Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

Only in some settings.
Still required in all pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants etc

Still? Required? Yup, totally.

 

[jase05]

Still? Required? Yup, totally.

Can only go on recent experiences in both Palm Cove and Cairns and it was strictly enforced with plenty getting turned away. Must have went to 20 or 30 different bars, cafes and restaurants and not a single one wasn’t enforcing it

 

[jakeseven7]

Can only go on recent experiences in both Palm Cove and Cairns and it was strictly enforced with plenty getting turned away. Must have went to 20 or 30 different bars, cafes and restaurants and not a single one wasn’t enforcing it

Can’t speak to FNQ but sounds like a good pub crawl. Brisbane is a FFA thank goodness especially local jaunts.

 

[jase05]

Can’t speak to FNQ but sounds like a good pub crawl. Brisbane is a FFA thank goodness especially local jaunts.

I actually couldn’t believe how strict they were on it up there

 

[nutwood]

I actually couldn’t believe how strict they were on it up there

I haven't been that far north for a while but in my travels I've noticed the same phenomenon. 90% of the country couldn't care less but there's little pockets who are almost fanatical. My provisional hypothesis is that it comes from one business being OT and then the businesses surrounding don't want to be seen as negligent. This creates a societal positive feedback loop and thus it endures.
WA is an extreme example!

 

[jakeseven7]

I haven't been that far north for a while but in my travels I've noticed the same phenomenon. 90% of the country couldn't care less but there's little pockets who are almost fanatical. My provisional hypothesis is that it comes from one business being OT and then the businesses surrounding don't want to be seen as negligent. This creates a societal positive feedback loop and thus it endures.
WA is an extreme example!

My parents say they haven’t checked in for weeks in Perth….

 

[Port Power]

Testing is a farce though, no reportable RATs, clinics randomly shutting. The estimation is that WA probably has about 100+ a day now - but with all the other issues it could be even higher by now.

Yes, positive RATs do have to be reported.

 

[jakeseven7]

Yes, positive RATs do have to be reported.

Missed the point, but good moving in right direction. Slowly.

 

[JohnM]

My parents say they haven’t checked in for weeks in Perth….

Gosh - I wonder who else would have the brazen temerity to do that...

I see almost nobody checking in at the likes of Bunnings and Woolies/Coles. Why the hell would you if you could get pinged into 14 days (OK, now 7) isolation for being somewhere in a 10,000 square metre warehouse when one person might have come up positive somewhere around the time you happened to be there?

There's probably more checking in at restaurants (or pretending to... ) where peeps are in more direct gaze of a 'gatekeeper' - but that's just a guess...

 

[jakeseven7]

Gosh - I wonder who else would have the brazen temerity to do that...

I see almost nobody checking in at the likes of Bunnings and Woolies/Coles. Why the hell would you if you could get pinged into 14 days (OK, now 7) isolation for being somewhere in a 10,000 square metre warehouse when one person might have come up positive somewhere around the time you happened to be there?

There's probably more checking in at restaurants (or pretending to... ) where peeps are in more direct gaze of a 'gatekeeper' - but that's just a guess...

Hahaha exactly Mum has perfected the art of waving the phone intently over a QR code…. None of her mates are either they are all boosted and want to travel to see family and feel like they’ve been completely lied to over and over so are playing by their own rules now…. like heaps of people clearly in Perth RN.

I give it a few more weeks in WA before it’s junked there too.

 

[Port Power]

My parents say they haven’t checked in for weeks in Perth….

That is sad. During these early stages heading to reopen the border, I do think people should check in almost everywhere. Not if you’re just glancing over some item in the doorway of a shop perhaps.

Edit: to clarify heading to reopening the WA border.

 

[JohnM]

That is sad. During these early stages, I do think people should check in almost everywhere. Not if you’re just glancing over some item in the doorway of a shop perhaps.

Sorry, PP, but it is most definitely not 'early stages' any more. That is so early 2020.

The vast majority of the population is 'fully" (ie. 2X) vaccinated and approaching half are 'boosted'. The social contract is well met.

On top of that, Omicron is mild.

In fact, it's the answer to the maiden's prayer - conveying types of immunity that previous variants were not able to do. (Eg. Delta does not confer immunity to Omicron, but Omicron confers immunity to Delta).

As a triple-vaxxed person I actually want to catch Omicron to give me the best possible immunity to Covid-19 in general by enhancing the full spectrum of my antibody responses (notably T-cells) - in a way that vaccination alone cannot do.

 

[Port Power]

Sorry, PP, but it is most definitely not 'early stages' any more. That is so early 2020.

The vast majority of the population is 'fully" (ie. 2X) vaccinated and approaching half are 'boosted'. The social contract is well met.

On top of that, Omicron is mild.

In fact, it's the answer to the maiden's prayer - conveying types of immunity that previous variants were not able to do. (Eg. Delta does not confer immunity to Omicron, but Omicron confers immunity to Delta).

As a triple-vaxxed person I actually want to catch Omicron to give me the best possible immunity to Covid-19 in general by enhancing the full spectrum of my antibody responses (notably T-cells) - in a way that vaccination alone cannot do.

While I agree with the booster properties of catching Omicron, I still think check-in over here is appropriate and necessary. I did alter my post to give clarify my reason as the early stages of reopening our border. But hey, it’s a choice we choose.

Nevertheless, I am thankful for the reduction to 7 days quarantine. I am on a tight schedule returning from Melbourne and then flying up to Broome at the end of March. However, regulations might have eased further by then.

 

[DC3]

Yes, positive RATs do have to be reported.

Assuming that they are even available. No RAT, therefore no test, therefore no reporting to worry about.

 

[JohnM]

Assuming that they are even available. No RAT, therefore no test, therefore no reporting to worry about.

What's a RAT?

 

[jakeseven7]

What's a RAT?

Wait another year

 

[Must...Fly!]

Wait another year

Pity all the plastic (and debt...) will be around long after we aren't...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If we ignore WA and use hospitalisations as the trend indicator for infections in the community, Covid seems to be either declining, or going sideways, in all jurisdictions apart from the NT.

The Northern Territory now has Australia's highest rate of COVID-related hospitalisations per capita, with a rate nearly double the figure seen during New South Wales's coronavirus peak.​

​

Deakin University chair of epidemiology Catherine Bennett said at NSW's peak, the state had roughly 3.5 patients hospitalised with coronavirus per 10,000 residents.​

​

By comparison, she calculated the NT now had roughly 6.32 COVID-related hospitalisations per 10,000 people.​

​

Professor Bennett said the territory's high hospitalisation wasn't altogether surprising, considering many people in the NT had a "high risk profile".​

ICU and those ventilated are overall trending down, except for Qld who joined the Omicron wave late in the timeline.

Deaths are still significant but seem to have peaked. Remember though that death often occurs 4 to 6 weeks after infection and so many deaths have been from infections in Dec or early Jan.

WA when Covid eventually spreads through will most likely have low per capita health indicators and mortality rate due to that the vaccination rate, including boosters, will be high before most people will be exposed to Covid and especially the elderly Retirement Villages (Whereas in Vic and NSW in particular the Booster rollout was slower than it should have been). The caveat there will in some the rural areas where like NT coverage is not so good for vaccinations.

 

[oz_mark]

Pity all the plastic (and debt...) will be around long after we aren't...

Don't forget the masks

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Don't forget the masks

Yes mask litter far and wide....