Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

Every-time I see Professor Sharon Lewin interviewed re covid-19 I think how much she looks like Shayna Blaze - are they related or is it an unfortunate co-incidence for Dr Lewin.

A WA resident returning from Vic caught hiding in the back of a truck entering WA, trying to by-pass quarantine. Interesting not caught at the SA border checks.

 

[Flying mermaid]

So with Qld, SA having a few days of zero new cases, are we ok to call them successes in squashing community transmission without going into a lockdown? Putting them in the same category as ACT.

Fingers crossed.

I must admit my confidence has been shaken by the NZ experience - if it can break out again there is anywhere safe

 

[get me outta here]

SBS News just said that 30 odd more CBR people registered to come home.

My understanding is there are a few hundred, but they are travelling in "shifts" over the course of four days.

 

[RooFlyer]

More and more slowly leaking out about how the Vic hotel quarantine bungle came about.

The authority put in charge was the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. (DJPR) and the Dept Health wasn't consulted. CMO Sutton said he knew nothing of it. (My bolding)

DJPR's international trade agency, Global Victoria, were responsible for engaging private security firms for hotel quarantine. The reason for selecting Unified Security, an indigenous-owned security company that was not on the government’s preferred panel of security suppliers, was supposedly driven by an attempt to provide jobs under “social inclusion” policies.

The bureaucratic elite in Victoria clearly did not see a problem in selecting a company for hotel quarantine based on where it ranked on the intersectionality pyramid.

But the good news is that there are still jobs being created in Victoria.

The department wishes to hire a “director, inclusion and intersectionality”, for which it is offering a generous salary of $192,800-$249,700 plus superannuation.

 

[Pushka]

So with Qld, SA having a few days of zero new cases, are we ok to call them successes in squashing community transmission without going into a lockdown? Putting them in the same category as ACT.

Fingers crossed.

Our restrictions are starting to ramp up especially in aged care as of this week I think. Some restrictions are being relaxed. The border areas of Victoria and SA are being tightened but the effect on the local border communities is saddening - for instance not being allowed to travel across the SA border 10kms to get petrol or go to shops or Doctors, but have to travel over 200 k's return trip back into Victoria. These people were already having to take Covid tests every 7 days but that isnt acceptable for the new restrictions.

Victoria has simply scared everyone and NZ has totally wrecked any thoughts of beating it.

Post automatically merged: Aug 13, 2020

I must admit my confidence has been shaken by the NZ experience - if it can break out again there is anywhere safe

But they totally relaxed everything! No social distancing at all.

 

[RooFlyer]

There was a tourism function in Hobart yesterday - announcement of new tourism strategy. About 50-70 people seated at tables of 10 in a function room, just like the 'old times'.

Just like the old times.

I tried to find a pic, but not available, but it was utterly ridiculous. We haven't had community transmission for months, but there are still social distancing etc restrictions on restaurants etc. Afterwards, drinks and nibbles served at the function by waiters to a stand-up crowd. I think all bars etc have to have people seated. Really annoying.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just have a read:

Coronavirus-hit Melbourne supermarket alarmed by silence from contact tracers

The owner of a Melbourne supermarket says she finds it "disturbing" she still has not heard from contact tracers a fortnight after one of her staff tested positive for COVID-19.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Flying mermaid]

There was a tourism function in Hobart yesterday - announcement of new tourism strategy. About 50-70 people seated at tables of 10 in a function room, just like the 'old times'.

Just like the old times.

I tried to find a pic, but not available, but it was utterly ridiculous. We haven't had community transmission for months, but there are still social distancing etc restrictions on restaurants etc. Afterwards, drinks and nibbles served at the function by waiters to a stand-up crowd. I think all bars etc have to have people seated. Really annoying.

Things are getting very relaxed here as well - human nature to think it’s all over and it’s OK to go back to old ways, when you don’t have cases. We are remaining paranoid and taking every precaution - although I forgot last week and hugged a neighbour’s toddler

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just have a read:

Coronavirus-hit Melbourne supermarket alarmed by silence from contact tracers

The owner of a Melbourne supermarket says she finds it "disturbing" she still has not heard from contact tracers a fortnight after one of her staff tested positive for COVID-19.

www.abc.net.au

Unfortunately I get the feeling Melbourne has just given up the ghost and putting all their eggs in the Stage 4 lockdown basket.

If it gets down to zero new cases in Melbourne, then it would have been the right call as to ‘efficient’ use of resources.........sigh.

If you look at historical data, there is a point when you are so overwhelmed there is no point in proceeding to trace. Hence every State / Territory should have a historical community transmission figure relating to the first lockdown.

 

[jakeseven7]

Victoria has simply scared everyone and NZ has totally wrecked any thoughts of beating it.

Did anyone actually ever think it could be beaten though (pre vaccine / pre treatment)?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Things are getting very relaxed here as well - human nature to think it’s all over and it’s OK to go back to old ways, when you don’t have cases. We are remaining paranoid and taking every precaution - although I forgot last week and hugged a neighbour’s toddler

Well it’s a more acceptable one-off type of mistake when you are in a jurisdiction that is not regarded by their leaders as ‘treat everyone as having the virus’ (ie NSW, NZ) and there is no specific Covid safe regulation applying to you. But venues are just taking the proverbial.

 

[dajop]

Just have a read:

Coronavirus-hit Melbourne supermarket alarmed by silence from contact tracers

The owner of a Melbourne supermarket says she finds it "disturbing" she still has not heard from contact tracers a fortnight after one of her staff tested positive for COVID-19.

www.abc.net.au

An incredibly positive story about someone who did their research, took matters into their own hands, and did not wait for the nanny state to direct them what to do. If only many other business owners were more proactive, things might not have got so bad. It's not as if there's a vacuum of no information about the virus. Many industries have developed guidance about what to - both prevention and managing cases, good on her for conservatively adopting some common sense. After all, we're in the Information Age, not the Dark Ages.

The company I work for, admittedly a MNC, had well developed procedures for dealing with the virus, well before government advice. I was involved in pandemic planning as part of my safety role, in 2006/7. These things (isolation, deep cleaning, social distancing, mask wearing) are not unique to COVID-19.

 

[SydneySwan]

I agree, it's happening everywhere..... NSW is just in the spotlight for bad behaviour because they have bubbling community transmission but have decided to let it run (for now, I suspect they will be forced into stronger action very soon)

Oh dear.....

------

Sydney school accused of completely ignoring virus safety before cluster


The Sydney school linked to a fast growing COVID-19 cluster has been accused of flouting COVID-19 safety practices before news of the outbreak emerged.

The Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook has now been linked to 19 coronavirus cases.

A parent of one of the students claimed to 2GB’s Ben Fordham that the school had been going against health advice and holding extracurricular activities and events.

“According to this parent, the school has not been practicing COVID-Safe measures. They say the primary school has been doing weekly choir with no social distancing, they’ve continued compulsory mass, students are still taking communion by the hand and teachers are able to take it by the tongue,” Fordham said.

The parent also claimed there was no social distancing in place at assemblies and a primary school food stall run by the high school students was held last Wednesday.

Coronavirus NSW live updates

Home Affairs Minister, Peter Dutton, has hit out at the "childish" way the situation between the Queensland and NSW border is being handled.

www.news.com.au

Gladys has been going very hard on Tangara over it’s alleged non-compliance with Covid protocols. Her treasurer Dominic Perrottet (supposedly premier in waiting) has 2 or 3 of his kids at Tangara. Just putting it out there.

 

[Pushka]

Did anyone actually ever think it could be beaten though (pre vaccine / pre treatment)?

Yeah, I think they did.

 

[love_the_life]

Gladys has been going very hard on Tangara over it’s alleged non-compliance with Covid protocols. Her treasurer Dominic Perrottet (supposedly premier in waiting) has 2 or 3 of his kids at Tangara. Just putting it out there.

Interesting that the study centre involved is part of Opus Dei. Dan Brown eat your heart out.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

NZ has totally wrecked any thoughts of beating it.

If you mean zero new cases always, then that was never going to happen. Every CHO I have heard speak on this for their jurisdiction has always said that no matter how few cases you have another outbreak will reoccur sooner or later.

The only way NZ could have done that after eliminating the virus in NZ (assuming that is what they did) would have been to have cut themselves off totally from the outside world which they did not.

• No incoming international passengers (whether travellers or essential workers)
• No incoming or outgoing air freight
• No incoming or outgoing sea freight

A country the size of NZ cannot be 100% self-sufficient in everything. Whether that be medicines, electronics , machinery etc the list goes on. Plus they need to export to earn income.

If you have mixing with people who can be Covid 19 positive then sooner or later someone living in NZ is going to get infected as sooner or later there will be an error, faulty equipment, carelessness, human error, recklessness or just dishonesty. Neither people nor PPE are foolproof.

This all applies to countries, states, hospitals , aged care and indeed everywhere.

That quarantine officer, or airport official, will not wear their PPE properly. That nurse may have an aggressive or panicking patient pull off their mask.

The goal is to keep cases very low, if not zero, and to be able to squash any outbreak when it occurs.

Also on vaccines. It is extremely unlikely that a vaccine will be 100% effective or that 100% of people will take it.

NZ cannot only eradicate the virus if all the world eradicates it.

But yes they can live in a bubble with virtually no cases for most of the time.

 

[moa999]

Gladys has been going very hard on Tangara over it’s alleged non-compliance with Covid protocols

I'll believe when they actually fine a school or religious organisation.
Or even a restaurant (many of which seem to be clearly breaching 4m² capacity rules)

So far the NSW fines have just been for a few pubs.

Post automatically merged: Aug 13, 2020

If you mean zero new cases always, then that was never going to happen. Every CHO I have heard speak on this for their jurisdiction has always said that no matter how few cases you have another outbreak will reoccur sooner or later.

Think much of that is cover your cough.
Aim for eradication but keep the rhetoric up about outbreaks.

That hopefully ensures transmission is low if a case does occur, and you don't cop it for failing elimination

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Think much of that is cover your cough.
Aim for eradication but keep the rhetoric up about outbreaks.

That hopefully ensures transmission is low if a case does occur, and you don't cop it for failing elimination

No doubt on your first point.

But in an imperfect world if a Covid-free bubble interacts with a Covid-positive bubble then sooner or later then sooner or later a transmission is going to happen.

 

[SydneySwan]

I'll believe when they actually fine a school or religious organisation.
Or even a restaurant (many of which seem to be clearly breaching 4m² capacity rules)

So far the NSW fines have just been for a few pubs.

Post automatically merged: Aug 13, 2020

Think much of that is cover your cough.
Aim for eradication but keep the rhetoric up about outbreaks.

That hopefully ensures transmission is low if a case does occur, and you don't cop it for failing elimination

SMH are reporting that NSW Police are investigating if Tangara breached health protocols. If they did I hope they are fined.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Another nsw Health alert - phase 1 for the hospital, phase 2 for the club

Public Health Alert - Liverpool Hospital and Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club
13 August 2020
NSW Health is advising of a new public health alert for Liverpool Hospital and Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club.
A third case of COVID-19 has today been confirmed in a staff member at Liverpool Hospital. The staff members with COVID-19 are in isolation and all close contacts of the staff members have been identified and advised to isolate for 14 days, get tested for COVID-19 and monitor their health.
The first staff member notified with COVID-19 is linked to a known cluster. The contact tracing team is continuing its work to identify how the other two staff members acquired the coronavirus.
There is no evidence that there is on-going risk in the hospital, and patients should continue to visit to receive the medical care they need.
People who were at Liverpool Hospital on 6 August from 7am to 3pm, 7 August from 7am to 3pm, and 8, 9 August between 5am and 1.30pm are advised to monitor for symptoms and get tested should even the mildest symptoms develop.
There is no evidence that there is on-going risk in the hospital, and patients should continue to visit the hospital to receive their medical care.
NSW Health can also advise a second case has now been confirmed in a person who worked at the Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club; a case reported yesterday had also worked at this club. The source of infection for each of these workers is under investigation.
As a consequence, NSW Health is advising anyone who attended the Club during the following times is now considered a close contact who must self-isolate for 14 days, get tested for COVID-19 and monitor their health. Close contacts must remain in isolation for 14 days after they last attended the club, even if they test negative for COVID-19:

• Friday 7 August from 5pm to 6.30am on Saturday 8 August
• Saturday 8 August 4.30pm to 11.30pm
• Sunday 9 August 1pm to 9pm
• Monday 10 August 12pm to 9.30pm.