Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

I dont understand how people are permitted to self isolate in a household with non travellers / non positive cases; without those housemates also been subject to dont leave for 14 days rule? Seems the latest SA case was living in a household with a person who had returned from Vic and was self isolating - she contracted it in that home, but was out and about.

Another Sydney church hit with two confirmed virus cases

its time to close all places of worship, all gyms and all pokies - if these places were closed, Sydney community transmission would be much much lower.

 

[I love to travel]

It would be very interesting to know if the samples done on the sewerage system support the idea of zero cases. I get the impression that very low levels of this virus can be around for quite some time. Apparently samples show evidence in Italy months before it supposedly arrived.

I wish a reporter would ask the NSW and Qld premiers that question.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just needs to be open for son next Monday for the day so he can get his UK biometrics done. Adelaide office arent doing them currently but will try calling them again today just in case.

Seven days is such a long time. There’s not much chance of Qld closing to arrivals from SA, just the return which is the issue, right?

 

[jase05]

I wish a reporter would ask the NSW and Qld premiers that question.

Wasn’t that how Perisher ski resort was found to have positive cases?

 

[Lynda2475]

Gladys just said 13 new cases, 3 international arrivals, 1 vic arrival - no breakdown of the other 9 yet. Guess will find out at 11am when CHO gives address.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I dont understand how people are permitted to self isolate in a household with non travellers / non positive cases; without those housemates also been subject to dont leave for 14 days rule? Seems the latest SA case was living in a household with a person who had returned from Vic and was self isolating - she contracted it in that home, but was out and about.



its time to close all places of worship, all gyms and all pokies - if these places were closed, Sydney community transmission would be much much lower.

Agree your first point

But the 2nd is more complex unless u agree to close all restaurant to just takeaway/delivery only. Need a level playing field.

 

[Pushka]

Seven days is such a long time. There’s not much chance of Qld closing to arrivals from SA, just the return which is the issue, right?

Yes. Although there isn’t much difference at the moment. Actually maybe even Qld is in a better space. No positives there in last 24 hours.

 

[get me outta here]

The ACT along with NSW Woolworths asked people to wear masks in the store. I thought the ACT people were a little more sensible but I just checked out how many people are wearing them.
It’s easy to see who are the staff and who are not, because it’s only the staff wearing them, and me.

 

[SydneySwan]

Agree your first point

But the 2nd is more complex unless u agree to close all restaurant to just takeaway/delivery only. Need a level playing field.

I would support closing all places of worship and pokies. I have been to 2 gyms recently and was very impressed with the social distancing / cleaning protocols in place. They also have a much younger demographic.

Post automatically merged: Aug 3, 2020

Gladys just said 13 new cases, 3 international arrivals, 1 vic arrival - no breakdown of the other 9 yet. Guess will find out at 11am when CHO gives address.

So the dam is holding .... at least for now.

 

[Gremlin]

It would be very interesting to know if the samples done on the sewerage system support the idea of zero cases. I get the impression that very low levels of this virus can be around for quite some time. Apparently samples show evidence in Italy months before it supposedly arrived.

I don't think this is overly helpful to identify virus in the community though. From what I understand, it's a pretty blunt instrument. For example, if it were done in Perth right now it would show virus present. It doesn't mean it's in the community as there's currently 8 active cases in quarantine. Testing in Brisbane and Sydney would show virus present regardless of whether there was community transmission or not due to the presence of the virus in those in quarantine.

I understand it's more useful in testing regional communities where there is no known virus (and no quarantine hotels). Hence the Perisher find...

 

[Pushka]

I would support closing all places of worship and pokies. I have been to 2 gyms recently and was very impressed with the social distancing / cleaning protocols in place. They also have a much younger demographic.

Post automatically merged: Aug 3, 2020

So the dam is holding .... at least for now.

I think Victoria will scare everyone now. I also agree re the gyms. Much better than anywhere else and they don’t hug and kiss everyone and drink alcohol and yell.

 

[dajop]

ABC reporting that 429 new cases expected in Vic today.

 

[Lynda2475]

But the 2nd is more complex unless u agree to close all restaurant to just takeaway/delivery only. Need a level playing field.

In restaurants because people have to stay seated, so easier to maintain distance. That said Im ok with a return to take away only for a few weeks.

People playing pokies are generally drinking and swapping machines, At a minimum they should have to wear masks, limit of drinks to 1 per hour, stay at one machine and have covid marshalls on site to wipe down machines thoroughly between customers.

People at places of worship move about for communion, literally accept food from the hand of the priest in the case of communion, shake hands, sing (which projects droplets further). Im glad recommendation is to wear masks, but really ought to ban any communion or touching or singing. Plus many delusionally think their god will protect them from Covid.

WRT Gym, although they may clean down the surfaces from sweat, however people doing heavy exercise breathe heavier and can project droplets much further. Wearing a mask while working out isnt feasible so they should close for a couple of weeks til our numbers drop. I've seen many oldies at the gym, its not all young people.

 

[jase05]

Pretty poor form from a journalist

https://twitter.com/x/status/1289865526475280384

 

[jakeseven7]

I would support closing all places of worship and pokies. I have been to 2 gyms recently and was very impressed with the social distancing / cleaning protocols in place. They also have a much younger demographic.

Post automatically merged: Aug 3, 2020

So the dam is holding .... at least for now.

There is a feeling from our NSW team after our Monday AM team meeting that they are sleep walking straight into a repeat of VIC.

All the team are seeing massive lapses of social distancing, flouting of rules, people not taking seriously saying 'theres only 20 cases a day' and only small incremental tweaks by the NSW government that are so small, some people didn't even know about it.

 

[Lynda2475]

All the team are seeing massive lapses of social distancing, flouting of rules,

Not my experience, see my post yesterday - but then again may depend on where you live and your demographics.

There were far fewer people out and about this past weekend, many more masks and much stricter enforcement of covid-19 plans in my area. But then again my community shops (not a shopping centre) isnt a hang out for young people.

Talking to my Melbourne team this morning, they were commenting on how packed St Kilda, Chapel St and the Markets were on the weekend. Whereas far fewer dinners when I was out here.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

In restaurants because people have to stay seated, so easier to maintain distance. That said Im ok with a return to take away only for a few weeks.

People playing pokies are generally drinking and swapping machines, At a minimum they should have to wear masks, limit of drinks to 1 per hour, stay at one machine and have covid marshalls on site to wipe down machines thoroughly between customers.

People at places of worship move about for communion, literally accept food from the hand of the priest in the case of communion, shake hands,, sing (which projects droplets further). Im glad recommendation is to wear masks, but really ought to band any communion or touching or singing. Plus many delusionally think their god will protect them from Covid.

WRT Gym, although they may clean down the surfaces from sweat, people doing heavy exercise breathe heavier and can project droplets much further. Wearing a mask while working out isnt feasible so they should close for a couple of weeks til our numbers drop. Ive seen many oldies ta the gym, its not all young people.

Well I would support a Covid safe adaptation for all venues as the first step rather than close down, especially if all others stay open. Some of your suggestions seem sensible.

gym wardens was a good idea and I’m sure pokies could well warrant one. With places of worship, the most recent gathering exemption did have Covid safe measure of no personal contact and bring own belongings for use, so it’s certainly in the realm of possibility. (Not that I think the exemption itself was a good idea, we have to wait another week to see if any fall out from that ‘genius’(sarcasm) idea)

 

[Flying mermaid]

Wasn’t that how Perisher ski resort was found to have positive cases?

They did find traces of the virus in the sewerage at Perisher. However they didn’t know for sure it was “positive” cases, as apparently you can still shed the virus for some time after you are no longer infectious/positive. It was that news that made me go out and buy masks though. Canberra people go to Perisher in large numbers at this time of year......

 

[Gremlin]

In restaurants because people have to stay seated, so easier to maintain distance. That said Im ok with a return to take away only for a few weeks.

I have to say, I remain completely unconvinced that cafes and restaurants haven't contributed to spread in Victoria...

We've seen them feature heavily in NSW and with two of the transmitted cases in Qld. But contact tracing must be much, much harder for them than for workplaces or households. Employers know who works at a place of employment. You know who you live with. So therefore it's much easier to identify potential close contacts. Gyms are easier to identify as they require sign in/out, churches will have a regular patronage - so again, they may be higher risk of transmission but also easier to identify potential close contacts. If you are a regular, you probably already know them.

But the crowd at a cafe/restaurant can be itinerant. Whilst there should be some record keeping of attendance, it's not going to be as accurate as other populated places, nor is the cafe population going to be as consistent.

With the volume of cases as they are, and the volume of "Community Transmission - Unknown Source" as it is, I'd be willing to take a bet that it's a function of the ability to identify contacts in those other locations that makes it's easier to identify transmission in those other locations.

 

[dajop]

Talking to my Melbourne team this morning, they were commenting on how packed St Kilda, Chapel St and the Markets were on the weekend. Whereas far fewer dinners when I was out here.

It was 18 degrees yesterday in Melbourne, warmest day since 15 June. Where I am outside of Melbourne, the weather on the weekend was spectacular (for Victorian winter), so not surprising that people were out and about. On the plus side, if people were out and about mainly outside, that could be a positive, as it's the cold weather that brings people together inside, where there is a higher chance of transmission.