Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[ja1]

I know more about SA than my own state. Does Sydney have clinics and drive thrus?

Sydney has clinics.. (just not for CV)
Sydney has drive throughs. Did you want fries with that ? Or an extra helping of CV?

And yes, it's sad how far ahead SA seems to be compared to NSW :-/

 

[RooFlyer]

sorta messes up the no mask needed message…

‘No masks’ is intended to refer to “common” paper type masks isn’t it? As in, they are ineffective. I thought P95 masks were effective ( to a degree, obviously) and could be worn to some effect to prevent catching the virus from airborne stuff.

 

[Lynda2475]

So was just on a call with a Melbourne based vendor, someone in one of their offices in Docklands has a suspected case of COVID-19 - all staff sent home yesterday and WFH today, awaiting results of test. If positive all staff based at that site wil be on 14 days self quarantine (today would count as first day).

We had a similar scare last week in a North Sydney office, where someone from another company sahring the building had a suspected case, but as person tested negative it was back to normal 36 hours later. Now same building (and a 3rd company) has another suspected case today, so everyone sent hme again while the building is thoroughly cleaned.

Tomorrow nation wide if you work in a corporate role like me, we have been asked to WFH to test how the companies systems cope if everyone had to self quarantine at once. Liek a fire drill but for WFH for Covid-19.

 

[Lawrage]

Well this is surely going to spiral real fast.

Just had an email from HR saying that if you are experiencing any symptons similar to cold or flu to not come to work and get tested. Surely that is just going to strain the system.

The one person here with a cold was told to go see a doctor, doctor refused entry and asked to self quarantine for 14 days.

Wont take long before everyone is at the doctor with a 'cold' wanting their 14 days off.

 

[Denali]

Well this is surely going to spiral real fast.
Just had an email from HR saying that if you are experiencing any symptons similar to cold or flu to not come to work and get tested. Surely that is just going to strain the system.
The one person here with a cold was told to go see a doctor, doctor refused entry and asked to self quarantine for 14 days.
Wont take long before everyone is at the doctor with a 'cold' wanting their 14 days off.

For us its either work from home or personal leave. Hopefully not too many people want to fake it for some time off.

Just checked, I have 112 days personal leave available but I know most parents are not in the same boat as they usually get stuck at home when the kids are sick/use their personal time up that way.

 

[Lawrage]

For us its either work from home or personal leave. Hopefully not too many people want to fake it for some time off.

Just checked, I have 112 days personal leave available but I know most parents are not in the same boat as they usually get stuck at home when the kids are sick/use their personal time up that way.

I hope not but I dont have much hope for most people, the same ones that take 'sickies' as if its their right will be at the doctors wanting some time off, only difference is now they get 2 weeks rather than a day.

Seeing reports that they are considering closing schools has me more worried. Dont really want to be stuck at home with the little one for 2 weeks.

Something I am unsure about and I dont see mentioned anywhere. If your company or the Govt tells you to quarantine for 14 days who is paying for this, is it just normal pay or are we going to be forced to use sick leave for somthing out of our control.

 

[Denali]

I hope not but I dont have much hope for most people, the same ones that take 'sickies' as if its their right will be at the doctors wanting some time off, only difference is now they get 2 weeks rather than a day.

Seeing reports that they are considering closing schools has me more worried. Dont really want to be stuck at home with the little one for 2 weeks.

Something I am unsure about and I dont see mentioned anywhere. If your company or the Govt tells you to quarantine for 14 days who is paying for this, is it just normal pay or are we going to be forced to use sick leave for somthing out of our control.

I raised it a few weeks ago but does it become a workplace issue (compo) if youre infected at work?

 

[jakeseven7]

I raised it a few weeks ago but does it become a workplace issue (compo) if youre infected at work?

It doesn't and won't if employer has taken reasonable steps.

People have got legionnaires from air con units that have been maintained to manufacturer specs, just bad luck. No workers comp.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well this is surely going to spiral real fast.

Just had an email from HR saying that if you are experiencing any symptons similar to cold or flu to not come to work and get tested. Surely that is just going to strain the system.

That is incredibly poor and inaccurate advice, who on earth do you work for!?

Even if it is coming from a point of conservatism it is actually causing employee stress and potentially also sending healthy (well, non infected) people to a place where they could pick up the virus. Its also a complete waste of our finite medical resources.

 

[jakeseven7]

‘No masks’ is intended to refer to “common” paper type masks isn’t it? As in, they are ineffective. I thought P95 masks were effective ( to a degree, obviously) and could be worn to some effect to prevent catching the virus from airborne stuff.

No, its been referred to as any mask used by the general population. Its also been repeated over and over that any masks period are ineffective for us in our everyday lives.

This $30M government communication campaign cannot come fast enough! Better be good Mr Scotty from Marketing!!

 

[tgh]

its been referred to as any mask used by the general population
Its also been repeated over and over that any masks period are ineffective for us in our everyday lives

This above is demonstrably rubbish , I will try to write out a little mask primer soon to nail this unfortunate disinformation disease

 

[Lawrage]

That is incredibly poor and inaccurate advice, who on earth do you work for!?

Even if it is coming from a point of conservatism it is actually causing employee stress and potentially also sending healthy (well, non infected) people to a place where they could pick up the virus. Its also a complete waste of our finite medical resources.

100% agreed with you there, dont really want to say on a public forum. Its an ASX 100 company so many thousands of employees and this email went company wide.

With a child in daycare / school I have a cold most days and runny nose, by that logic I should be at home now until this thing blows over in a couple of months. Just ridiculous.

 

[jakeseven7]

100% agreed with you there, dont really want to say on a public forum. Its an ASX 100 company so many thousands of employees and this email went company wide.

With a child in daycare / school I have a cold most days and runny nose, by that logic I should be at home now until this thing blows over in a couple of months. Just ridiculous.

We had a similar piece of useless communication from HR (sorry HR people) who clearly hadn't read the latest guidance properly.

I promptly wrote back, corrected them and they reissued their advice.

Suggest you do the same, sounds like what you got is irresponsible

 

[jakeseven7]

its been referred to as any mask used by the general population
Its also been repeated over and over that any masks period are ineffective for us in our everyday lives

This above is demonstrably rubbish , I will try to write out a little mask primer soon to nail this unfortunate disinformation disease

Look forward to seeing your evidenced response that goes against the WHO, government and medical body advice. Sure if all the population had access to the right ones, used it 100% correctly ALL the time (which won't happen, ever) then maybe it would help, but the advice is operating in reality that this simply won't happen and therefore will be ineffective for everyone to use day to day. They clearly specify what scenarios when the correct mask, used correctly CAN be effective but for people wandering around day to day - NOPE.

 

[moa999]

No, its been referred to as any mask used by the general population. Its also been repeated over and over that any masks period are ineffective for us in our everyday lives.

Think the China bus example proves this incorrect.

I suspect part of the mask messages is the lack of masks - with a limited supply better kept for health professionals and for use when you actually have a cough.

 

[jakeseven7]

Think the China bus example proves this incorrect.

I suspect part of the mask messages is the lack of masks - with a limited supply better kept for health professionals and for use when you actually have a cough.

Not evidenced, reported as an isolated incident. That won't stack up and change the directive (yet).

Your suspicions are not suspicions really - they are basically correct - it has been recommended clearly in what instance who should use a mask, and it is not for day to day use by everyone at this stage.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Think the China bus example proves this incorrect.

I suspect part of the mask messages is the lack of masks - with a limited supply better kept for health professionals and for use when you actually have a cough.

Even from afar I can see that that one study in china had massive flaws in it's scientific methodology

ie people sitting on the bus with no data presented on who had correctly fitted masks, and who moved them at all while on the bus etc

Also virus can be contracted through the eyes and so without also knowing who if any where wearing eye protection one does not know how they were infected.

People without masks may also have not been handwashing, using hand sanitisers and adopting other practices that those who wore the masks may well have been doing as well.

 

[ja1]

Something I am unsure about and I dont see mentioned anywhere. If your company or the Govt tells you to quarantine for 14 days who is paying for this, is it just normal pay or are we going to be forced to use sick leave for somthing out of our control.

There is no 'national standard' for this - it's pretty much being applied on a case by case basis with employers.

e.g. some employers have indicated it's self isolation under WFH - i.e you are being paid normally and expected to work in good faith. Thse are probably the smartest employers long term in trying to manage the advice they are being given vs caring for their employees.

Others require you to take sick leave and then other forms of leave.

Still others require you to take LWOP if you don't have available leave.

I would imagine there's almost certainly going to end up with some test legal cases if the employer was sufficiently large and demonstrated sufficient lack of good faith in the process.

 

[jakeseven7]

Even from afar I can see that that one study in china had massive flaws in it's scientific methodology

ie people sitting on the bus with no data presented on who had correctly fitted masks, and who moved them at all while on the bus etc

Also virus can be contracted through the eyes and so without also knowing who if any where wearing eye protection one does not know how they were infected.

People without masks may also have not been handwashing, using hand sanitisers and adopting other practices that those who wore the masks may well have been doing as well.

You think
And.... exactly.....!

 

[Denali]

I work in a office with about 40 people. Two reps, who frequent stores where the masses congregate for a snag with no onions, just walked in and hugs and kisses to at least 10 of my coworkers.

I held my can of Glen20 and sprayed them away. Told them that they were unclean and to leave my vicinity and go wash their hands. In my defence, I have been spraying and saying this for years so nothing new for me.