Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Pushka]

Exactly. A bunch of people with no experience in health, quarantine etc celebrating the implementation of hotel quarantine without realising what 'success' was. I'm not saying it was malicious, or vindictive, just silly and embarrassing to witness (in report).

Sort of like painter, or a dancer or a chemist designed a bridge and congratulated themselves on the last day of its construction before the structure was tested for efficacy.

Titanic celebration perchance?

 

[jakeseven7]

NSW still struggling with compliance and behaviour


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'Worst offender': Inner-city pub among dozens of NSW venues flouting COVIDSafe rules

An inner-city Sydney pub has been singled out as the worst offender in breaching COVIDSafe protocols.

It comes as NSW Liquor and Gaming warns there will be no second chances for venues when it comes to adhering to social distancing regulations.

The Garry Owen Hotel in Rozelle was fined $10,000 for what the department said was a "litany of COVID safety breaches", slamming the venue as "the worst pub seen so far".

When inspectors arrived at the pub, they found just three staff on-site despite the venue being quite busy.

"The list of breaches grew from there. In fact, the venue was essentially being operated as though there were no restrictions in place," Mr Argeres said.

As it happened: 21 more deaths, 410 new cases in Victoria; Premier warns of harsher rules for NSW; Auckland back in lockdown

Victoria has recorded 21 deaths, a new high in the state's daily death toll, and 410 new cases, while NSW health authorities focus on a religious retreat that may have sparked a Sydney school cluster.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Seat0B]

SA bans travel from Victorian cross-border communities

Many Victorians living in border communities will not be able to enter SA following the introduction of tighter travel restrictions, with shopping and medical supplies no longer considered legitimate reasons.

www.abc.net.au

Looks like things are getting tighter everywhere.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Today's Vic DHHS Report.
My bolding.

Media release

12 August 2020

Victoria has recorded 410 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 15,646.

The overall total has increased by 395 due to 15 cases being reclassified – largely due to duplication.

Within Victoria, 72 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 338 are under investigation.

There have been 21 new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday: two women in their 70’s, one man in his 70’s, six women in their 80’s, five men in their 80’s, one woman in her 90’s, five men in their 90’s and one woman in her 100’s.

16 of the 21 new deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities. To date, 267 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
In Victoria at the current time:

• 2961 cases may indicate community transmission
• 7877 cases are currently active in Victoria
• 662 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 43 in intensive care
• 7271 people have recovered from the virus
• More than 1,874,615 tests have been processed – an increase of approximately 19,927 since yesterday

Of the total cases:

• 14,351 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 957 are from regional Victoria
• Total cases include 7544 men and 8030 women
• Total number of healthcare workers: 1967, active cases:
• There are 1932 active cases relating to aged care facilities

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

• 198 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping
• 182 cases have been linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner
• 153 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer
• 129 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth
• 115 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee
• 107 cases have been linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North
• 97 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg
• 89 cases have been linked to Arcare Aged Care Facility in Craigieburn
• 82 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee
• 79 cases have been linked to Aurrum Aged Care in Plenty

Cases currently linked to key outbreaks are as follows:

• 202 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown
• 123 cases have been linked to Melbourne Health Royal Park Campus
• 60 cases have been linked to the Woolworths Distribution Centre in Mulgrave
• 59 cases have been linked to the Linfox warehouse in Truganina
• 29 cases have been linked to Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton North
• 21 cases have been linked to Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm in Bendigo
• 18 cases have been linked to Caroline Chisholm Catholic College in Braybrook

The department is also investigating an outbreak at Corio Village Shopping Centre and Peninsula Private.

 

[moa999]

The ~2000 in age care facilities is a scary stat for deaths over the next week given the mortality rate in the 70+ group

 

[Seat0B]

Senior doctor says Queensland border closure a 'political stunt'

Lismore's local health service is "scrambling" to cope with the effects on patients and staff, who must quarantine for 14 days if they enter Queensland from outside the so-called border bubble.

www.abc.net.au

Just as I was thinking about the implications of Victorians from the west of the state being unable to access medical treatment in much closer areas of SA from my previous post, up came this other item on my news feed about people from Lismore area of NSW being unable to access medical care in Queensland.

Even if I give the benefit of the doubt that these are unintended consequences, I cannot help but feel that this border closure routine is getting pretty dysfunctional. We need a better and more compassionate solution. Otherwise every state will end up as its own little country - with reference to Sammy J and his Government Coach skit about Hookturnistan (aka Victoria), which last week seemed pretty funny and now seems quite prescient.

 

[Seat0B]

and one woman in her 100’s.

Such a sad end to a long life, probably isolated from her family.

 

[SydneySwan]

Senior doctor says Queensland border closure a 'political stunt'

Lismore's local health service is "scrambling" to cope with the effects on patients and staff, who must quarantine for 14 days if they enter Queensland from outside the so-called border bubble.

www.abc.net.au

Even if I give the benefit of the doubt that these are unintended consequences, I cannot help but feel that this border closure routine is getting pretty dysfunctional. We need a better and more compassionate solution. Otherwise every state will end up as its own little country - with reference to Sammy J and his Government Coach skit about Hookturnistan (aka Victoria), which last week seemed pretty funny and now seems quite prescient.

These may be unintended consequences but in so many cases they are perfectly foreseeable and the decisions seem to be being made without reference to neighbouring states. It may be a pandemic but I believe that we are entitled to expect better from our governments than this.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The ~2000 in age care facilities is a scary stat for deaths over the next week given the mortality rate in the 70+ group

It does include workers and others though. But yes at say rough ly 50% being residents it is not the stat that you want to have.

 

[Pushka]

No cases in SA today but some restrictions increased and others have eased a little. Now up to 20 in a home but every large venue - gym, shop, licensed premise, food hall etc must have a dedicated Covid warden whose sole job is to monitor covid adherence. I suspect also that Nursing Homes will face increased restrictions such as casual workers only working at one site, masks etc etc. More on that tomorrow.

 

[Seat0B]

These may be unintended consequences but in so many cases they are perfectly foreseeable and the decisions seem to be being made without reference to neighbouring states. It may be a pandemic but I believe that we are entitled to expect better from our governments than this.

I totally agree. I would be furious if I were the young mum of twins mentioned in this article, now effectively forced to Newcastle as the next nearest major medical centre. If states want to play this game, then they should provide services for their citizens, not just enter into agreements with other states/territories to provide them when it suits the providing state. That leaves gaping holes in the medical fabric of our country.

 

[VPS]

No cases in SA today but some restrictions increased and others have eased a little. Now up to 20 in a home but every large venue - gym, shop, licensed premise, food hall etc must have a dedicated Covid warden whose sole job is to monitor covid adherence. I suspect also that Nursing Homes will face increased restrictions such as casual workers only working at one site, masks etc etc. More on that tomorrow.

I went to a restaurant in Adelaide the other night and no way were we even one metre from the next table.

 

[jakeseven7]

I went to a restaurant in Adelaide the other night and no way were we even one metre from the next table.

I think its obvious there are breaches left, right and centre in all states of CovidSafe operating requirements.

They should increase the fine amount to something serious.

 

[Pushka]

I went to a restaurant in Adelaide the other night and no way were we even one metre from the next table.

We were walking past the restaurant on the beach side part of Henley Beach opposite Thai Orchid last Sunday lunch time. It was packed with people and no way was distance being kept. Tossing up whether to pop into Henley Beach Police Station and asking them to keep an eye out. It wasnt just busy but packed.

And quite the opposite, I went into a showroom a builder had recommended and had to sign in before I opened the door and then use sanitiser. Then I was asked at the desk if I'd signed in. And this was at Pooraka!

 

[nutwood]

I was having a discussion this evening with a Melbourne based client. Due to the nature of their business, they are basically exempt from the restrictions but his observations were interesting. The essential point was that he was amazed as to how many people are moving about, compared with the first lock down. He's armed with a wad of paper-work, justifying his travel, but apparently he's yet to use any of it. No police, no stops to check reasons for travelling.
Obviously anecdotal, but I'm wondering if the observations of others in Melbourne can flesh out the picture?

 

[blackcat20]

I was stopped two weeks ago to explain where I was going, so it is happening.

 

[Austman]

if the observations of others in Melbourne can flesh out the picture?

I only need to look out my windows to see the difference for inner city Melbourne.

It's totally different now, even compared with the first lock down.

During the day there's hugely reduced road and pedestrian traffic. But it's certainly not zero or close to it.

During the curfew hours it actually is almost zero.

 

[dajop]

Obviously anecdotal, but I'm wondering if the observations of others in Melbourne can flesh out the picture?

I was in regional Victoria until Sunday evening, before returning to Melbourne via train (V-line) and then ultimately proceeding to airport via Didi. Train had 3 people per carriage. Going to the airport, very little traffic at all. In fact between Essendon Airport and the Airport (I didn't pay attention before then), I counted 5 cars coming in the opposite direction, 1 truck in our direction who peeled off at the ring road, and no cars visible on the Freeway behind or in front of us in our direction of travel.

 

[jase05]

I was stopped two weeks ago to explain where I was going, so it is happening.

Bloke from our Melbourne office got stopped twice on the way to work at 3am yesterday. He only lives about 15 minutes from work

 

[nutwood]

Sorry, I don't have anything I can share that's in the public domain, but consider this...

If you have 1,000 people self-isolating and you selectively check 100 of them once at some point over the two week period and 2 aren't there on the occasion that you check, then your politicians can claim a 98% compliance rate.

If you have 100 people self-isolating and you check every single one of them every day, sometimes multiple times a day and 98 are there every single time and 2 are there every single time bar one, you also have a 98% compliance rate.

Are these two scenarios equivalent? Which one suggests more risk of community transmission?

The two are not equivalent. The sampling rate needs to be factored into your risk assessment.