Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

PS. I am not worried about HVAC in large buildings. But if there is community spread active I would personally not frequent shops, restaurants etc that only have "room" type AC as their fresh air ventilation is quite possibly not adequate, and you certainly cannot tell just by looking. Morseo if you have to spend any length of time there.

In a home setting it is not really an issue as you are sharing the space with the same people every day. So if someone else is contagious you will catch it anyway.

 

[drron]

I'm sure that won't happen. I'm sure I heard her say "Queensland air conditioners are for Queenslanders ..."

It is correct to say air conditioners are for QLD and heat pumps are for Tasmania.

 

[dajop]

My argument is that its the behaviours exhibited when a climatic condition relative to what the person is currently used to changes and they seek comfort from artificial sources.

Agree, whilst in some settings it might the conditions (temp, humidity) of the air that give rise to transmissions, it's the behavioural aspects and the impact of changes relative to what people are used (i.e seeking shelter indoors) , rather than the influence of the actual outside air conditions on the transmission of the virus itself.

With this in mind, it will be interesting to look at data, perhaps from Saturday onwards to see if the reduction in daily new cases slows a bit, reflecting last weekends conditions in Melbourne.

 

[Seat0B]

Re airconditioning, I have been wondering about how that works in hotels, especially the quarantine hotels. I wonder if the air is recirculated, and how it is filtered/cleaned before it is blown into the rooms by the system. I have not heard about the spread of virus from room to room in quarantine hotels, but I don;t know if they even check this or just assume that if people test positive in hotel quarantine, they had it from overseas anyway.

I might be ignorant, but I would be unhappy to stay at a hotel that was also hosting overseas quarantine guests. I noticed that the people from Travelodge Surrey Hills were relocated to Novotel Darling Harbour and checking on-line to make a booking, it seems that the Novotel is NOT accepting other guests, but I am sure I read somewhere on here that someone definitely stayed at a hotel that was also hosting quarantine guests - just can't recall which thread.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

At today’s Federal Daily Covid press conference ...courtesy of ABC Covid live blog

Reporter:

In the US, the FDA says there could be a fast, cheap COVID-19 test for about 15 minutes. Where is Australia at in terms of a rapid turnaround? I would look out looking to roll out a similar kind of fast testing? To speed up the test time of the current tests that we have, when there are some people in some areas we have to wait several days for a result. Where are we but I guess in terms of speeding up the process?

Professor Alison McMillan:

"It's fair to say Australia has very much stuck to the gold standard in the gold standard of the moment across the world is PCR [polymerase chain reaction testing] and we continue to use that across every state and territory in our testing facilities wherever they are."

"We use the public health laboratory network who are our expert group for AHPPC to continue to monitor the evidence of new and emerging technology across the world."

"In this like many others will be something they will consider."

"Rapid testing does have its advantages but I'm not familiar with these details of what this test is but if we believe it's got the evidence to support its sensitivity and specificity, maybe something will continue to be considered in the future but for now, all Australians can be confident use the gold standard which is PCR."

 

[p--and--t]

PS. I am not worried about HVAC in large buildings. But if there is community spread active I would personally not frequent shops, restaurants etc that only have "room" type AC as their fresh air ventilation is quite possibly not adequate, and you certainly cannot tell just by looking. Morseo if you have to spend any length of time there.

In a home setting it is not really an issue as you are sharing the space with the same people every day. So if someone else is contagious you will catch it anyway.

.....unless you are in a cbd backstreet or laneway with some apartments in buildings backing onto each other with noisy individual a/c units within metres of each other, exchanging air from one apartment to another (and keeping each other awake at night).

Luckily my apartment is at the front of the building with a wide streetscape in front, openable windows and no a/c. (Athough 20M away there is a wall of a/c vents maybe 6mx6m from the 30+ storied building next door that emits a high pitched whistle day and night during summer)

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Sigh.....human behaviour.

Border town creates bumper sticker to ease hostility

ABC News

The residents of Nelson, a small, close-knit fishing town in a remote corner of south-west Victoria, have crossed the South Australian border just 5 kilometres away for decades without giving their travel a second thought.

But, like so many other things, the coronavirus pandemic has changed that.

Now, the town's 200 or so residents are acutely aware that they are seen as unwelcome Victorians - potential carriers of the virus - by some South Australians.

Susie Massie and her partner Andrew Moore say the level of negativity towards Nelson residents attempting to cross the border for work and medical appointments has escalated as border restrictions have tightened.

In one incident, dog faeces was thrown at a car with Victorian number plates.

So, in a bid to deflect some of the hostility, Mr Moore and a group of other residents have created bumper stickers that read 'Nelson community essential traveller' to ease cross-border travel.

 

[Pushka]

Sigh.....human behaviour.

Border town creates bumper sticker to ease hostility

ABC News

The residents of Nelson, a small, close-knit fishing town in a remote corner of south-west Victoria, have crossed the South Australian border just 5 kilometres away for decades without giving their travel a second thought.

But, like so many other things, the coronavirus pandemic has changed that.

Now, the town's 200 or so residents are acutely aware that they are seen as unwelcome Victorians - potential carriers of the virus - by some South Australians.

Susie Massie and her partner Andrew Moore say the level of negativity towards Nelson residents attempting to cross the border for work and medical appointments has escalated as border restrictions have tightened.

In one incident, dog faeces was thrown at a car with Victorian number plates.

So, in a bid to deflect some of the hostility, Mr Moore and a group of other residents have created bumper stickers that read 'Nelson community essential traveller' to ease cross-border travel.

I hate these border restrictions and the impact it has had on all Australians. Its like we have reverted back to tribes. We all spar off with the other states but only when all states are "equal". When one state is in trouble then we should all be working to get that state back into a better way.

 

[jakeseven7]

I hate these border restrictions and the impact it has had on all Australians. Its like we have reverted back to tribes. We all spar off with the other states but only when all states are "equal". When one state is in trouble then we should all be working to get that state back into a better way.

Exactly, and SA, TAS, NT have been in trouble for decades propped up by the money making states! It is really quite silly and I look forward to it soon coming to a head and being sorted out...

 

[Seat0B]

I look forward to it soon coming to a head and being sorted out...

Do you really think that will happen? or will it all just fade into the distance once this is over and people will just say "desperate times call for desperate measures" or some other cliche?

I thought we might see headway on the work from home, which would give so much work-life balance to so many, but despite it being proven to work well here in ACT for many, I am aware of several public service departments now mandating a full 5 day a week return to working from the office.

So I agree with your sentiment that it needs to be sorted, but fear that it will not be.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Exactly, and SA, TAS, NT have been in trouble for decades propped up by the money making states! It is really quite silly and I look forward to it soon coming to a head and being sorted out...

Given political party alignments, you will be waiting until the next pandemic and there will still be nothing ‘sorted out’.

 

[jakeseven7]

Do you really think that will happen? or will it all just fade into the distance once this is over and people will just say "desperate times call for desperate measures" or some other cliche?

I thought we might see headway on the work from home, which would give so much work-life balance to so many, but despite it being proven to work well here in ACT for many, I am aware of several public service departments now mandating a full 5 day a week return to working from the office.

So I agree with your sentiment that it needs to be sorted, but fear that it will not be.

Yup it absolutely will be sorted out because public opinion is turning....... and look I think that the Feds would honestly probably settle with the eastern seaboard open and functioning normally and there is community transmission in all those states too. If the TAS/NT/SA and WA have tighter restrictions I think that they would be unpopular but livable.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The NSW weekly surveillance report for the week ending 22 August, just got published.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/covid-19-surveillance-report-20200822.pdf

Lots of information, eg major clusters

Only five of the twelve identified have been linked to a previous case - Crossroads Hotel, Thai Rock Potts Point, Tangara School, Hornsby Hospital and Liverpool Hospital.

 

[jakeseven7]

The NSW weekly surveillance report for the week ending 22 August, just got published.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Documents/covid-19-surveillance-report-20200822.pdf

Lots of information, eg major clusters

Only five of the twelve identified have been linked to a previous case - Crossroads Hotel, Thai Rock Potts Point, Tangara School, Hornsby Hospital and Liverpool Hospital.

Basically Sydney siders need to assume it is everywhere and everyone has it.... which is really what everyone should be doing but you know....

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

A third consecutive night I think for a NSW Health Public Alert - as I read it all Phase 1 alerts watch for symptoms.

Public health alert
27 August 2020
Further investigations have revealed COVID-19 cases have attended a number of locations in the CBD, Hornsby, Willoughby, and the Central Coast.

A case attended one of the gaming areas of City Tattersalls on 24 August. Others who were in the gaming areas on this day must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if even the mildest symptoms develop. NSW Health is working with City Tattersalls to identify and contact people considered close contacts.

NSW Health is contacting people who were at Fitness First Bond St in Sydney city between noon and 4:30pm on Thursday 20 August and Friday 21 August to determine their level of contact. Anyone who has been at the gym on either day must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if even the mildest of symptoms develop.

People who attended the following locations are casual contacts and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms develop and stay in isolation until they have received a negative result:

• PRP Diagnostic Imaging, 16-20 Edgeworth David Ave, Hornsby - 24 August, 10am to 11.15 am
• Harris Farm, High St Willoughby - 22 August 4.00pm to 5.00pm

A new case, which will be reflected in tomorrow’s numbers, worked at David Jones Elizabeth St food court while infectious. He did not have contact with the public. Close contacts have been identified and are being contacted.

Another new case, which will be reflected in tomorrow’s numbers, travelled on the following trains. People who travelled on these trains at the following dates and times are casual contacts and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if symptoms develop, and must stay in isolation until they have received a negative result:

Monday 24 August:

• Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.49am, arriving Wynyard station at 8:05am
• Northbound train, departing Town Hall station at 5:31pm, arriving Woy Woy station at 6:54pm

Tuesday 25 August:

• Sydney-bound train, departing Woy Woy station at 6.49am, arriving Gordon station at 7:36am
• Northbound train, departing Hornsby station at 7:53am, arriving Woy Woy station at 8:28am

Transport for NSW has dedicated cleaning crews across the network, including deep cleans and real time cleaning across all services.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Two NSW schools closed for cleaning, St Gertrude’s Catholic Primary School in Smithfield and The Ryde Secondary College in Ryde, as well as a church, Holy Name Catholic Church in Wahroonga.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Victoria’s headline numbers are 113 new cases and 12 deaths.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

new venues added to Queensland’s venue list....according to news.com.au Covid live blog

The new locations include:
* Puma Fuel in Wacol on 16 August between approximately 4.00pm and 4.10pm
* Petbarn in Browns Plains on 22 August between 10.30am and 10.45am
* Bunnings in Browns Plains on 22 August between 10.45am and 11.15am
* The Good Guys in Browns Plains on 22 August between 11.15am and 11.35am
* Coles at Forest Lake Shopping Centre in Forest Lake on 23 August between 5.00pm and 5.15pm
* The Good Guys in Oxley on 24 August between 9.00am and 9.45am
* Woolworths at The Station in Oxley on 24 August between 10.00am and 10.30am.

there are now about 75 locations at Contact tracing — coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Qld reports 3 new cases - one lives at Forest Lake, 2 live at the Gold Coast - linked to Corrections training centre / Academy, which in turn is linked to the youth detention centre cluster.

effectively schoolies is cancelled - no organised events

restrictions are getting extendedthrough Logan etc down to Gold Coast (eg aged case, hospital, disability, non-covidsafe plan gathering limits).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

New Vic cases based on 7 day average.




And growth based on a 3 day average.