Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[drron]

Good Q&A tonight with medical experts.
They are all screaming for NSW to go harder now now now.

Though that is the medical experts they picked.There are others not so much in favour.

 

[p--and--t]

Flu almost non-existent
Pneumonia hospitalisations halved
Suicide reportedly down, although mental health contacts up
At a guess traffic deaths down

Down 22.8% vs 2019, but still 12% higher than the same period in 2018. Huge reduction in 18-20 age group (4 vs 14 in 2019), but huge increase in 30-39 age group (31 vs 18 last year)

Lives Lost - Year to Date - TAC - Transport Accident Commission

Calendar year to midnight 22 April 2021 2020 Lives lost 2021 Lives lost 82 76 (down 7.3%) Fatalities (equivalent periods) 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 5 year average 89 82 61 94 82 82 Gender Gender 2020 2021 Change % change 5 year average Female 22 17 -5 -23% 21

www.tac.vic.gov.au

I actually started my professional career in road safety. With the road toll, the trend over time is less deaths per year, and this is despite the significant growth in traffic.. But also the stats will bounce around somewhat from year to to year. ie Last year was probably a bounce up.

That is not to say that this year that Covid 19 might not have reduced the road toll, but rather that you cannot just compare it the last year or two.

1970 was the peak year of lives loast.. Compulsory seat belts came in during 1971 and the toll (lives lost)had its first major drop. RBT came in not long after and then a steady stream of improvements and measures. Safer vehicles (air bags, crash rating, child car seats etc) and safer roads ( many many design, road design changes from "Staggered T" to roundabouts to road friction to crash barriers to better controls (speed zones, school zones, speed and read light camera, radar guns etc). I am sure you will have noted how the wire rope barriers are so common today). Improved trauma care and response will have assisted as well

On the con side while alcahol was better controlled, drug usage has become more common and not just drugs of the illegal kind.


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Australia:
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Well the thing is, the death rate has been down every month since FEB
-the flu season doesn't normally hit until June'ish
-while maybe noticeable, the variation and total number of road deaths doesn't come close the same ball park to comparing with usual annual figures for suicide and the Flu


Interested to hear the anecdote about surgery etc . I have heard other anecdotes previously about the absence of medicos effecting fatality rates beneficially but discounted it

Suicide death records are always months behind so can't yet tell if that is the driving factor for the drop in deaths.

So now I'm thinking the downward trend may be a combination of suicides down (improved access to help and support combined with less opportunity locked at home with others) plus elective surgery cancelled plus a drop in flu/pneumonia cases.

 

[get me outta here]

A polished ‘political’ answer. So, the inference is that union folk losing their jobs is okay.

Of course I’m not happy about the non union folk losing their jobs.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Though that is the medical experts they picked.There are others not so much in favour.

I’m watching. Not often I agree with Kerryn Phelps but I personally am happy to wear a mask anywhere and everywhere. I already do it on all my ED shifts as it’s compulsory.

 

[dajop]

I personally am happy to wear a mask anywhere and everywhere.

So am I, almost everywhere, and certainly have been wearing covering in certain situations for several months now. Yesterday I went for a nice 6km walk in state forest 5 mins walk from where I am and didn't see another human. So face covering not protecting me much, except perhaps from the cold. Although now compulsory going forward, if a tree falls in the forest and no-one hears it fall does it make a noise?

 

[Pushka]

Good Q&A tonight with medical experts.
They are all screaming for NSW to go harder now now now.

If we only took heed of the direct medical advice for Covid elimination, and did not have any responsibilty for anything else, then Australia would have done a lock down like NZ. However Governments must take into account all matters including the economic, and other related health and social impacts and try find the balance that best meets the needs, knowing that this is a moving beast day by day.

I know our SA Health person went very quiet for a few weeks and it has been suggested that it was at this time that other factors came into play as we started to open up larger venues and reduce the 4sqm to 2sqm. And her advice was not to do this. That wasnt followed.

 

[moa999]

I’m watching. Not often I agree with Kerryn Phelps

All I can say is she has practiced it for a while.

 

[OZDUCK]

Yes they did certainly voice their opinions openly on the support of Palmer, but seem to have changed their mind for some reason now. So perhaps a bit more than just a constitutional question.

The "some reason" is mostly 'politics' with some polls showing over 90% of W.A population in favour of the border restrictions. The damage it was doing to their poll numbers would be immense. The state Liberal party was initially in the 'open up the borders now' group but have now done a complete U-Turn and are complaining that the border restrictions are not tight enough.

With the Attorney-General being from W.A the optics were becoming worse and worse for them.

 

[Seat0B]

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.

At Lanyon today, not even the staff. Just me and 3 other customers.

 

[jakeseven7]

If we only took heed of the direct medical advice for Covid elimination, and did not have any responsibilty for anything else, then Australia would have done a lock down like NZ. However Governments must take into account all matters including the economic, and other related health and social impacts and try find the balance that best meets the needs, knowing that this is a moving beast day by day.

I know our SA Health person went very quiet for a few weeks and it has been suggested that it was at this time that other factors came into play as we started to open up larger venues and reduce the 4sqm to 2sqm. And her advice was not to do this. That wasnt followed.

There are rumours circulating in some medical forums that NSW has not built enough of a PPE stockpile to recommend blanket/stronger mask wearing advice yet...

 

[jakeseven7]

Leading medical experts call for compulsory masks as warning of NSW second wave building


The former president of the Australian Medical Association has said masks should be made compulsory on ABC’s QandA program overnight while warning NSW faces a second wave of coronavirus cases.


“We need to head towards them being compulsory,” Dr Phelps said, adding “what we need to do now is work out the most appropriate form of mask,” taking into consideration factors including the cost at a time when many are out of work.

Dr Phelps was backed by Nepean Hospital respiratory physician Lucy Morgan, who said “masks should be everywhere”

Dr Phelps warned NSW needs to anticipate a second wave of infections and pleaded for people to isolate.

Dr Phelps added that current approaches looking to suppress the virus in NSW are not enough and the goal should instead be to eliminate the virus from the country.

LIVE: Coronavirus Victoria: Melbourne foot traffic down 90 per cent

<p>Victoria's new normal inside a lockdown bubble is making headlines around the world, as journalists react to unprecedented demands placed on the state's population.</p>

www.news.com.au

 

[RooFlyer]

A polished ‘political’ answer. So, the inference is that union folk losing their jobs is okay.

Not to worry. John Setka remains Victorian state secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. I think he'd pass as a 'mate' of Premier Andrews (recalling the infamous case last year).

 

[get me outta here]

I’m actually much more concerned with the nurses, retail, hospitality, teachers, firies, police, and all of those who need representation many of whom are at the bottom of the pay ladder or not recompensed appropriately.

Not to worry. John Setka remains Victorian state secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union. I think he'd pass as a 'mate' of Premier Andrews (recalling the infamous case last year).

 

[jakeseven7]

Breaking: Two Sydney schools closed after coronavirus cases detected

Two western Sydney schools have been closed on Tuesday after students tested positive to COVID-19.

Bonnyrigg High School will be shut to on-site learning as cleaning and frantic contact tracing begins.

Greenway Park Public School, at West Hoxton, has also been closed after two more students tested positive. All students and staff at the primary school have also been required to self-isolate.

As the day unfolded: Victoria records 439 new COVID-19 cases, 11 deaths as business restrictions come into force; Australian death toll jumps to 232

Victoria recorded 429 new cases on Monday, as details of retail closures as part of Melbourne's stage four lockdown were announced. Two western Sydney schools have closed due to positive cases.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Gremlin]

Turns out the "Diplomat" approved for exemption from quarantine on "Essential Federal Government business" wasn't a diplomat at all. Funnily enough, I'm aware of several genuine diplomats who have all been good corporate citizens and have gone through the quarantine process as would be expected for any arrival who are "somewhat unhappy" at this turn of events...

 

[jakeseven7]

'Stubborn' community transmission to drive NSW's response to COVID-19, as medical experts call for lockdown


The Berejiklian government will exhaust all options with coronavirus restrictions before it shuts down the economy, with a key minister saying stubborn case numbers could force changes.

Victor Dominello, one of the government's senior ministers leading NSW's COVID-19 response, said "shackling the economy" was not an option and warned the state's biggest threat was complacency with ongoing high profile cases of businesses and individuals flouting restrictions.

The state's COVID-19 cases have hovered between six and 20 each day throughout July and early August. Mr Dominello said Prime Minister Scott Morrison wanted that figure at zero.

But health authorities have been unable to trace the chain of transmission to any source for seven cases in the past week, in a clear sign the virus is spreading quickly by stealth in the community.

Case numbers will drive NSW's COVID-19 response

NSW's biggest enemy in the COVID-19 battle is complacency, but shackling the economy is the government's last resort.

www.smh.com.au

 

[drron]

And the "Consular"staff member from Kabul turns out to be a private security contractor.So caught the plane to MCY then drove to home in Toowoomba.

And why do we let diplomats and assorted celebs to just go home? In Thailand even if you are a diplomat you get tested on arrival and not allowed to leave the Airport until the result is known.There should be enough of the rapid test kits for that.

 

[Gremlin]

And the "Consular"staff member from Kabul turns out to be a private security contractor.So caught the plane to MCY then drove to home in Toowoomba.

And why do we let diplomats and assorted celebs to just go home? In Thailand even if you are a diplomat you get tested on arrival and not allowed to leave the Airport until the result is known.There should be enough of the rapid test kits for that.

The matter with the 'not diplomat' has been referred to police for investigation

 

[Gremlin]

No new cases reported in Qld...

 

[Pushka]

No new cases reported in Qld...

That is fabulous. Hope that sticks. Thanks!

Post automatically merged: Aug 4, 2020