Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[MooTime]

So our hospitals are struggling to some extent.

As I see it, let's pause all non Category A surgeries cos we're taking in unvaxd covid patients.
There basically choosing them over vaccinated ppl needing various surgeries... I think that stinks, really starting to annoy me. If hospitals are reaching capacity, why would they choose unvaxd covid patients over all others as in my eyes that's what's happening. Clearly!

You have covid and your unvaxd, sorry we can't take you cos person B needs leg surgery, we only have 1 bed atm.

I don't have anyone in this situation, but keep hearing hospitals clogged with high %% unvaxd. Bugger'em.

 

[RooFlyer]

As I see it, let's pause all non Category A surgeries cos we're taking in unvaxd covid patients.

I don't think its just because they are taking unvaxxed patients (although the unvaxxed are a greater proportion of people presenting, we're told). Its a combination of staff (esp nurses, but all involved disciplines) being infected or a close contact and unable to attend their jobs and an increase number of presentations with covid, vaxed or unvaxed, to hospital systems with little capacity for increases, using up resources.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

In Vic a positive RATs will be reportable.

A webform will soon be available, or people can report via a hotline.

Isolation starts then and no PCR is required.

 

[jakeseven7]

I don't think its just because they are taking unvaxxed patients (although the unvaxxed are a greater proportion of people presenting, we're told). Its a combination of staff (esp nurses, but all involved disciplines) being infected or a close contact and unable to attend their jobs and an increase number of presentations with covid, vaxed or unvaxed, to hospital systems with little capacity for increases, using up resources.

It's basically just the sheer number.

Which in some ways is good potentially although going to be sticky for a few weeks. I mean if true NSW infections are more like 100-150K (which we saw in a preso yesterday from Health) a day now then it really is burning out very quickly.

For the absolute majority, it is a mild, manageable at home illness.

 

[Pushka]

In Vic a positive RATs will be reportable.

A webform will soon be available, or people can report via a hotline.

Isolation starts then and no PCR is required.

That's in theory but in reality, buying a product from a supermarket or online, if positive, are people going to report it? I don't trust SA Health not to try something insane, given they put someone in a med hotel against his wishes just for being in a shop at the wrong time.

 

[jb747]

In Vic a positive RATs will be reportable.

Yeh, I’ll bet that’s going to work for them.

A webform will soon be available….

As not too many of their other web sites work, I don’t know that I’d hold my breath about the definition of ’soon’.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

That's in theory but in reality, buying a product from a supermarket or online, if positive, are people going to report it? I don't trust SA Health not to try something insane, given they put someone in a med hotel against his wishes just for being in a shop at the wrong time.

The incentive to report is that you then get access to support if required.

The emphasis is not to get more accurate numbers, but rather to be better able to support the infected.

Living with Covid is about managing health better. The PCR approach was no longer able to cope.

 

[antycbr]

The incentive to report is that you then get access to support if required.

The emphasis is not to get more accurate numbers, but rather to be better able to support the infected.

Living with Covid is about managing health better. The PCR approach was no longer able to cope.

Registering RATs doesn’t give you better health support it just clogs up the system. As someone who has had covid the healthcare response was excessive for mild symptoms. Much better to focus on people with vulnerabilities.

 

[Lynda2475]

The incentive to report is that you then get access to support if required

Not much of an incentive given no real support on offer, the advice is stay home for 7 days.

Im in Melbourne atm, one of the friends I was hoping to catch up with is in iso, her hubby tested positive for covid in workplace testing on NYE, her and the 3 kids were negative on test they took on 1st but spent hours in PCR queue yesterday trying to get a clearance test (no RATs available), no priority given despite living with a positive, and her hubby got nothing other than 2 text messages, so why bother?

I suspect anyone testing positive on a privately acquired RAT (as opposed to one given by state as a close contact) wont report unless they start to feel very unwell. The states are not closely monitoring positives in their homes anymore, as far too many to police now. People will stay home for a week, then just get back to usual business.

 

[TomVexille]

Not much of an incentive given no real support on offer, the advice is stay home for 7 days.

Im in Melbourne atm, one of the friends I was hoping to catch up with is in iso, her hubby tested positive for covid in workplace testing on NYE, her and the 3 kids were negative on test they took on 1st but spent hours in PCR queue yesterday trying to get a clearance test (no RATs available), no priority given despite living with a positive, and her hubby got nothing other than 2 text messages, so why bother?

I suspect anyone testing positive on a privately acquired RAT (as opposed to one given by state as a close contact) wont report unless they start to feel very unwell. The states are not closely monitoring positives in their homes, far too many to police now. People will stay home for a week, then just get back to usual business.

As someone who started a new job in the last 6 months and has already been forced to use all of my accrued sick leave due to covid test/isolation requirements. The support on offer that I would likely need is the disaster payment, which you can't claim if you don't register.

Your attitude about this is clearly from a comfortable WFH situation.

 

[Pushka]

The incentive to report is that you then get access to support if required.

The emphasis is not to get more accurate numbers, but rather to be better able to support the infected.

Living with Covid is about managing health better. The PCR approach was no longer able to cope.

That doesn't provide an incentive to be honest and like anyone needing health care in an emergency it will either happen or not.

Post automatically merged: Jan 7, 2022

As someone who started a new job in the last 6 months and has already been forced to use all of my accrued sick leave due to covid test/isolation requirements. The support on offer that I would likely need is the disaster payment, which you can't claim if you don't register.

Your attitude about this is clearly form a comfortable WFH situation.

Yes that makes good sense.

But would you register for the perceived Health benefits only. There is no support for self employed people.

 

[jakeseven7]

The states are not closely monitoring positives in their homes anymore, as far too many to police now. People will stay home for a week, then just get back to usual business.

Exactly.

Some states have been more proactive and have put in pretty good systems that triage covid at home so they are more closely monitoring those with contributing underlyings - which is appropriate, but again for a vast majority of people some panadol and Gatorade is going to be all you need to get through it, if you are worried/need assistance call a GP and if you are severely ill go to the hospital. There isn't much more to it.

Unfortunately, many people are still weaning themselves off mainstream media who has catasrophised them to think we are all going to die - some calls we are getting now you would think they'd contracted Ebola....

Thankfully though we are seeing as more and more people are getting it mildly they are telling their friends and family that and we are seeing a more calm rational response.

We have another 3 workers down with it this week. I'm counting the hours until I get it!

 

[Bundy Bear]

We have one worker who caught up with a friend over the weekend who tested positive yesterday, work colleague was off work yesterday unwell and today and waiting for his likely positive result, not sure if I was a close enough contact to get it at work.

 

[jase05]

We have another 3 workers down with it this week. I'm counting the hours until I get it!

As are many others but obviously some have no sick leave or income whilst in isolation

 

[SydneySwan]

We have one worker who caught up with a friend over the weekend who tested positive yesterday, work colleague was off work yesterday unwell and today and waiting for his likely positive result, not sure if I was a close enough contact to get it at work.

If you were only in his vicinity for 3hrs 59mins or less you will be fine. However if for 4 hours you had better watch out.

 

[Pushka]

If you were only in his vicinity for 3hrs 59mins or less you will be fine. However if for 4 hours you had better watch out.

Unless in SA where it’s still 15 minutes, if you weren’t wearing masks, were inside, and - there’s one other rule - oh yes, within 1.5 metres of each other during that 15 minute period.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Doesn't help people who want to travel. Usually exemptions must include proof of a positive PCR test. So you should still get one I think.

 

[antycbr]

Unless in SA where it’s still 15 minutes, if you weren’t wearing masks, were inside, and - there’s one other rule - oh yes, within 1.5 metres of each other during that 15 minute period.

Let’s see how long that lasts once there’s no food on the supermarket shelves.

 

[dajop]

The incentive to report is that you then get access to support if required.

The emphasis is not to get more accurate numbers, but rather to be better able to support the infected.

Living with Covid is about managing health better. The PCR approach was no longer able to cope.

I think some are missing that it's not the healthcare support you're talking about - that will happen irrespective of test results. Aren't you really talking about financial support? Previously to be eligible for financial support whilst isolating you had to have a positive PCR test, now a positive RAT will make someone eligible for financial support.

 

[Lynda2475]

Your attitude about this is clearly from a comfortable WFH situation.

Nope I'm a contractor so if i dont work i dont get paid, no such thing as sick leave. I can wfh, but my employer can also insist i present onsite.

I have lost 2 jobs during this pandemic due to pandemic cutbacks and spent a total of 4 months out of work, no government payments claimed, so 1 week at home due to covid is nothing in comparison.

The post i replied to claimed a health benefit to self reporting, but that benefit isnt actually being offered to most. The states are no longer providing HRMs and thermometers and multiple daily health check calls as they were doing for positives in 2020 and up to Oct 2021, now you get an sms to stay home, only some get a call. Health benefit doubtful.

Claiming government benefits is an economic not a health motivator.