Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jase05]

11 new cases in NSW and zero deaths

 

[Gremlin]

Which was an interstate arrival.

The aged care is looking good, over 100 tested and 1 outstanding result remaining - otherwise all negative.

if Newmarch is an example, we might be looking at 50% deaths Of those being positive In some facilities

The aged care residence is a good sign so far. I'm sure they'll all be tested again as it's too early to be through a full two week incubation period, but fingers crossed...

 

[jakeseven7]

Unfortunately NSW Government seems to beholden to that industry‘s interests - they have only made some slight modifications

And we all know why.... it’s the story of NSW from decades ago!

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

11 new cases in NSW and zero deaths

Nsw Health Twitter is saying 12.......

waiting for details

Post automatically merged: Aug 2, 2020

The aged care residence is a good sign so far. I'm sure they'll all be tested again as it's too early to be through a full two week incubation period, but fingers crossed...

This strain looks to be a 24 hour version (ie the person is infectious 24 hours after acquiring The virus).

 

[jase05]

Nsw Health Twitter is saying 12.......

waiting for details

Post automatically merged: Aug 2, 2020

This strain looks to be a 24 hour version (ie the person is infectious 24 hours after acquiring The virus).

CoVid live saying 11 but also has QLD and NSW both “sharing” one case so I’d presume it’s been allocated to QLD now?

 

[JessicaTam]

Totally agree which is why I heard what they were planning to announce today and thought - you mean that isnt happening already?

The restrictions on indoor dining were relaxed a while ago, when numbers were low. I am not sure if they ramped up again in Melbourne/Mitchell three weeks ago.

Currently in regional Vic max 20 Seated pax in any dining area (1 per 4 sqm)

 

[Pushka]

Queensland seems to be faring ok thus far. Nursing Home residents impacted by the three negative so far and in quarantine. Just 1 international traveller in Quarantine. I think that is a good sign so far and SA shouldnt do anything just yet that border.

Very pre-emptive if true For SA schools

For Victorians! SA only closed for a week before the end of April school holidays and have stayed open since with no outbreaks at all

Post automatically merged: Aug 2, 2020

The restrictions on indoor dining were relaxed a while ago, when numbers were low. I am not sure if they ramped up again in Melbourne/Mitchell three weeks ago.

Currently in regional Vic max 20 Seated pax in any dining area (1 per 4 sqm)

See, that wasnt stage three then, was it, if indoor dining wasnt restricted again. And that couple in Qld caught covid from the reckless women in a restaurant just the other day so it does present a risk.

 

[oz_mark]

See, that wasnt stage three then, was it, if indoor dining wasnt restricted again. And that couple in Qld caught covid from the reckless women in a restaurant just the other day so it does present a risk.

In Melbourne/Mitchell there is no indoor dining - it is only takeaway service at the moment. The regional areas aren't at Stage 3 (yet)

 

[Pushka]

In Melbourne/Mitchell there is no indoor dining - it is only takeaway service at the moment. The regional areas aren't at Stage 3 (yet)

Ah. I misread JT's reference then. Thanks.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Getting the feeling in SA that it will be todays announcement of stage 4. It said cafes and restaurants to be closed except takeaway which for me begs the question - were they still open for dining? Bars and hotels?

If you mean in Vic, then the Melbourne GMMA and Mitchell Shire restrictions have not had in premises dining (ie take-away only) for some time now. The original hotpot suburbs were restricted earlier again.

Key points
If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire:

• Restaurants and cafes can continue to open for takeaway and delivery only.
• Food courts will continue to be closed, but restaurants and cafes within food courts can open for takeaway and food delivery.
• Pubs, bars, clubs and nightclubs will be closed. They can offer takeaway or home delivery of food and alcohol only.
• Bottle shops remain open.

 

[moa999]

NSW recommending masks as fourth line of defence. Gladys points out that this doesn't mean you stop other measures

Masks are strongly recommended by the NSW Government from tomorrow – indoors/enclosed spaces eg public transport, customer facing staff, places of worship, or in places of outbreaks/hotspots.

 

[RAM]

Unfortunately NSW Government seems to beholden to that industry‘s interests - they have only made some slight modifications

Very true, political donors do seem to hold the reins Australia-wide.

On Friday, we decided to risk a game of 'Russian Roulette' & booked for an early dinner in the Sydney CBD towards central, not a high media profile place but quite well known.

As my better half was 'delayed' - I observed the CV protocols while waiting outside.

As people arrived, they had to pull open a very heavy glass sliding door to enter (in need of maintenance as rollers were nearly frozen).

The before you stepped fully through one of four staff pushed in front of you (no more than 20-25cm from people's faces & commenced asking if you had a booking etc. Absolutely in-your-face.

As they stood blocking you, they also stood blocking the small bottle of hand sanitiser. After the few questions were asked people were led away without any opportunity provided to use the hand sanitiser.

I saw close to 20 people arrive in 8 groups, & began wondering what the CV safe capacity was. Oddly it was not posted up anywhere. There was pre-CV capacity though.

So I counted how many people were there and it was around 60% of pre-CV licensed capacity. Now I might be wrong (often am ) but I thought there was still a fairly significant space required still in NSW.

When better half turned up, we went up, I opened the door & had suggested to my wife we did not step in. So the staff member stepped out and was again 20-25cm from my wife's face amazingly. Went to take us to our allocated place but I made a point of saying 'No, I want to clean my hands after having to pull the door open'.

Got a major frown for that.

Taken to a 1m wide bench table slightly less than 4m long with 5 place settings on each side (so 10 people capacity). There were 1 on each side at one end, and otherwise empty. We were sat in 3rd position respectively. It had 3 movable 'spacers' to divide it up into 4 'groups'

A few minutes later a group of 4 young women were seated next to us, in group 4. The closest was less than 30 cm away (shoulder to shoulder). So I pushed the movable spacer between us & position 2 across to create space & we moved 50cm or so.

Just after our food arrived, two additional people were led across to be seated in position 2.

This time I spoke up and ask; "How is this enforcing the required CV spacing".

REPLY - "We're busy & need the space."

So, I politely commented that if they were shut down then they'd have all the space they needed.

REPLY - "I need the space".

By now the two people had sat down and were literally touching our shoulders (one lent forward to pick up a menu and knocked the screen into our food).

This cannot happen. You never know when someone from the NSW Health Department is a customer do you?

REPLY - "You can speak with the manager."

Yes thank you, right after you move these other customers.

They got moved, the manager was spoken to by the staff member and then came over to us. He said that the restaurant fully abided by the Health Dept guidelines but that the staff member had forgotten. I commented that they had not posted anywhere what the CV safe capacity is and looking around currently not one area was meeting the spacing restrictions.

REPLY - "I was not here this afternoon and one of the staff accepted too many bookings (YEAH RIGHT), but we're doing all we can."

I pointed out that was not correct as there was a totally separate table for 4 in one area empty & had been so for nearly 50 minutes, as well as an adjacent window-side bench table with 6 empty settings on it. Yet they had tried to use all 10 places on our table.

REPLY - "We're so busy I had not noticed."

I left it there but it does make me think it is just dumb luck that NSW is not in the same trouble as Victoria currently - definitely not due to good planning & implementation.

As we walked back to our car (20 minutes away). Roughly 1 in two restaurants we passed had similar over-crowding/lack of spacing obvious from outside. Seems that the only places that are getting fined are those where someone has emailed pictures to the media & asked about.

A bit like the only 3 people prosecuted by AusTrac (previously FinTrac) for illegal use of cash (transaction in cash over $10,000) in its first thirty years in existence. All 3 prosecutions came from media exposes btw.

 

[Seat0B]

Was on the road in northern NSW last week for a family event. Stopped at the roadside service centre near Kempsey for a comfort stop and a quick lunch. Whilst waiting for Mr Seat 0A to get fuel, I watched people at the golden arches franchise there. They have those new touch screen order things. People were using them - no cleaning in between, no one obviously using the hand sanitiser that was provided. When it was my turn, I went up to the counter and tried to place an order. I was told that they no longer take orders at the counter, and I had to use the touch screen. I said "I have been watching for about 15 minutes and I haven't seen anyone clean the screens. I don't want to touch them." The young worker rolled his eyes and said "yeah everyone says that. Come on, I'll do it for you." Which he did. But seriously, this cannot be good COVID practice.

And my local Woolworths - OMG, that is just a disaster waiting to happen if anyone happens to have the virus and shop there.

 

[Lynda2475]

I wonder if demographics are play here, i.e. the demographics of those effected in NSW are different to those in Vic. A lot of restaurant spread in Sydney might suggest a more affluent section of the community more able to afford to stay at home than poorer households, where the breadwinner felt the need to continue to work to support their family (until the government started providing payments for those without access to sick leave).

The Potts Point custer is in a wealthier area, but by far the majority of the community spread cases are in South west (Campbeltown, Liverpool and Fairfield LGAs) which are not wealthy areas. Whilst there are some pockets of middle class in some suburbs, these LGAs would also have some of the highest new migrant and welfare dependent populations in Syndey (after Western Suburbs). A lot of the spread from pubs like Crossroads and, clubs like Mounties (and then the Casino) has been from pokies patronage.

 

[Lynda2475]

Which was an interstate arrival.

Actually an international arrival from Kabul who because they were consular staff was (ridiculously imo) given an exemption by Qld form doing mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney Hotel, and allowed to board a domestic JQ flight to Sunshine Coast to isolate at home . Upon arrival in Qld they chose to get tested and were then found positive.

This is second time recently (after the BNE 3 came from Melbourne) where Qld have tried to make NSW accountable for cases which were clearly contracted elsewhere simply because they transited SYD airport. This doesn't help anyone, Fact is that person should never have been on a domestic flight as there should be no exemptions from hotel quarantine in the city of arrival for overseas arrivals (unless taken straight to hospital).

Feel for the domestic travellers on the flight who have now been unnecessarily exposed to covid due to this crazy exemption.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

CoVid live saying 11 but also has QLD and NSW both “sharing” one case so I’d presume it’s been allocated to QLD now?

A possible example of covidlive doing hot takes....

NSW Health media daily report

Of the 12 new cases reported to 8 pm last night:

• One case is a traveller in hotel quarantine
• Three cases attended the Apollo restaurant on 25 July
• Two cases attended the Mounties Club in Mount Pritchard on 23 July
• Five cases are close contacts of known cases
• One case is locally acquired with no known source identified.

Confirmed cases to date

By likely source of infection	Count
Overseas	2,031​
Interstate acquired	79​
Locally acquired – contact of a confirmed case and/or in a known cluster	1,110​
Locally acquired – contact not identified	375​
Under investigation	0​
Total	3,595​

Counts reported for a particular day may vary over time with ongoing enhanced surveillance activities.

So 14 cases of community transmission since Crossroads Hotel (specifically using the daily report for the day before Crossroad’s first positive was reported).

 

[Pushka]

Actually an international arrival from Kabul who because they were consular staff was (ridiculously imo) given an exemption by Qld form doing mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney Hotel, and allowed to board a domestic JQ flight to Sunshine Coast to isolate at home . Upon arrival in Qld they chose to get tested and were then found positive.

This is second time recently (after the BNE 3 came from Melbourne) where Qld have tried to make NSW accountable for cases which were clearly contracted elsewhere simply because they transited SYD airport. This doesn't help anyone, Fact is that person should never have been on a domestic flight as there should be no exemptions from hotel quarantine in the city of arrival for overseas arrivals (unless taken straight to hospital).

Feel for the domestic travellers on the flight who have now been unnecessarily exposed to covid due to this crazy exemption.

One can only hope he wore a mask. We had an exemption in SA too from UK. She likewise tested positive once she arrived into Adelaide. Planes dont seem to be a particular risk factor.

 

[SydneySwan]

Just watched Gladys presser. No new restrictions but she is strongly encouraging everyone to wear masks. Businesses like Bunnings and Woollies are helping her by making masks compulsory so it is a sort of community-led rather than government-mandated approach. In any case I have noticed many more people (myself included) wearing masks locally (lower north shore of Sydney) these past few days. Whilst cases remain in the teens I think this is an acceptable strategy. Gladys is trusting the NSW public to do the right thing and used the word 'unique' several times to describe the situation, the proximity to Victoria, the NSW public, etc. If it is successful it will be a good outcome for NSW residents and the economy.

In any case the alternative of a greater lockdown is no guarantee of success either given the enhanced Victorian lockdown has so far disappointingly failed to reduce case numbers and deaths.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Very true, political donors do seem to hold the reins Australia-wide.

On Friday, we decided to risk a game of 'Russian Roulette' & booked for an early dinner in the Sydney CBD towards central, not a high media profile place but quite well known.

As my better half was 'delayed' - I observed the CV protocols while waiting outside.

As people arrived, they had to pull open a very heavy glass sliding door to enter (in need of maintenance as rollers were nearly frozen).

The before you stepped fully through one of four staff pushed in front of you (no more than 20-25cm from people's faces & commenced asking if you had a booking etc. Absolutely in-your-face.

As they stood blocking you, they also stood blocking the small bottle of hand sanitiser. After the few questions were asked people were led away without any opportunity provided to use the hand sanitiser.

I saw close to 20 people arrive in 8 groups, & began wondering what the CV safe capacity was. Oddly it was not posted up anywhere. There was pre-CV capacity though.

So I counted how many people were there and it was around 60% of pre-CV licensed capacity. Now I might be wrong (often am ) but I thought there was still a fairly significant space required still in NSW.

When better half turned up, we went up, I opened the door & had suggested to my wife we did not step in. So the staff member stepped out and was again 20-25cm from my wife's face amazingly. Went to take us to our allocated place but I made a point of saying 'No, I want to clean my hands after having to pull the door open'.

Got a major frown for that.

Taken to a 1m wide bench table slightly less than 4m long with 5 place settings on each side (so 10 people capacity). There were 1 on each side at one end, and otherwise empty. We were sat in 3rd position respectively. It had 3 movable 'spacers' to divide it up into 4 'groups'

A few minutes later a group of 4 young women were seated next to us, in group 4. The closest was less than 30 cm away (shoulder to shoulder). So I pushed the movable spacer between us & position 2 across to create space & we moved 50cm or so.

Just after our food arrived, two additional people were led across to be seated in position 2.

This time I spoke up and ask; "How is this enforcing the required CV spacing".

REPLY - "We're busy & need the space."

So, I politely commented that if they were shut down then they'd have all the space they needed.

REPLY - "I need the space".

By now the two people had sat down and were literally touching our shoulders (one lent forward to pick up a menu and knocked the screen into our food).

This cannot happen. You never know when someone from the NSW Health Department is a customer do you?

REPLY - "You can speak with the manager."

Yes thank you, right after you move these other customers.

They got moved, the manager was spoken to by the staff member and then came over to us. He said that the restaurant fully abided by the Health Dept guidelines but that the staff member had forgotten. I commented that they had not posted anywhere what the CV safe capacity is and looking around currently not one area was meeting the spacing restrictions.

REPLY - "I was not here this afternoon and one of the staff accepted too many bookings (YEAH RIGHT), but we're doing all we can."

I pointed out that was not correct as there was a totally separate table for 4 in one area empty & had been so for nearly 50 minutes, as well as an adjacent window-side bench table with 6 empty settings on it. Yet they had tried to use all 10 places on our table.

REPLY - "We're so busy I had not noticed."

I left it there but it does make me think it is just dumb luck that NSW is not in the same trouble as Victoria currently - definitely not due to good planning & implementation.

As we walked back to our car (20 minutes away). Roughly 1 in two restaurants we passed had similar over-crowding/lack of spacing obvious from outside. Seems that the only places that are getting fined are those where someone has emailed pictures to the media & asked about.

A bit like the only 3 people prosecuted by AusTrac (previously FinTrac) for illegal use of cash (transaction in cash over $10,000) in its first thirty years in existence. All 3 prosecutions came from media exposes btw.

Honestly, if it’s as bad as you describe I would just report them. the cynic in me will suspect nothing is done though And/or enough excuses made to avoid trouble.

I might have missed it, but I guess you didn’t have to give your contact detail because you had a booking.

its not dumb luck.....it’s because NSW don’t have high Numbers yet.....I think dajop was comparing Vic v NSW in this second wave. NSW are about a month behind, but NSW are doing a bit better and slowly breaking away from Vic’s performance. Perhaps it’s just that Vic never got to focus on which venues were spreading it, while NsW at least ID that and it’s a major focus (in my view they still need to look elsewhere)

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Was on the road in northern NSW last week for a family event. Stopped at the roadside service centre near Kempsey for a comfort stop and a quick lunch. Whilst waiting for Mr Seat 0A to get fuel, I watched people at the golden arches franchise there. They have those new touch screen order things. People were using them - no cleaning in between, no one obviously using the hand sanitiser that was provided. When it was my turn, I went up to the counter and tried to place an order. I was told that they no longer take orders at the counter, and I had to use the touch screen. I said "I have been watching for about 15 minutes and I haven't seen anyone clean the screens. I don't want to touch them." The young worker rolled his eyes and said "yeah everyone says that. Come on, I'll do it for you." Which he did. But seriously, this cannot be good COVID practice.

And my local Woolworths - OMG, that is just a disaster waiting to happen if anyone happens to have the virus and shop there.

Yep, the first say two weeks after lockdown, screens getting wiped.....now nothing. For Golden Arches I almost always use the app and when possible drive though rather than takeaway.