Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Pushka]

Some honesty perhaps in SA?

https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/most-covid19-hospital-patients-in-the-dark-on-omicron-infections-new-sa-health-shows/news-story/96106ced48907290b211986dcd25c406

Most Covid-19 hospital patients ‘in the dark’ on Omicron infections, new SA Health shows​

"An SA Health snapshot last week showed 195 patients, or 55 per cent of the total 354, had their infections “detected on admission” as the system faced another record day.

Figures released for the first time also showed a vast majority of patients, or 81 per cent, were in the dark about their illness, sparking a new plea for South Australians to get tested."

Of course that will be used as a reason to be tested.

 

[JohnK]

Well no, it’s fact. Something some people struggle to comprehend. But what’s new?

Here we go again.

Comparing covid with the flu doesn't justify any decision. We've been managing the flu all wrong and we're now making the same mistake.

We are in the 3rd year of Covid and it's still running rampant all over the world.

 

[Beano]

You need to read the Tasmanian numbers further up the page. They put out the numbers who are in hospital because of the coronavirus and the numbers who were already admitted and diagnosed in hospital. The ratio is very consistent around 50/50.So those numbers in you link for Tasmania would mean ` 90 in hospital because they had corona virus. It is extremely likely that is the case around Australia so if you halve the numbers for Australians in hospital the January peak is possibly still higher as that was with the opening up of State borders when in most States very little immunity from previous infection.

As @N860CR says the numbers prove his point. It is a shame that apart from Tasmania public health keeps us in the dark re the true nubers in hospital purely because of covid. And as for the bleating of the AMA on hospital numbers our hospitals particularly in QLD and WA had these issues before 2020. In 2 hospitals i worked in an extra ward was opened every winter for flu cases.

I disagree, the numbers don't prove the point. In risk terms a 1 in 1,000,000 is a low risk. 1 in 10,000 is a high risk. Can we please not have conspiracy theories bandied about on this bulletin board.

 

[drron]

Not sure resorting to comparing Covid-19 with the flu, again, is helpful in any way.

How about a like for like analysis?

Since March 1st 2020 through to currently:

Covid 19 managed to leak from Hotel Quarantine over 40 times (publicly acknowledged) vs flu perhaps once.

Deaths from the flu = < 100
Deaths from Covid-19 = > 11,000

... approximately 110 x the deaths, and around 150,000 to 200,000 suffered/suffering from long Covid (including myself now onto month 4).

So under exactly the same restrictions, lock downs, mask requirements, hospitals under strain etc etc.

Deaths from Covid 19 reported on one day recently > 100 (and that is with Australia's restrictive definition of a Covid-19 related death AFAIK vs a number of European countries that include people who die within a month of being discharged).

It helps nobody to liken Covid-19 to 'the flu' and 'the flu's impact'.

Though the WHO estimated the mortality rate of the 68-69f flu epidemic to be 0.2% and so far this Covid pandemic to be 0.12%.

 

[N860CR]

Here we go again.

Comparing covid with the flu doesn't justify any decision. We've been managing the flu all wrong and we're now making the same mistake.

We are in the 3rd year of Covid and it's still running rampant all over the world.

Did I mention flu?

I disagree, the numbers don't prove the point. In risk terms a 1 in 1,000,000 is a low risk. 1 in 10,000 is a high risk. Can we please not have conspiracy theories bandied about on this bulletin board.

I'd say it's very low risk, especially given that's not a flat 1 in 10,000 (ie: someone in their 30s or 40s is considerably lower)

 

[MARTINE]

Its an easy question to the Health ministers in each state:

How many of the inpatient Covid positives are symptomatic of Covid?

And it is a question that no health minister is prepared to answer.

i had 4 today - all asymptomatic being treated for Non-covid conditions.

Thanks @Quickstatus .
Do you have some info re:
1/ admitted and sick DUE to Covid
2/ Vax status of group 1 - none/1/2/3/4?

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

Radical theory:

Everyone has had one - two - three - four - however many shots they wanted.
The Shots dont seems to stop infection or transmission

Rat for travel, get on with lives, everyone else just act however you want to as a responsible adult.

Too crazy?

 

[MARTINE]

Radical theory:

Everyone has had one - two - three - four - however many shots they wanted.
The Shots dont seems to stop infection or transmission

Rat for travel, get on with lives, everyone else just act however you want to as a responsible adult.

Too crazy?

Not the question I requested response to…
I concur though

 

[Princess Fiona]

Radical theory:

Everyone has had one - two - three - four - however many shots they wanted.
The Shots dont seems to stop infection or transmission

Rat for travel, get on with lives, everyone else just act however you want to as a responsible adult.

Too crazy?

Stopping infection or transmission is not the end goal of vaccination for Covid.
It’s minimizing severe disease and death.

During a 10 hour shift in ED I personally would see half a dozen or so patients presenting sick / symptomatic who have Covid and typical symptoms. Some know they have it before presentation but not all.
Probably similar amounts of patients who present for completely unrelated reasons who also have Covid.

A lot of babies with RSV, a lot of Influenza A in both adults and kids.
If we didn’t have the levels of vaccination that we have now the Covid numbers would be bigger.

What’s happening in hospitals during winter right now with ambulance ramping and 48 hour stays in ED waiting for a bed is multi factorial but does include the impact of Covid not just numbers but hot and cold zones, staff shortages etc.

I’m back traveling again. Can’t wait for everything to be back to normal.
But the pandemic is not over from what I can see.

 

[MARTINE]

Stopping infection or transmission is not the end goal of vaccination for Covid.
It’s minimizing severe disease and death.

During a 10 hour shift in ED I personally would see half a dozen or so patients presenting sick / symptomatic who have Covid and typical symptoms. Some know they have it before presentation but not all.
Probably similar amounts of patients who present for completely unrelated reasons who also have Covid.

A lot of babies with RSV, a lot of Influenza A in both adults and kids.
If we didn’t have the levels of vaccination that we have now the Covid numbers would be bigger.

What’s happening in hospitals during winter right now with ambulance ramping and 48 hour stays in ED waiting for a bed is multi factorial but does include the impact of Covid not just numbers but hot and cold zones, staff shortages etc.

I’m back traveling again. Can’t wait for everything to be back to normal.
But the pandemic is not over from what I can see.

Thanks @Princess Fiona -
Amen to back to normal.
I did find some stats from a Vic hospital that identified over 50% of sickest ie ICU had no vaccination (majority by choice) . I dont know why this is not more openly messaged by gov as its a good news stat that could motivate more take up?
I was interested in the hospital based clinicians experience
Tx

 

[drron]

Though an interesting article from the NEJM on effectiveness of immunity. Turns out that having infection followed by 1 shot of the vaccine is more effective than a recent third shot.



The figures for the third shot are only for the first 2 months after that shot but 1 shot followed by Covid is nearly as effective as the third shot but out to 6 months from the infection.

Protection and Waning of Natural and Hybrid Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 | NEJM

Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Protection and Waning of Natural and Hybrid Immunity to SARS-CoV-2

www.nejm.org

 

[Quickstatus]

Do you have

Nope, don’t have
Interestingly the ones I’ve seen in hospital in the month of July (including the 4 today) have all became Covid+ after admission.
Not all had symptoms. They were tested after a family member became positive

 

[scaredeycat]

Good to see so many on this forum confident in their belief that the threat of Covid has been completely over blown; comparing current death rates with previous 'flu epidemics and saying let's get on with our lives.
Unfortunately the reality that I see in my daily work is rather different. I've been working in medicine for more than 30 years and have never seen so many patients disabled by post viral symptoms. I used to see one or two people a month prior to 2021 with what was usually described as chronic fatigue syndrome, many of whom were dismissed as malingerers. Nowadays I am seeing 4 or 5 people every day with chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness and palpitations. Sure, I haven't had a single patient actually die of Covid, but I am shocked by the numbers of previously perfectly healthy people who are now struggling with symptoms.
And although some people on this forum point out the lack of data supporting the efficacy of masks, I choose to wear one whenever I am at work, in crowds or shops and anticipate that I will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

 

[scaredeycat]

I also think that it has been extremely unhelpful that the issue has been politicised. This was the opening of parliament today. Draw your own conclusions...

 

[N860CR]

View attachment 285782I also think that it has been extremely unhelpful that the issue has been politicised. This was the opening of parliament today. Draw your own conclusions...

Because some people are wearing totally pointless single use surgical and home made cloth masks (that achieve nothing) while others aren’t? Hate to say it, but it’s the mask brigade who are politicising.

I’m all for logical, practical and useful measures. I’m just yet to see any in practice.

 

[JohnK]

Radical theory:

Everyone has had one - two - three - four - however many shots they wanted.
The Shots dont seems to stop infection or transmission

Rat for travel, get on with lives, everyone else just act however you want to as a responsible adult.

Too crazy?

Not that crazy but it can take 2-3 RAT tests to detect infection.

If you can stop infectious people circulating in the community (not just travel) I'll support your radical theory.

 

[drron]

View attachment 285782I also think that it has been extremely unhelpful that the issue has been politicised. This was the opening of parliament today. Draw your own conclusions...

But compare that photo to the one when the PM had his second booster shot in a Rozelle pharmac_. no mask and no social distancing.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/pm-anthony-albanese-rolls-up-sleeve-for-fourth-covid19-vaccine/news-story/ae3bdb078e1c03de42884aac62d6f3fe

 

[MooTime]

But compare that photo to the one when the PM had his second booster shot in a Rozelle pharmac_. no mask and no social distancing.
View attachment 285816

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/pm-anthony-albanese-rolls-up-sleeve-for-fourth-covid19-vaccine/news-story/ae3bdb078e1c03de42884aac62d6f3fe

Hard to social distance when receiving a needle isn't it??

@N860CR surely cloth masks give a little protection....I mean I wash mine regularly & even spray it with some commercial (zoono) product.
I'm really just interested how long I can go without catching covidski.

 

[Pushka]

Hard to social distance when receiving a needle isn't it??

@N860CR surely cloth masks give a little protection....I mean I wash mine regularly & even spray it with some commercial (zoono) product.
I'm really just interested how long I can go without catching covidski.

Aren't masks still required in medical situations? Includes opticians, pharmacies, etc etc.

And didn’t he have Covid in May which means he can’t have a booster for 4 months.

 

[RAM]

Aren't masks still required in medical situations? Includes opticians, pharmacies, etc etc.

In several major Sydney hospitals currently - doctors, nurses, orderlies, admin etc are allowed up to 2 masks per day. Emphasis on 'up to'.