Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Been digging into the Casula situation and read NSW Health 11/7 daily update.

News - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics

Seven new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,285. Of today’s new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

www.health.nsw.gov.au

Of interest, (my bolding)

Of today’s new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine. The other two cases are the man who visited Casula’s Crossroads Hotel on 3 July and the traveller from Melbourne.

Surely this has to be the upstream source?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Been digging into the Casula situation and read NSW Health 11/7 daily update.

News - COVID-19 (Coronavirus) statistics

Seven new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,285. Of today’s new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine.

www.health.nsw.gov.au

Of interest, (my bolding)

Of today’s new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine. The other two cases are the man who visited Casula’s Crossroads Hotel on 3 July and the traveller from Melbourne.

Surely this has to be the upstream source?

Replying to myself, but it doesn’t explain why NSW Health doesn’t think they found the source as ABC quoted them saying as much at today’s 11am conference.

I’m so confused. Hopefully someone can be a real journalist tomorrow and ask the NSW CMO. Is the Melbourne person mentioned as a case on 11/7 the upstream link or not?

 

[Hvr]

I liken it to the roulette wheel.. some will lose and some will win.

Actually on the roulette table virtually every player loses, only the house wins.

Well HVR why then was an inquiry in the Victorian Parliament into the security industry voted down by the Labor majority in the Upper House.

I have no idea, but I suspect it wasn't for reasons that will stand up to scrutiny. All political parties do things that are dodgy. Far too few of these dodgy actions are ever properly exposed. Lets hope the impending judicial review of the hotel follies really does get to the truth.

 

[jakeseven7]

RE: Sydney pub cluster: Given it was missed for potentially 7 days (no ones fault) there now could be an undertow of transmissions moving through SW Sydney and there are two unknown sources at least for both outbreaks.

Now there is a second unrelated (yet) but close outbreak at a gym, I wonder what NSW will do? Lock down a few suburbs? People down there drive around quite a bit...not a heap of density and PT... It may have spread some distance...

Hopefully not as far as all the massive parties and sporting games in the East...

NSW Police forced to shut down multiple eastern suburbs parties

Nine News reported that one party, in particular, had over 100 guests at a house in the Eastern Suburbs home on Saturday night before an after-party was held at another location in Bondi.

www.smh.com.au

'Are we all in this together?': Police investigate as photos of packed out trial rugby game emerge

NSW Police say they are conducting inquiries around a trial rugby game in Bellevue Hill following resident concerns about social distancing.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Hvr]

RE: Sydney pub cluster: Given it was missed for potentially 7 days (no ones fault)

And there lies the difference between a state with a Liberal party premier (NSW), and a state with a Labor party premier (VIC).

Here in Victoria the Labor premier is considered personally responsible for every cluster of a COVID-19 outbreak.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And are the Victorian Government unaware of the findings of the Fair Work Ombudsman in 2018 in respect to the Security Industry and under payments.

They are well aware. As are all the State Governments and also Local Goverment where it has been a particular problem.

For several years I have had assisted the Fair Work Ombusdman get their message out with respect under paying workers, sham contract arrangements to facilitate it for workers such as security workers, cleaners and others.

One of the tests that should be done in awarding contracts is can the work be done by paying the workers properly. In Local Government often contracts were awarded where this was not possible. In this case it was probably possible, but I suspect funds that should have gone to paying adequate wages and training were probably fleeced off by the head and subcontractors.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Obviously the security company and the guards have a case to answer, but I found it arguably more worrying that (if it’s true), some security breaches were reported to a senior official and no action was taken,

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Unfortunately another outbreak in SW Sydney... In same suburb as the pub outbreak.... this time in a gym but again the have not been able to identify the source yet... or link it to the pub outbreak

Gladys Berejiklian said the community transmission outbreak in south-western Sydney had put the state on "high alert" and "literally at a crossroads" in its fight against the pandemic

'An evolving situation': Sydney gym closes after member tests positive for COVID-19

Planet Fitness Casula was forced to close for a deep clean on Sunday after one of its members tested positive for COVID-19.

www.smh.com.au

So about now is certainly when I would imagine the NSW Government should be considering a localised set of restrictions based around these two clusters which may well be linked.. Particularly as in NSW the background restrictions will do little to prevent mixing.

 

[jase05]

How long does that system last? I agree, that sucks big time. It just isn't happening here in SA.

It is/was most definitely happening here.
We have a couple of rental properties and in one of them we did not receive rent for 6 weeks. Luckily my wife and I have actually been working longer hours since the pandemic started so we were able to cover the shortfall. They are really good tenants which made it easy to make arrangements between the real estate agent, tenants and myself

 

[p--and--t]

It is/was most definitely happening here.
We have a couple of rental properties and in one of them we did not receive rent for 6 weeks. Luckily my wife and I have actually been working longer hours since the pandemic started so we were able to cover the shortfall. They are really good tenants which made it easy to make arrangements between the real estate agent, tenants and myself

Agree. I own several suburban residential properties in SA and been dealing with a handful of different agents and certainly SA has not been immune to the problem in residential tenancies, despite some statements to the contrary.

Additionally, many owners in Melbourne have been hit hard due to their properties, normally occupied by overseas students, currently vacant and likely to be vacant at a minimum for the remainder of the year, probably longer. Also, normal aussie tenants abandoning their leases because of job loss or reduced hours they can't afford the rent and don't see themselves being able to pay it after the embargo on evictions expiring. A lot of childless couples moving home with mum and dad or sharing with another couple.

 

[jakeseven7]

And there lies the difference between a state with a Liberal party premier (NSW), and a state with a Labor party premier (VIC).

Here in Victoria the Labor premier is considered personally responsible for every cluster of a COVID-19 outbreak.

I don’t think the virus being dead really cares about politics and neither do I really, one thing we have in common.

I am interested in though are we learning on the run? What should Sydney now be doing with these two community transmission clusters to manage the outbreak?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I am interested in though are we learning on the run? What should Sydney now be doing with these two community transmission clusters to manage the outbreak?

Just catching up on the news that everyone who attended the hotel in that time duration have been asked to isolate for 14 days. Prudent IMO.
Has this also been done with the nearby gym?

Also as you reported Dr Nick Coatsworth, Deputy Chief Medical Officer indicated that NSW are bringing in asymptomatic testing for Casula (ie anyone can get tested and not just the symptomatic). And in essence said this was a hotspot measure and was not good bang for your buck elsewhere in NSW.

Speed to act is important and so I would guess NSW will be closely watching for new cases tomorrow and in particular if new clusters like the gym pop up. Another one or two like that and you would imagine that extra restrictions would occur.



Just listened to his Nick's press conference which had a lot of interesting snippets and background information on a wide range of Covid 19 matters.
One comment on the Israeli experience that with spread amongst older students that much of that spread was from activities of the cohort outside of the classroom. This has relevance to the Al-Taqwa College outbreak where older students feature. Nick also indicated with schools generally that a lot of the spread was from the behaviours of the families, rather than students in the school. He also reiterated that the Vicmove make to online learning for many was driven mainly by not wanting 700,000 odd people making extra trips and mixing rather than actual spread in the classroom..

 

[moa999]

And there lies the difference between a state with a Liberal party premier (NSW), and a state with a Labor party premier (VIC).

If it spreads further I'm sure the NSW Govt will come in for just the same treatment. With the number of cases and a rapid spread environment (a pub and gym) I'd be hoping suburb restrictions are brought in very quickly

 

[jakeseven7]

The Sydney outbreak has now resulted in ADF base members needing to isolate and a Federal MP is now isolating too.

As fears over a Sydney pub outbreak grow, 12 airforce base members in NSW has been put into isoloation.

At least nine of NSW's new virus cases have been linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula and it is understood 13 defence force members visited while infected people were there.



Over 1000 people have been asked to isolate regardless of presenting symptoms. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirms the source has still not been located in either the pub or gym outbreaks.

As the day unfolded: New restrictions on NSW pubs after Crossroads Hotel outbreak as Victoria records 177 new COVID-19 cases

Cases in Victoria continued to rise over the weekend as the NSW government warned that state was also at a crucial moment..

www.smh.com.au

Federal MP self-isolates after dining at Sydney pub linked to nine coronavirus cases

NSW Health confirms nine coronavirus cases are linked to the Crossroads Hotel in south-west Sydney, with an 18-year-old staff member one of those to have tested positive.

mobile.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

When someone makes very poor decision making that results in a significant issue then likely there will be questions made as to the reasoning of those people making the decision. And back in March, Gladys was primarily responsible for the tragedy that was Ruby Princess spreading through Australia. People don't forget that either. In her defence it was just the beginning but nonetheless those people needed further assessment. That is why there is currently an enquiry.

I have no idea why the colour of the politics keeps on being drawn into the discussion when both colours have done extremely well or extremely poorly based on decisive action at the right time or poor action or made too late. I'm sick of it. It's completely irrelevant.

 

[Beano]

The colour of politics is relevant if you are aware of the different positions on each side. On one side we have business interests and the needs of those businesses to generate profit. On the other we have the accent on caring for people. In New Zealand, from the party rhetoric, if the National party were in power then New Zealand would have had no lock-down and open borders, or at least significantly delayed, and have 10 times the cases and many more deaths, all in the name of keeping businesses open.

 

[Pushka]

The colour of politics is relevant if you are aware of the different positions on each side. On one side we have business interests and the needs of those businesses to generate profit. On the other we have the accent on caring for people. In New Zealand, from the party rhetoric, if the National party were in power then New Zealand would have had no lock-down and open borders, or at least significantly delayed, and have 10 times the cases and many more deaths, all in the name of keeping businesses open.

And in SA we have a Liberal Government that was elected on the basis of Small Business development and we were locked down and borders closed. They are still closed to Victoria, NSW and ACT. And we are still in Emergency Situation so currently the Police Commissioner is controlling all the directions of the State. And the Health CMO is controlling the release conditions under which Businesses can operate.. They constantly state that their goal is stopping the spread of Covid and they will deal with the business aftermath later and support as much as they can in the meantime. Can't agree. And as a small business owner we have been heavily impacted by border closures etc etc and so I should be antsy.

And just maybe if the NZ Opposition were actually in power their rhetoric would be completely different. It's easy to be complacent and "brave" when you aren't the ones making decisions.

 

[SydneySwan]

Whilst we are on politics, John Barilaro, the leader of the National Party in NSW and Deputy Premier, has kindly offered to host the Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final and the Australian Open tennis in NSW.

I am sure Victoria really appreciate this offer and expect an announcement accepting it sometime this morning.

 

[Pushka]

Whilst we are on politics, John Barilaro, the leader of the National Party in NSW and Deputy Premier, has kindly offered to host the Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final and the Australian Open tennis in NSW.

I am sure Victoria really appreciate this offer and expect an announcement accepting it sometime this morning.

. The AFL are in a situation where there won't be a choice. But their acceptance will be phrased in such a way as to make it sound like the AFL are being proactive and moving it to a location to better promote AFL in a State that focuses on a different football code.
Melbourne Cup - they will run it without the crowds. The Tennis - when we attended one match a couple of years ago we were jammed in so tight whilst waiting to enter that people were fainting!

And then there is the Boxing Day Test match!

 

[jase05]

NSW Medical Officer just said that the pub with the outbreak is frequented by truck drivers…who drive freight across the country. They’re now calling for assistance from other states to assist with this.