicians would have accounted for this.

Personally I think if anyone is symptomatic and PCR negative should take a PCR test twice a week until symptoms disappear. And isolate until then…. OR they should be considered same as close contact with symptoms to harmonise the rules so as not to create another category.

All the going back to work early after being a close contact policies require an asymptomatic status irrespective of a negative PCR/RAT.

Of course if the symptoms are feeling unwell because of an overnight bender or unwell due to infection ingrown toenail…..

 

[love_the_life]

Oh dear. It was Covid after all. Hope he stays with the minor symptoms. Does he have an idea where he picked it up?

Thinks in ADL as had test before arriving but not sure where. Still reporting mild symptoms.

 

[love_the_life]

Hotel Quarantine is still a thing?

As he didn’t have anywhere suitable, he was sent to the medi hotel.