Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Princess Fiona]

I do hope this has been considered.



I've heard in other countries that the reason the bottle shops haven't been closed is because if alcoholics suddenly cease drinking they can have severe medical issues. Perhaps our medical community may care to comment?

Anyone else notice how Dan sidestepped the question re bottle shops being an essential service. If I was in Victoria would be making my way to Uncle Dans as we speak.

Bottle shops are an essential service and will remain open.
No need to panic buy. I have seen the release given to Journos at the press conference.
From a medical perspective there are extremely good reasons not to cut off supply of alcohol to those who are dependent on it.
Some people would resort to drinking the hand sanitizer (not a joke BTW).
It’s worth also noting that during the NZ lockdown they still had access to alcohol sales as supermarkets there sell it.
OT but I have never understood why Australia doesn’t allow this. Seems weird to me.

 

[Flying mermaid]

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...

Andrews said he had been in discussions with Morrison on the issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

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.

Perhaps we need a more detailed explanation then? Without any context or examples it makes it difficult to comprehend. As a member of the 'general public' it's sometimes hard to know which aspects are commercial/profit driven, and which elements are genuinely needed to 'keep the lights on'.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Today's Vic DHHS upadte.


Media release
02 August 2020

Victoria has recorded 671 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 11,557.
The overall total has increased by 626, due to 45 cases being reclassified – largely due to duplication.

Within Victoria, 73 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 598 are under investigation.
There have been seven new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. They include three women in their 70s, two women in their 80s, one man in his 90s and one woman in her 90s.

Six of the seven new deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities. To date, 123 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
In Victoria at the current time:

• 1962 cases may indicate community transmission
• 6322 cases are currently active in Victoria
• 385 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 38 in intensive care
• 4915 people have recovered from the virus

Of the total cases:

• 10,643 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 661 are from regional Victoria
• Total cases include 5690 men and 5743 women
• Total number of healthcare workers: 1115, active cases: 649
• There are 1053 active cases relating to outbreaks across aged care facilities

Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton are as follows:

• 308 cases are residents of various public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. Investigations are continuing into how these cases are linked.
• 67 cases are residents of various public housing towers in Carlton. Investigations are continuing into if and/or how these cases are linked.

Active aged care outbreaks with the highest coughulative case numbers are as follows:

• 136 cases have been linked to St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner
• 122 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
• 106 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
• 101 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
• 87 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
• 63 cases have been linked to Menarock Life Aged Care Facility in Essendon
• 62 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee
• 58 cases have been linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North
• 56 cases have been linked to Aurrum Aged care in Plenty
• 54 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee

New cases in other aged care facilities include two cases linked to James Barker House in Footscray, one case in a staff member at BlueCross Ivanhoe, one case in a staff member in BUPA Thomastown, one case in a staff member lined to Mercy Place Coben and Mercy Place Mordialloc, and one case in a resident linked to Menarock Rosehill, Highett.

Cases currently linked to key outbreaks are as follows:

• 185 cases have been linked to Al-Taqwa College
• 142 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown
• 127 cases have been linked to Somerville Retail Services in Tottenham
• 85 cases have been linked to JBS in Brooklyn
• 72 cases have been linked to Australian Lamb Company in Colac
• 54 cases have been linked to Melbourne Health Royal Park Campus
• 35 cases have been linked to Woolworths Distribution Centre Mulgrave
• 32 cases have been linked to LaManna supermarket in Essendon
• 26 cases have been linked to Nino Early Learning in Bundoora
• 26 cases have been linked to the Linfox warehouse in Truganina
• 19 cases have been linked to Serco in Mill Park
• 18 cases have been linked to Catholic Regional College in Sydenham

 

[jakeseven7]

On ABC news tonight looks like the Fed Gov may now keep the existing rate of Jobkeeper for VIC while continuing on to cut rates for other states. Seems fair.

 

[Hvr]

On ABC news tonight looks like the Fed Gov may now keep the existing rate of Jobkeeper for VIC while continuing on to cut rates for other states. Seems fair.

But only if the Victorian government matches the Federal Government funding dollar for dollar.

 

[jakeseven7]

Perhaps we need a more detailed explanation then? Without any context or examples it makes it difficult to comprehend. As a member of the 'general public' it's sometimes hard to know which aspects are commercial/profit driven, and which elements are genuinely needed to 'keep the lights on'.

You cut out the second paragraph of my reply which went on to talk about Melbourne Ports. Largest system of ports for import / export in the whole country, has facilities/machinery not available in other cities, technology and forwarder capabilities set up for scale and container types critical for goods inwards that keep the country running.

That is why the Feds are involved now, it’s a matter of national security. WA especially should be worried.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Vic new cases today outside of the Melbourne GMMA and Mitchell.
Still just bubbling along.

Greater Geelong 13
Colac Otway 14
Greater Bendigo 3
Ballarat 2
Latrobe 1
Moorabool 2
South Gippsland 1
Northern Grampians 1
Pyrenees 1
Queenscliffe1


VIC CASES LGA
Sun 2 Aug

 

[jakeseven7]

But only if the Victorian government matches the Federal Government funding dollar for dollar.

Again, seems fair - September 25 will also see the first wave of insolvency declarations made and the Feds will want to make sure their dollar goes as far as possible.

The whole of Australia needs Victoria to recover, as soon as possible.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I think those stores decided to close themselves.

That’s right.

They closed because there was a lack of customers coming to browse/shop - day or night - during the previous Stage 3.

So by inference, people understood what an essential shop was and there were sufficient resources to police (monitor and enforce) the same rules last time.

......

Another absurdity crossed my mind, by keeping essential shopping as a permissible daytime activity, according to some’s thinking you will still have great difficulty policing the great masses. So instead of lying during the night we lie during the day and the police will be confused as to who is telling the truth?!?! Seems like good policy........half (in terms of hours in the day) the ‘problem’ solved (sarcasm).

Poor enforcement includes not being able to adapt to the evolution of illegal activity.....as the illegal activity will go to the point of weakness.....

In a State of Disaster when circumstances seemingly requires something close to 100% compliance to be successful, there is not much room for points of weakness to remain...........so the night curfew just shifts the problem. Good policy?!?!

NZ lockdown is probably the way to go, but I still have the view that today is not particularly meaningful In actually solving this State of Disaster.

 

[Pushka]

On ABC news tonight looks like the Fed Gov may now keep the existing rate of Jobkeeper for VIC while continuing on to cut rates for other states. Seems fair.

Why just them? As an SA Business all of our work in the last four years has been Victorian clients. We even leased an apartment for the weekly travel there.

Post automatically merged: Aug 2, 2020

That’s right.

They closed because there was a lack of customers coming to browse/shop - day or night - during the previous Stage 3.

So by inference, people understood what an essential shop was and there were sufficient resources to police (monitor and enforce) the same rules last time.

......

Another absurdity crossed my mind, by keeping essential shopping as a permissible daytime activity, according to some’s thinking you will still have great difficulty policing the great masses. So instead of lying during the night we lie during the day and the police will be confused as to who is telling the truth?!?! Seems like good policy........half (in terms of hours in the day) the ‘problem’ solved (sarcasm).

Poor enforcement includes not being able to adapt to the evolution of illegal activity.....as the illegal activity will go to the point of weakness.....

In a State of Disaster when circumstances seemingly requires something close to 100% compliance to be successful, there is not much room for points of weakness to remain...........so the night curfew just shifts the problem. Good policy?!?!

NZ lockdown is probably the way to go, but I still have the view that today is not particularly meaningful In actually solving this State of Disaster.

My point being that the Government didnt force them to close.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

On ABC news tonight looks like the Fed Gov may now keep the existing rate of Jobkeeper for VIC while continuing on to cut rates for other states. Seems fair.

A shame Virgin doesn’t have its HQ in Victoria/Melbourne. lol

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If a Melburnian is already not allowed out unless for 1/4 reasons, does that not also apply at night? wasn’t there also the 1 visitor rule? I presumed the 1 visitor rule was for carers otherwise you can’t go out for non-work visits to friends houses.

now instead of 1/4 reasons, it’s 1/2 reasons.....they removed exercise and essential goods shopping, education (At night).

so still perplexing.

Your presumption is wrong on two fronts.

1/ Carers are not visitors. They are carers. The number of carers will depend on the persons particular needs.

2/ Visitor is a visitor. However the restriction that those in the Melbourne GMMA and Mitchell have now had for a while is.

Key points
If you live in metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire Stay at Home restrictions apply.

• You cannot have visitors to your home

The night curfew combined with the 5km is a good idea;

• Our main problem has been people not doing what they are meant to do. Both rules help to address this at the individual level (workplaces were the other main are and other measures are being brought in to address that)
• Both rules make it much easier for the police to enforce things. Many people were most likely pretending to be driving to exercise or shop when doing other things including visiting
• It simplifies things.
• A whole chunk of time has been removed when people might be out and about. Along with the single exercise rule per day to chop of those constantly out and about under the pretence of exercising.
• Staff Resourcing. Police, ADF, Emergency workers can now be mainly used during the day rather than 24/7. If cases keep surging that will be even more important.
• The one person only for shopping is also good as again 2 people going out cannot pretend that they were going to shop or exercise.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The night curfew combined with the 5km is a good idea;

• Our main problem has been people not doing what they are meant to do. Both rules help to address this at the individual level (workplaces were the other main are and other measures are being brought in to address that)
• Both rules make it much easier for the police to enforce things. Many people were most likely pretending to be driving to exercise or shop when doing other things including visiting
• It simplifies things.
• A whole chunk of time has been removed when people might be out and about. Along with the single exercise rule per day to chop of those constantly out and about under the pretence of exercising.
• Staff Resourcing. Police, ADF, Emergency workers can now be mainly used during the day rather than 24/7. If cases keep surging that will be even more important.
• The one person only for shopping is also good as again 2 people going out cannot pretend that they were going to shop or exercise.

The only point I agree is the 5km rule. That should be easier to enforce And should reduce movement. Whether it was enforceable already I don’t know, but it’s been a ‘rule’ in some form for some time So I don’t regard it as a Stage 4 measure.

If say the ‘normal’ person sleeps 6 hours overnight, Then the real effect is only 3 hours/18 hours.. again not sound policy....just shifts the problem to daytime.

(and just for completeness I’m not saying get rid of essential shops as one of the 4 valid reasons to leave home day or night, I’m just saying it’s bad policy in trying to solve the primary issue by removing some of the 4 reasons and not others for a specified period of the calendar day).

More than 1 shop per day per household and 1 hour exercise per day will not be easy to monitor and is really just fluff. Something to use by police in desperation ....easy way To avoid,if you talk to a police and say it’s exercise, your second excuse that day is I’m going for a shop. (Or vice versa).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So by inference, people understood what an essential shop was and there were sufficient resources to police (monitor and enforce) the same rules last time.

If you are going to criticise the various Victorian restrictions it may be worth your time to read of what the restrictions actually are (or were) on the Vic DHHS website so that you can comment on what the restriction is/was rather than your sometimes incorrect presumption of what it was/is.

ie

Please note that the restriction was necessary goods/services, rather the tighter essential goods/services. The new restrictions would seem to be moving to more of an essential shop, including the type of shop that may operate, and this in itself will decrease the number of trips. Once the actual restriction wording is out we will know more.

So police were not being used to regulate what people bought, but instead were focusing on unnecessary trips by driving too far, or not wearing a facemask when shopping. The new 5km rule makes this task much easier for police to enforce. The curfew also decreases the hours that the police have to waste policing this.

Key points

• Victorians in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must only leave home for the purposes of shopping for necessary goods and services.
• Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours must not operate in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
• Hairdressing businesses can operate, provided they comply with requirements for record keeping.
• Auction houses in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are only permitted to conduct auctions remotely.
• The only markets that are permitted to operate are food and drink market stalls.

Can you visit a shopping centre in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire?
If you need to shop, try to shop locally. This will help support local businesses and help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by limiting travel and reducing large numbers of people coming into contact with each other. Try to go shopping outside of busy hours to avoid crowds.

Ways to stay safe while shopping include:

• From 11.59pm on Wednesday 22 July 2020, when you leave home you must wear a face covering, unless you have a lawful reason for not doing so.
• Only shop for what you need. Reasons to shop include for food, goods and services for health or medical purposes, or other necessary goods or services such as those provided by a hardware store, pet store or vet.
• Consider whether their shopping is necessary, how to limit the number of trips, and whether you can shop online.
• You should check before you visit whether a shop is open as some shops have closed in-person shopping or changed their hours.
• Shopping as a recreational or entertainment purpose is not allowed.
• If you do not live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, you may visit a shopping centre located in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

What shops can open in a shopping centre in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire?

• Some businesses and facilities in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are required to close. These include gyms, cinemas and arcades, play centres, bingo centres, escape rooms and beauty and personal services.
• Restaurants and cafes may open for takeaway only.

Can display suites remain open?
Yes. Display suites are open, subject to the rules on retail including cleaning, signage and density requirements.  Everyone should consider whether their visit to a display suite is necessary at this time, how to limit the number of trips, and whether they can shop online instead to minimise the risk of transmission while the virus is circulating in the community in Victoria

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You cut out the second paragraph of my reply which went on to talk about Melbourne Ports. Largest system of ports for import / export in the whole country, has facilities/machinery not available in other cities, technology and forwarder capabilities set up for scale and container types critical for goods inwards that keep the country running.

That is why the Feds are involved now, it’s a matter of national security. WA especially should be worried.

No - I didn't cut anything out - your full post is below...

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.

Again - perhaps the 'general public' needs a better understanding of the critical infrastructure. And also to look at resilience for the future?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

More than 1 shop per day per household and 1 hour exercise per day will not be easy to monitor and is really just fluff. Something to use by police in desperation ....easy way To avoid,if you talk to a police and say it’s exercise, your second excuse that day is I’m going for a shop. (Or vice versa).

There were a lot of young couples at the supermarket in Victoria this morning - I'd reckon about two thirds of the people in there were couples. In that scenario, the restrictions would cut the number of people in shops by quite a bit. It might also reduce ancillary 'couples activity'... going out for a shop and having a coffee at the same time, etc.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

If you are going to criticise the various Victorian restrictions it may be worth your time to read of what the restrictions actually are (or were) on the Vic DHHS website so that you can comment on what the restriction is/was rather than your sometimes incorrect presumption of what it was/is.

ie

Please note that the restriction was necessary goods/services, rather the tighter essential goods/services. The new restrictions would seem to be moving to more of an essential shop, including the type of shop that may operate, and this in itself will decrease the number of trips. Once the actual restriction wording is out we will know more.

So police were not being used to regulate what people bought, but instead were focusing on unnecessary trips by driving to far, or not wearing a facemask when shopping. The new 5km rule makes this task much easier for police to enforce. The curfew also decreases the hours that the police have to waste policing this.

Key points

• Victorians in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire must only leave home for the purposes of shopping for necessary goods and services.
• Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours must not operate in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
• Hairdressing businesses can operate, provided they comply with requirements for record keeping.
• Auction houses in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are only permitted to conduct auctions remotely.
• The only markets that are permitted to operate are food and drink market stalls.

Can you visit a shopping centre in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire?
If you need to shop, try to shop locally. This will help support local businesses and help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by limiting travel and reducing large numbers of people coming into contact with each other. Try to go shopping outside of busy hours to avoid crowds.

Ways to stay safe while shopping include:

• From 11.59pm on Wednesday 22 July 2020, when you leave home you must wear a face covering, unless you have a lawful reason for not doing so.
• Only shop for what you need. Reasons to shop include for food, goods and services for health or medical purposes, or other necessary goods or services such as those provided by a hardware store, pet store or vet.
• Consider whether their shopping is necessary, how to limit the number of trips, and whether you can shop online.
• You should check before you visit whether a shop is open as some shops have closed in-person shopping or changed their hours.
• Shopping as a recreational or entertainment purpose is not allowed.
• If you do not live in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, you may visit a shopping centre located in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.

What shops can open in a shopping centre in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire?

• Some businesses and facilities in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are required to close. These include gyms, cinemas and arcades, play centres, bingo centres, escape rooms and beauty and personal services.
• Restaurants and cafes may open for takeaway only.

Can display suites remain open?
Yes. Display suites are open, subject to the rules on retail including cleaning, signage and density requirements.  Everyone should consider whether their visit to a display suite is necessary at this time, how to limit the number of trips, and whether they can shop online instead to minimise the risk of transmission while the virus is circulating in the community in Victoria

Ok let’s play word footsies...look up thesaurus.com...type in essential...what? A synonym is necessary....go figure.

or should I go with the PM “every job is essential”.



I’m fine not knowing every detail, it doesn’t make my comments invalid About today’s measure to bring a night curfew for everything but 2 reasons And whether it will solve (or will materially solve, or will be essential element in solving) the declared State of Disaster.

and to go to broad detail....Mitchell shire stay in Stage 3, only a Melbourne goes to Stage 4....please keep up.

nice to know a Q&A......will it save you from a fine, probably not - it will probably just get you into an argument if unfortunately it misrepresents the law (which unfortunately the great masses don’t get a chance to read).

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

There were a lot of couples at the supermarket in Victoria this morning - I'd reckon about two thirds of the people in there were couples. In that scenario, the restrictions would cut the number of people in shops by quite a bit. It might also reduce ancillary 'couples activity'... going out for a shop and having a coffee at the same time, etc.

That’s fine to make now impermissible activity easier to identify, but if they are from the same household, they are going to be close contacts of each other typically. I guess it will help by one generation of infection And aggregated that would help Slow the spread.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don’t recall if I posted this or not at the time.
Screenshot from DHHS in Victoria taken on 30th June. Just prior to the stage 3 lockdown announced for hot spot suburbs.
Previous day there was 71 new cases. 1 in hotel quarantine, 14 linked to known clusters.
The other 50 odd cases were found through mass testing in the hotspots and elsewhere. In other words, community transmission unknown.

The DHHS was advising everyone it’s “business as usual”
NSW take note.......