Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Victorian Premier noted they would be looking carefully at the data, and CHO mentioned they would be doing a deep dive. Interesting that 17% of new cases (101) today were in one LGA - Wyndham, and almost 35% (201) in three LGA's - Wyndham, Hume and Whittlesea. But on the flipside, almost 2/3 cases were outside these hotspots.

I think the 50+ cases of community transmission (ie no known source) per day happening for a while (a month?) is the bigger problem.

The current restrictions is only keeping replication at 1. Vic is hoping to halve and halve again the headline daily number as the replication rate, which in turn should drive community transmission down.

So it seems pretty clear in the next few days, even tomorrow, we will get an announcement along the lines of a NZ shutdown.

Economically there is JobKeeper and the other safety net, which clearly Melburnians can continue to access.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Oh dear....

DHHS head office staffer tests positive

A staff member at Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) head office has tested positive for coronavirus.

"The staff member worked at 50 Lonsdale Street before becoming unwell, but was not infectious at the time," a DHHS spokesperson said.

"He did the right thing got tested on the same day he developed symptoms, and has been isolating since.

"All appropriate public health measures including contact tracing have been undertaken.

"While DHHS staff are working from home where possible, the Department's offices remain open to the essential staff who are working around the clock to find and contain coronavirus."

 

[Lynda2475]

Well I have been saying that because of this virus, there should be better terms and conditions on a range of tourism products (And probably extends to a range of contracts)....so that people can change to meet the changing State border/health requirements.

Eg Qantas’ free one time change is now ridiculous......not fair in this environment.

But there is - so far my total out of pocket for all corona cancelled trips (those booked before and after the outbreak) is a $15 booking fee, operators have been very understanding And btw the QF free one time change isn't enforced. I got a credit for a ADL flight when SA closed the border, used it in part to pay for CNS flight which I had to cancel this week, and it was given back as another credit - so that is 2 free changes. When the border actually closes easier than a simple change of mind.

The thing is the Qld 3 knew they would have to pay for a quarantine hotel before they travelled (its been in place for over a month), and if willing to share a room they could have saved paid less. They deliberately bought indirect flight to hide the fact they had been in Victoria, I have zero sympathy for this blatant criminal behaviour. Paid quarantine is now a cost of travel if you choose to go to a hot spot, so if you cant afford it you cant afford to travel. Just like if you cant afford travel health insurance for overseas trips, you cant afford to go. Travel is a privilege not a right, tax payers should not have to fund quarantine for a leisure trip which commenced after covid-19 was a known thing.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Some good news for those on the Apple Isle.....

Tasmania back down to zero active cases

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein had some positive news for Tasmanians this arvo.

He said the state was now once again coronavirus-free, with zero active cases after the recovery of a woman who had tested positive while in quarantine.

Tasmania recorded a total of 227 COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths.

It has been nine days since Tasmania recorded a new case.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

But there is - so far my total out of pocket for all corona cancelled trips (those booked before and after the outbreak) is a $15 booking fee, operators have been very understanding And btw the QF free one time change isn't enforced. I got a credit for a ADL flight when SA closed the border, used it in part to pay for CNS flight which I had to cancel this week, and it was given back as another credit - so that is 2 free changes. When the border actually closes easier than a simple change of mind.

good that it worked out for you (seemingly because of what is effectively a closed border), but quite often when a government puts out a recommendation, the consumer won’t be allowed to choose and still avoid the change/cancellation penalty.

ps I’d prefer my money back than leaving my money on continual changes

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

A reminder warning that masks is not 100% effective........of course I don’t know how these people actually got infected.

Outbreak at Melbourne's St Vincent's hospital

There has been a coronavirus outbreak at Melbourne's St Vincent's Hospital in a ward that provides care to immuno-comprised patients with complex multi-system disorders and single organ donation problems.
Six staff thus far have tested positive to COVID-19 in the hospital's general medicine ward.
Staff in the ward must wear PPE at all times, and all patients are being treated as if they're COVID-19 positive.

 

[drron]

There is nothing guaranteed in medicine.Where I worked on the General medical wards in the blue zone-ie with patients that might have Covid but more than likely not we had to wear PPE but not goggles or face shields.
In the Orange zone-patients that were not yet test positive but were likely to be positive then the whole rigmarole + goggles.
In the red zone-positive covid patients a face shield as well.Those that staffed the red zone were volunteers.There were 3 teams.They each worked a week then isolated for 2.Despite that 1 nurse developed covid.Definitely hadn't been anywhere else and only contacts were the patients and the rest of that team who all tested negative.Quite possibly a defective piece of PPE.

 

[moa999]

It's definitely a weird disease.
Nurses and Doctors taking high level precautions get infected.

And yet I know of two cases (one personally from NY and one locally through Facebook) where one partner hasn't given it to the other despite typical apartment style living.

 

[RooFlyer]

Tasmania back down to zero active cases

Yay .. and a bit more from premier Gutwein's presser today.

The biggest news for me is that SA doesn't recognise 'transit' at Melbourne airport and treats anyone transiting MEL as a 'Victorian'. So if we from Tas want to visit SA, we have to take a direct flight (no biggie .. would probably choose that anyway, except its Jetstar . Yes, even during a pandemic, I'm a proud DYKWIA!).

But these are welcome:

* From today, even essential travelers to Tas from Victoria and other designated hot spots (ie exempt from quarantine) will be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing.

* Freight and logistics operators must also undergo tests on arrival unless they have evidence of having being tested within seven days of their arrival in Tasmania.

* He said 11 interstate travellers have been turned around since July 9 after attempting to enter the state from virus hot spots and three people had been charged with breaching quarantine protocols.

* The government said essential travelers from hot spots were unlikely to be granted exemptions to travel to Tasmania unless there were exceptional circumstances such as medical treatment or industry-critical circumstances.

* He noted changes to Tasmania’s border restrictions to the ACT and Queensland next week, however said this will be reviewed at a “day-by-day basis” (SA, WA, NT Ok to go to ... but the Sandgropers won't let us in

* He said those caught flouting restrictions faced fines of up to $16,800 and up to six months in prison.

 

[jakeseven7]

Sorry Anna

——
Breaking : The NT has declared Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan as coronavirus hotspots. Anyone travelling to the NT from these areas will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

 

[DC3]

Breaking : The NT has declared Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan as coronavirus hotspots. Anyone travelling to the NT from these areas will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

Can’t imagine why those areas are now hotspots. Have I missed some recent event?

 

[DC3]

.... even essential travelers to Tas from Victoria and other designated hot spots (ie exempt from quarantine) will be subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing ...

... He said those caught flouting restrictions faced fines of up to $16,800 and up to six months in prison.

At least Tassie is getting serious. The few who can’t be trusted make it so difficult for those who would do the right thing.

 

[tgh]

Conceptually a great safe haven… but for this… Next 10 days SNOW

 

[Himeno]

which given the high incidence of only having a mobile & no landline is quite startling.

Why would it be 'startling'?
I don't answer my phone, period, if I don't know the number calling. When my phone is in my pocket, I often don't hear it ringing anyway.
A text message is far more likely to get a reply from me then a voice call.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

A graphical view of active cases by LGA in Victoria.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sorry Anna

——
Breaking : The NT has declared Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan as coronavirus hotspots. Anyone travelling to the NT from these areas will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

Why is it Anna’s fault?

According to Dr Young, QLD has not, yet, declared those zones as hotspots.

 

[jakeseven7]

Why is it Anna’s fault?

According to Dr Young, QLD has not, yet, declared those zones as hotspots.

Who said it was her fault...

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Sorry Anna

——
Breaking : The NT has declared Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan as coronavirus hotspots. Anyone travelling to the NT from these areas will be required to quarantine at their own cost.

Why is it Anna’s fault?

According to Dr Young, QLD has not, yet, declared those zones as hotspots.

It’s been a running hilarious quip from @jakeseven7 on Anna. In this case, the effective closing of the NT border to some of Qld could be seen as a sleight or loss of face.

My favourite was Anna ‘choking on her cake’ or words to that effect when SA put Qld in the same bucket as NSW ACT and Vic in terms of its border.

 

[RooFlyer]

Conceptually a great safe haven… but for this… Next 10 days SNOW

To mis-quote Basil Fawlty:

Well, may I ask what you were expecting to see out of a mountainous Tasmanian winter hotel window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeasts swinging majestically...

Cold weather is actually bad for the virus - keeps everyone cuddling up indoors. Except - for now -no virus

My favourite was Anna ‘choking on her cake’ or words to that effect when SA put Qld in the same bucket as NSW ACT and Vic in terms of its border.

... as did Tas a week ago, but we only got a smarmy remark from the health minister there.

 

[DC3]

And QLD has been doing so well in keeping COVID under control. Several people recently being deliberately reckless have made things so much worse for the rest of us who live in Brisbane.