Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[blackcat20]

This was widely reported yesterday, cant really blame covid when they were already terminal.

'Sebby' defied all odds after being given eight months to live. Then he contracted COVID-19

A south-west Sydney boy with a rare genetic condition who "defied predictions" about his life expectancy becomes the youngest person in NSW to die after contracting COVID-19.

www.abc.net.au

Actually you can if his death was hastened by Covid. Just because he was terminal doesn’t make it ok that he died after contracting Covid.

 

[Lynda2475]

Actually you can if his death was hastened by Covid. Just because he was terminal doesn’t make it ok that he died after contracting Covid.

Disagree, he died with Covid not from Covid, just makes fodder for the media to panic people about a very low impact to under 5s.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Actually you can if his death was hastened by Covid. Just because he was terminal doesn’t make it ok that he died after contracting Covid.

And there are some 'miracle' instances where people live long past their initial diagnosis - some 'miracle' children get married and have kids of their own - yes rare, but that's really close to a miracle.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

ACT (5681 active – 1200 public hospital beds, 37 public/private ICU beds)
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused at 1 hospital - announced 7/1

2/1 506 positives, 3.6k tests, 9 hospital, 1 ICU
3/1 514 positives, 3.5k tests, 11 hospital, 2 ICU
4/1 926 positives, 4.3k tests, 13 hospital, 1 ICU
5/1 810 positives, 3.4k tests, 16 hospital, 1 ICU
6/1 992 positives, 3.3k tests, 20 hospital, 2 ICU
7/1 1246 positives, 4.5k tests, 24 hospital, 3 ICU
8/1 1305 positives, 4.3k tests, 24 hospital, 5 ICU
9/1 1039 positives, 3.1k tests, 27 hospital, 4 ICU
10/1 938 positives, 5.2k tests, 25 hospital, 4 ICU

 

[Pushka]

We know from RAT that one is positive but two PCR’s done first thing Sat morning aren’t back yet. Given RATs aren’t supposed to be diagnostic in SA until Thursday it’s pretty pathetic.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I wonder with quite a few PCR+ numbers dipping (still waiting for Qld and SA) whether we have seen the top of the peak - coinciding with less movement post Xmas/NY celebrations

 

[MooTime]

Out of interest, briefly why do we think the "Peak" will be in next couple weeks?
What theory is that based on, I mean there's plenty with Omnicron-Covid, but there's till plenty plenty more pp without catch covid, why would the peak be very soonish?

I'm just thinking predicting the Peak is like predicting the peak in Share price of a stock or peak of Gold price etc etc. How can this be predicted with any confidence?

certain $$ of pop infected theory somehow??

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Out of interest, briefly why do we think the "Peak" will be in next couple weeks?
What theory is that based on, I mean there's plenty with Omnicron-Covid, but there's till plenty plenty more pp without catch covid, why would the peak be very soonish?

I'm just thinking predicting the Peak is like predicting the peak in Share price of a stock or peak of Gold price etc etc. How can this be predicted with any confidence?

certain $$ of pop infected theory somehow??

To me, I looked at South Africa and UK starting to dip and also Australia gradually getting to post-holiday movements as factors.

But yes predicting a peak with confidence is difficult.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Victoria introduces booster mandate for workers in some settings​

The Victorian government has announced a requirement for workers in health care, aged care, disability, emergency services, correctional facility, quarantine accommodation and food distribution will be required to get a third dose before being able to return to work onsite.

These workers must already show proff of being double vaccinated and were among the first workers to get their first and second shots last year.

The orders come into effect at 11:59pm on Wednesday night and workers who are eligible for the booster from that date will have until February 12 to get the third dose.

Workers not yet eligible to get the third dose will have three months.

Retail supermarket staff are not included in the mandate. Nor will it apply to workers who have a valid medical exemption.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Victoria to close down indoor dancefloors, encourages people to work from home​

Also in the changes announced, indoor dancefloors in hospitality and entertainment venues will also close from 11:59pm on Wednesday January 12.

Venues can still operate and there are no changes to density settings.

• Indoor dancefloors at weddings will be permitted, but hosts and guests are urged to consider putting them outside if possible.
• There are strong recommendations that people work from home if they can.
• Patrons at hospitalilty and entertainment venues urged to choose seated service and to use a rapid antigen test before visiting (if they can get hold of them).
• Residents at aged care centres will be allowed up to 5 visitors per day, but all must return a negative RAT before entering. If no RAT are available, residents can have no more than two visitors
• Visitors in hospital must have received two doses of a COVID vaccine or return a negative RAT before entering. Adults who are not fully vaccinated must wear an N95 mask during their visit, while standard face masks are mandated for children aged 8+
• Woerkers in manufacturing, distribution or packaging of food and beverages including retail supermarket workers may be exempted from close contact isolation requirements in order to attend work from 11:59pm January 12 if it is necessary for the continuity of operations and other options are exhausted. Exempted workers must be asymptomatic and undertake daily RAT for 5 days and return a negative result.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Queensland reports 9,581 new cases, 419 in hospital but not all data available​

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is speaking in Brisbane.

She says there are 9,581 new cases to report today, including 3,714 rapid antigen tests, but they are still waiting on some results from private pathology labs.

She says there are 419 people in hospital, including 21 in ICU, seven of those on ventilators.

Ms Palaszczuk says the state's vaccination rate is up to 87.79 per cent fully vaccinated.

Queensland Chief Health Officer John Gerrard is speaking about hospitalisation and ICU numbers in the state. He says the intensive care number, overall, is "a small number by Queensland standards".

"The overall hospitalisation rate, particularly the ward rate, is increasing steadily. We expect that rate to increase significantly in the next week or thereabouts," he says.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

To me, I looked at South Africa and UK starting to dip and also Australia gradually getting to post-holiday movements as factors.

But yes predicting a peak with confidence is difficult.

Both the UK and South Africa have populations who pre_Omicron had a large proportion of people who had already had Covid. So comparing to Australia where pre_Omicron only small % had already had Covid makes us quite different. Having had Covid already does not prevent reinfection, but I would tend to think it assists.


But yes agree that there is a lot less social mixing happening now. Though 18 to 39 year olds make up a majority of cases and that group socialises more.

 

[drron]

Tasmania today.


Of the people in hospital 11 are because of covid.
Vaccination rates looking very good.

 

[ethernet]

Victoria mandates third vaccine dose for some industries as COVID-19 hospitalisations rise

The state recorded 34,808 new cases from both at home and laboratory-run tests. There are 161,065 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria.

www.abc.net.au

Basically essential workers with a risk component now required to have a third dose. While correct, it spits on any national cabinet deliberations, and gives no reasons for the change of heart. It is self evident ATAGI chose to wait too long - or knew stock levels and logistics were inadequate. I predict the other states will adopt this measure. In the US, they trained volunteers to give shots. I suggest the song 'Don't worry, be happy' be added to 3 hour plus call waiting lines as telephone muzak.

I add that the breakthrough rates for those who had AZ are higher.

 

[Lynda2475]

I predict the other states will adopt this measure.

Other states (NSW, ACT and WA) already announced this earlier than Vic.

 

[N860CR]

Both the UK and South Africa have populations who pre_Omicron had a large proportion of people who had already had Covid. So comparing to Australia where pre_Omicron only small % had already had Covid makes us quite different. Having had Covid already does not prevent reinfection, but I would tend to think it assists.


But yes agree that there is a lot less social mixing happening now. Though 18 to 39 year olds make up a majority of cases and that group socialises more.

Very low vaccination rate in South Africa. We seem to forget sometimes that Australia has amongst the highest vaccination rate in the world.

 

[antycbr]

Very low vaccination rate in South Africa. We seem to forget sometimes that Australia has amongst the highest vaccination rate in the world.

But we “let it rip” after doing nothing, I tell you *nothing* to prepare…

 

[Must...Fly!]

Very low vaccination rate in South Africa. We seem to forget sometimes that Australia has amongst the highest vaccination rate in the world.

There is a lot we forget in this country. Part of being at the end of the world.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Qld (81,581 active – 13,000 public hospital beds, 408 public/private ICU beds)
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 8/1

2/1 3587 positives, 33k tests, 112 hospital, 5 ICU
3/1 4249 positives, 30k tests, 147 hospital, 10 ICU
4/1 5699 positives, 33k tests, 170 hospital, 11 ICU
5/1 6781 positives, 29k tests, 265 hospital, 10 ICU
6/1 10,332 positives, 34k tests, 284 hospital, 12 ICU
7/1 10,953 positives, 36k tests, 313 hospital, 14 ICU
8/1 11,174 positives, 33k tests, 349 hospital, 17 ICU
9/1 13,680 PCR+, 37k tests, 4320 RAT+, 380 hospital, 23 ICU
10/1 5867 PCR+, 21k tests, 3714 RAT+, 419 hospital, 21 ICU (*some non-reporting labs)

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Very low vaccination rate in South Africa. We seem to forget sometimes that Australia has amongst the highest vaccination rate in the world.

And an older population, better access to healthcare and much less crowded and superior living and working conditions.

There is little in common between SA and Australia.