Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Hvr]

Presumably the drug pushers & clients are also allowed out, for much the same reason.

Actually lots of drug dealers have been caught recently using Uber to deliver small packages.

 

[Pushka]

That really surprises me. So they kept sort of open? UTAS got closed down, just about lock, stock & barrel, except for library staff, who were frantically getting course work on-line, with half a floor each. About half of the buildings are still completely closed (which i think ridiculous - just cost saving masure by the Uni).

Victorian Universities have kept open although many of the administration has been done remotely. Thankfully for our business in SA.

 

[p--and--t]

Actually lots of drug dealers have been caught recently using Uber to deliver small packages.

A lot of uber drivers were arrested few months back for being drug couriers.

 

[Gremlin]

I got the impression that they needed more time to bring in the work restrictions which sound like they are going to be extensive. Curfew coming in today, possibly to give people time to get used to the concept (or maybe even be aware of it) and possibly also to shock people into taking it more seriously. A curfew is really out of most people’s experience. Also makes it much easier for police to handle night time movements. If you can’t demonstrate a very small set of reasons you are in breach.

EDIT Feel very sorry for the many who are doing the right thing, but unfortunately these sorts of things are always driven by the few

There presumably needs to be some coordination federally here. I can't see an announcement that effectively locks out large chunks of the workforce without some form of welfare support...

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

No you are missing the point entirely. If supermarkets are open 24/7. Kmart is open 24/7 etc etc etc. Officeworks open to midnight. How do you police 100's thousands of people with legit excuse (lie) to be out and about (who are actually the the way to a mates booze up or BBQ dinner party etc). People who are on the way home from a mates house 50km from home at 1am saying they are just on the way home from an exercise walk

I don’t feel I missed the point.

To be frank, I would have regarded shopping at Kmart /Officeworks now to be outside the 4 current valid reasons to be outside the home.

Remember a time when Stage 3 forced the closure of Myers, David Jones......

The 5km rule was sort of in place already (not sure if it made it into enforceable law/regulations).

edit to add a relevant past news article

Three Kmart stores closed to customers as coronavirus hits retail sector

Stores in three states have shut as COVID-19 restrictions force customers online.

7news.com.au

 

[blackcat20]

That really surprises me. So they kept sort of open? UTAS got closed down, just about lock, stock & barrel, except for library staff, who were frantically getting course work on-line, with half a floor each. About half of the buildings are still completely closed (which i think ridiculous - just cost saving masure by the Uni).



You. Are. Joking. I hope?

Yes we've stayed open. Teaching all moved online and research has continued. You can't just stop experiments with no warning, it can be months or years of work down the drain. And experimental animals have to be cared for. The government had classed it as essential so far so will be interesting to see if that remains. However I think I now have more likelihood of being able to WFH full time, and will have to if I can't access childcare.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am not in favour of the curfew. In a literal sense it will change very little about my daily life, other than answering to Police should I be questioned as to why I am out of my dwelling at 10pm at night (going to/from essential work). However on principle I don't like the idea of being unable to leave my home between 8pm-5am. My suburb has about 13,000 residents and 12 active cases, at last count. If the government is failing to stop risky activities being undertaken in the community, it is a matter for their enforcement mechanisms, not an infringement upon my liberty to go for a walk (while following other rules).

As much as I believe that reducing public transport simply punishes those who do not have a car, adjusting certain parts of the network at night makes some sense as this can then free up PSO resources to be used for enforcement activities relating to COVID.

i guess the front line staff having to enforce the rules need some rest? A curfew *might* just make it a bit easier, and require less resourcing. I dunno. It's clear those on the front line are getting pretty stretch and tired.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes we've stayed open. Teaching all moved online and research has continued. You can't just stop experiments with no warning, it can be months or years of work down the drain. And experimental animals have to be cared for.

I guess those aspects of UTAS stayed open too, as long as they had to be ... and of course its a much smaller operation But just about all the staff (including Admin) got kicked out of their offices, essential time on site was limited, swipe cards stopped working etc. If you walked about on campus you got bailed up as to why. Now, 3 months into no community transmission, its still all on-line learning, many buildings are still closed; coffee shop still closed , still temp etc checks at the library. I think the requirement to check-in at a central point and be registered as entering campus has been lifted, though.

If i can inject some minor humour, I think UTAS admin are like the British hospital admin in 'Yes Minister'. Its very easy to run a University when there are no pesky students about!

 

[blackcat20]

I guess those aspects of UTAS stayed open too, as long as they had to be ... and of course its a much smaller operation But just about all the staff (including Admin) got kicked out of their offices, essential time on site was limited, swipe cards stopped working etc. If you walked about on campus you got bailed up as to why. Now, 3 months into no community transmission, its still all on-line learning, many buildings are still closed; coffee shop still closed , still temp etc checks at the library. I think the requirement to check-in at a central point and be registered as entering campus has been lifted, though.

If i can inject some minor humour, I think UTAS admin are like the British hospital admin in 'Yes Minister'. Its very easy to run a University when there are no pesky students about!

I think it's very similar on Campus, buildings locked down etc. But we're located at a hospital so things run a bit differently.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I don’t feel I missed the point.

To be frank, I would have regarded shopping at Kmart /Officeworks now to be outside the 4 current valid reasons to be outside the home.

Remember a time when Stage 3 forced the closure of Myers, David Jones......

The 5km rule was sort of in place already (not sure if it made it into enforceable law/regulations).

edit to add a relevant past news article

Three Kmart stores closed to customers as coronavirus hits retail sector

Stores in three states have shut as COVID-19 restrictions force customers online.

7news.com.au

David Jones never closed.

Myer closed as an obviously commercial decision, prior to the introduction of Job Keeper.

 

[serfty]

0 visitors........so no enforcement perhaps?

Enforcement was difficult.

Problem is the ¼ of ½ of 1% (or whatever¶ the figure) who simply ignored the lockdown rules. When pulled up they would have an excuse such as mentioned earlier (unless a slum dunk such as more than two in a car with mismatched address etc.).

The 5km rule was sort of in place already (not sure if it made it into enforceable law/regulations).

The rules was local, but cyclists could travel far, Golfers/Anglers could drive to the club/fishing spot. With this tightening the Club/Spot/Cycle route needs to be within 5Km.


¶ x% of 5 Million is still a lot of people.

 

[jakeseven7]

There presumably needs to be some coordination federally here.

100% agree and in many many many ways....

Our company is based in BNE but we route 90% of our freight through MEL for many many reasons and I know many other companies who do the same.

MEL potentially going dark is an absolute disaster for the country - in ways the general public have absolutely no idea how, so they will have to work out a way to keep the lights on in many critical areas.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

David Jones never closed.

Myer closed as an obviously commercial decision, prior to the introduction of Job Keeper.

I mis-spoke. Some DJ stores closed

David Jones stores to close

David Jones has announced it will close two of its department stores due to the government's social distancing regulations. The company's Barangaroo store in Sydney and James Street store in Brisbane will shut down while the remainder of the retailer's 46 larger department stores will remain...

www.skynews.com.au

 

[dajop]

To be frank, I would have regarded shopping at Kmart /Officeworks now to be outside the 4 current valid reasons to be outside the home.

But there's still ambiguity. A restriction that removes 2 valid reasons between 8pm and 5am, reduces that ambiguity and makes it easier to enforce.

 

[Himeno]

Businesses like Bunnings and Woollies are helping her by making masks compulsory

No. They are not.
They have just changed their wording from "recommended" to "strongly encouraged" (inculding in places with no cases and no evidence of community spread). The only people getting forced to wear masks by Woolworths are store management and above.

 

[Himeno]

No you are missing the point entirely. If supermarkets are open 24/7. Kmart is open 24/7 etc etc etc. Officeworks open to midnight. How do you police 100's thousands of people with legit excuse (lie) to be out and about (who are actually the the way to a mates booze up or BBQ dinner party etc). People who are on the way home from a mates house 50km from home at 1am saying they are just on the way home from an exercise walk

Such employees have letters from their employer which can be shown to police if asked.

 

[p--and--t]

Such employees have letters from their employer which can be shown to police if asked.

I wasn't referring to legit employees.

 

[Himeno]

I wasn't referring to legit employees.

You clearly missed the point.
legit employees can provide evidence of their workplace. People lying to try to get around the rules can't.

 

[Lynda2475]

The issue with consular applies to foreign mission staff. I thought from the way it read that this person was Australian consular staff.

I also understand this person to be Australian consular staff - the reason it seems off is that neither Australia nor any foreign government operates a consulate or embassy in Maroochydore. Methinks this person was just heading home, and really could have isolated in a Sydney hotel for 2 weeks then home, given the poor conditions in Afghanistan.

On another matter, lost of criticism on here re NSW venues not having good procedures, I guess this must vary by venue and area, as in my local things have been pretty good and just got tighter this weekend. Overall there seemd to be less people out and about today.

I visited 3 businesses this weekend, all in same inner west suburb, all 1.5km walk from my home:

1. My favourite local cafe - had to wait outside until they verified there was a table available, strict cap on 10 customers inside (based on the square meter rule) and no more than 6 outside area (tables on the footpath).. Indoor and outdoor tables were all 1.5 (or more) metres apart. Had to scan the QR code and check in online, or complete the manual sign on sheet. Hand sanitiser on ever table, no sugar or condiments on table. Asked if you wanted sugar and the request number of packets bought to the table, salt/paper grinder operate by staff. Tables and chair thoroughly wiped down with anti bacterial spray and wipes after each customer left.

2. Coles - no rule on masks, but staff back manning doors to limit the number of people in store, self serve checkouts being wiped down between each use, sneeze shields separating each checkout, people using the floor markers to keep distance.

3. Nail salon - sanitiser on counter next to sign-on sheet, had to provide my own pen, complimentary surgical masks given to anyone not wearing a mask one - no mask no entry. Every second pedicure chair or nail table in use, max of 6 customers allowed in store (its a very large salon). Usual hygiene in all staff wearing masks and gloves, all foot basins with disposable plastic cover, disposable nail files, sponges, toe separators used, disposable towels. Any clippers used sterilised in medical steriliser.

Personally if I saw that avenue was over crowded or not following procedures, I would enter and I would report them.

 

[Pushka]

I don’t feel I missed the point.

To be frank, I would have regarded shopping at Kmart /Officeworks now to be outside the 4 current valid reasons to be outside the home.

Remember a time when Stage 3 forced the closure of Myers, David Jones......

The 5km rule was sort of in place already (not sure if it made it into enforceable law/regulations).

edit to add a relevant past news article

Three Kmart stores closed to customers as coronavirus hits retail sector

Stores in three states have shut as COVID-19 restrictions force customers online.

7news.com.au

I think those stores decided to close themselves.