Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[andye]

I disagree. Overwhelming majority of people testing positive are under 40. They have likely had to go online to procure RATs, and need some internet proficiency to have been able to download the app and register the test result in the first place. In the 16-40 cohort it is to be expected that more people will have used the internet to seek covid information, shop for iso supplies etc than would have a regular GP.

Fair enough (my lack of clarity there) but I would question the ubiquity of the ability to sort the wheat from the chaff of information
Very few vaccinated under 40s would trigger as being at-risk
The genuine health literacy of the unvaccinated is almost by definition appalling (rare unable to be vaccinated people excepted and they would be usually be having intensive medical engagement already)
How many people have an oximeter-I don't
You also underestimate the specialist skills of GPs in responding to the psychological aspect of illness and isolation
By all means don't involve a GP in your illness but many could benefit

 

[Lynda2475]

I would question the ubiquity of the ability to sort the wheat from the chaff of information

Which is why makes sense for NSW Health to send accurate information directly to those who test positive rather than complicating the communication via a 3rd party GP (unless that is requested) which many simply wont have. If its too hard they will consult Dr Google and risk getting incorrect advice. They registered via the app, give them guidance via the app in the first instance.

 

[andye]

Which is why makes sense for NSW Health to send accurate information directly to those who test positive rather than complicating the communication via a 3rd party GP (unless that is requested) which many simply wont have. If its too hard they will consult Dr Google and risk getting incorrect advice. They registered via the app, give them guidance via the app in the first instance.

Again you are misunderstanding the intent of the messaging. Information is given via the app including links to information and support. The GP is involved to assist those that would want and benefit from it.

 

[jakeseven7]

Again you are misunderstanding the intent of the messaging. Information is given via the app including links to information and support. The GP is involved to assist those that would want and benefit from it.

The person you are replying to has an issue with GPs in general that has been well documented in many past posts. We understand what you are saying, don’t worry

 

[Lynda2475]

Except clearly states "Information will be provided solely to GPs" so they need to correct that.

 

[Lynda2475]

has an issue with GPs in general

Not true (that is your opinion).

I have an issue with wasting health resources and then being unable to get treatment when you need it because the system is clogged with numpties seeking unnecessary appointments because information and covid vaccines aren't being distributed in more efficient manner.

 

[Pushka]

How many people have an oximeter-I don't

In the early stages I read an article of someone who thought they were doing ok with Covid. They were asked to check their oxygen levels by a friend which then recorded around 92 or so. He took himself to hospital. He didn't realise the levels had fallen. So I ordered one from Amazon 18 months ago.

 

[andye]

Except clearly states "Information will be provided solely to GPs" so they need to correct that.

As I said, ambiguously-worded, but I'm sure what they mean is "your information will be shared solely to GPs".
Previously in one of my LHDs all home Covid cases were managed by an ED Consultant (he was on-call 24/7 for months and I've no idea how he held up) via telehealth with support from specialist nurses. With the current numbers that's just not feasible.
From speaking to him, much of the medical work was with (i) assessing feelings of breathlessness, chest pain and headache-these were usually anxiety-related and didn't need hospital transfer but did need reassurance and experience of such symptoms to avoid serious illness being missed & (ii) psychological distress.
GPs have the potential and skills to provide some of that support.

 

[Lynda2475]

How many people have an oximeter

Quite a lot apparently as chemists have been repeatedly selling out of them, even before RATs became scarce.

This is likely because on at least 5 separate occasions recently Deputy CMO Kidd has been mentioned that we should all be compiling a covid treatment kit comprising thermometer, oximeter, Panadol/Ibuprofen and Hydrolite. Also heard same on the Project last night from someone else.

Noting that up until omicron, if you tested positive and were isolating at home the state used to send you a thermometer and oximeter so you could give stats to health when they called you to check on you, which they obviously don't have capacity to do anymore.

Oximeters cost about $30, still readily available on ebay and amazon, so I followed the Deputy CMO advice and ordered one a couple of weeks ago. If I get sick, an actual measurement of oxygen will be more accurate than talking with a GP who has never met me over a zoom call.

Further any younger person with a newer Samsung or apple smart watch, will know the health features on that can measure heart rate (although not as accurately as my HRM which uses a chest strap - something heaps of people also own for exercise programs) and also blood oxygen levels,

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NT (2700 active – 1000 public hospital beds, 20 public/private ICU beds)

5/1 117 positives, 2.1k tests, 21 hospital, 1 ICU
6/1 256 positives, 2.5k tests, 23 hospital, 2 ICU
7/1 412 positives, 2.8k tests, 19 hospital, 2 ICU
8/1 594 positives, 3.0k tests, 17 hospital, 1 ICU
9/1 481 positives, 2.5k tests, 24 hospital, 1 ICU
10/1 403 positives, 2.5k tests, 26 hospital, 1/2 ICU
11/1 594 positives, 2.2k tests, 32 hospital, 1 ICU
12/1 352 positives, 2.4k tests, 28 hospital, 1/2 ICU

WA (103 active – 5900 public hospital beds, 179 public/private ICU bed)

5/1 5 local positives, 6.1k tests
6/1 1 local positive, 6.4k tests
7/1 0 local positives, 4.6k tests
8/1 1 local positive, 4.8k tests
9/1 1 local positive, 3.4k tests
10/1 3 local positives, 6.1k tests
11/1 4 local positives, 4.6k tests
12/1 2 local positives – 1 unknown source (Delta backpacker 23, Omicron HQ leak 3 (+1)), 4.3k tests

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

720,000 active cases in Australia.

If you assumed at least +1 for close contact, this translates to 5.5% of Australia's estimated 26m population would have to isolate.

Hence the 'reason' for the emerging need for exceptions for work-related critical services (like healthcare, end of life, food distribution and manufacturing)

 

[andye]

Quite a lot apparently as chemists have been repeatedly selling out of them, even before RATs became scarce.

This is likely because on at least 5 separate occasions recently Deputy CMO Kidd has been mentioned that we should all be compiling a covid treatment kit comprising thermometer, oximeter, Panadol/Ibuprofen and Hydrolite. Also heard same on the Project last night from someone else.

Noting that up until omicron, if you tested positive and were isolating at home the state used to send you a thermometer and oximeter so you could give stats to health when they called you to check on you, which they obviously don't have capacity to do anymore.

Oximeters cost about $30, still readily available on ebay and amazon, so I followed the Deputy CMO advice and ordered one a couple of weeks ago. If I get sick, an actual measurement of oxygen will be more accurate than talking with a GP who has never met me over a zoom call.

Further any younger person with a newer Samsung or apple smart watch, will know the health features on that can measure heart rate (although not as accurately as my HRM which uses a chest strap - something heaps of people also own for exercise programs) and also blood oxygen levels,

Precisely the people who have almost zero chance of getting significantly sick from covid (though reasonable chance of anxiety-related symptoms).
As in many illnesses, the hospitalised ones are more likely to have pre-existing health problems, are less affluent and are less likely to have support at home. If they have multiple health problems, they may be medically-engaged but others are not

 

[Lynda2475]

If people want to invest in equipment to monitor their health therefore removing anxiety why shouldn't they?

I agree most of those in hospital with covid aren't actually there because of covid (and the hospitalization numbers should therefore be reported in two categories "due to covid" and "with covid") but its not just the less affluent that end up in hospital.

I wont be buying any hydrolite though, about 10 years ago they changed the formula and it now contains artificial sweeteners which cause me migraines.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW (337,818 active – 21,000 public hospital beds, 884 public/private ICU beds)
[previous peak hospital/ICU: 1268/242 - September 2021]
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 7/1

5/1 35,054 positives, 108k tests, 1491 hospital, 119 ICU
6/1 34,994 positives, 111k tests, 1609 hospital, 131 ICU
7/1 38,625 positives, 112k tests, 1738 hospital, 134 ICU
8/1 45,098 positives, 116k tests, 1795 hospital, 145 ICU
9/1 30,062 positives, 98k tests, 1927 hospital, 151 ICU
10/1 20,293 positives, 84k tests, 2030 hospital, 159 ICU
11/1 25,870 positives, 71k tests, 2186 hospital, 170 ICU
12/1 34,759 positives, 134k tests, 2242 hospital, 175 ICU
13/1 30,877 PCR+, 88k tests, 61,387 RAT+, 2383 hospital, 182 ICU

Victoria (221,726 active – 15,000 public hospital beds, 476 public/private ICU beds)
[previous peak hospital/ICU: 851/163 - October 2021]
Certain elective surgery suspended/paused - announced 6/1

5/1 17,636 positives, 59k tests, 591 hospital, 53 ICU active, 53 ICU cleared
6/1 21,997 positives, 64k tests, 631 hospital, 51 ICU active, 49 ICU cleared
7/1 21,728 positives, 68k tests, 644 hospital, 58 ICU active, 48 ICU cleared
8/1 24,928 PCR+, 89k tests, 5923/26,428 RAT+, 731* hospital, 109* ICU active + cleared
9/1 22,104 PCR+, 83k tests, 22,051 RAT+, 752 hospital, 104 ICU
10/1 17,618 PCR+, 78k tests, 17,190 RAT+, 818 hospital, 118 ICU
11/1 19,491 PCR+, 59k tests, 18,503 RAT+, 861 hospital, 117 ICU
12/1 21,693 PCR+, 61k tests, 18,434 RAT+, 946 hospital, 112 ICU
13/1 20,326 PCR+, 62k tests, 16,843 RAT+, 953 hospital, 111 ICU

Tasmania (7969 active – 1500 public hospital beds, 38 public/private ICU beds)

5/1 867 positives, 2.4k tests, 0/5 hospital
6/1 751 positives, 2.9k tests, 1/5 hospital
7/1 1489 positives, 5.2k tests, 3/8 hospital
8/1 1051 PCR+, 4.4k tests, 1172 RAT+, 4/10 hospital
9/1 598 PCR+, 3.2k tests, 808 RAT+, 4/15 hospital
10/1 397 PCR+, 2.2k tests, 821 RAT+, 11/17 hospital
11/1 364 PCR+, 2.3k tests, 1015 RAT+, 7/18 hospital
12/1 736 PCR+, 2.6k tests, 847 RAT+, 8/22 hospital
13/1 253 PCR+, 2.4k tests, 847 RAT+, 10/23 hospital (10 out of 23 are for covid symptoms)

 

[Lynda2475]

NSW updated its reporting, now also calling out:

• Booster doses
• 5-11 vaccinations
• RAT vs PCR

 

[Lynda2475]

13/1 30,877 PCR+, 88k tests, 61,387 RAT+, 2383 hospital, 182 ICU

Failed to point out that the 61k RAT are not all from yesterday.

per the official announcement:

**There were 61,387 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) reported yesterday (Wednesday), the first day of the new reporting system. These test results are from 1 January, with 50,729 of these positive tests from the last seven days.

Please note there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.

So the jump in cases due to RAT is not that significant on a daily basis only an extra 7.5k positive a day (50729/7).

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Victoria expands exemptions for COVID-19 isolation requirements​

Victoria will allow more people to return to work after being exposed to COVID-19, expanding exemptions to close contact requirements.

From next week, workers in education, transport, emergency services, critical utilities and freight will be exempt from the seven-day isolation requirements.

They must remain asymptomatic, get a rapid antigen test every day for five days, wear a mask and can’t use shared areas.

"They can proceed to do that critical work that we need them to do and in those circumstances and given where the pandemic is up to ... that is a safe setting and critically important that they play those key roles in those industries and the food sector more broadly," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Schools, essential workers on national cabinet agenda​

Australia's political leaders will be focusing on schools and essential workers as the Omicron wave of COVID-19 continues to spread.

Discussions on how to ensure schools stay open will be a major agenda item.

The other major topic of conversation today is expanding the list of services that are considered "essential" and should be covered by new isolation exemption rules.

Emergency services and food distribution workers who are close contacts are currently allowed to leave isolation and work, with some needing to have negative rapid tests every two days.

All leaders have received draft advice from the national expert health panel with a long list of which other workers should be included in the exemption.

 

[Lynda2475]

FYI

Should I buy a pulse oximeter to monitor COVID at home?

Pulse oximeters could be a handy tool to monitor COVID-19 symptoms at home, write Stuart Marshall and David A. Story.

www.abc.net.au

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Food manufacturers call for expanded access to rapid antigen testing​

It comes as national cabinet meets today to discuss ways to ease the shortage of workers in critical industries.

Federal, state and territory leaders will consider relaxing isolation rules for close contacts of COVID cases in a bid to ease supply chain issues that have led to empty supermarket shelves in many parts of the country.

CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council, Tanya Barden, says access to rapid tests is a key hurdle to getting workers back on the job.

"Particularly in NSW and Victoria the arrangements for close contacts there are requiring rapid daily antigen testing and so that's just not feasible at the moment which means it's difficult to bring back your close contacts because you don't have access to that rapid testing," she said.