Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

As others have posted, it has been a full on lockdown.

Well compared to New Zealand in the First Wave, the current Melbourne restrictions on work are no where near as strict and more people are still working. In NZ even things like Butchers were closed. Butchers, bakers and indeed all food businesses including take away, restaurants, are still operating. Just not sit-down,

But overall mixing and movement is extremely low.

WFH mandatory unless essential worker at place of work. So it cant be like that for much longer. And my concern is that when it is less restricted, then the patterns of management may not have changed. Hope I'm wrong. I am usually a pollyanna but some of the things I've learnt in recent weeks about Covid management in Victoria have pretty much destroyed that.

I may just be too optimistic, but if you look at what has been happening with new cases since the new restriction have commenced new cases have plummeted and seemingly are on track to have new cases at an extremely low level within a fortnight.

Post automatically merged: Sep 12, 2020

How about maunfacturing? Retail is pretty much as normal in SA but the issue for larger items is that they are made in Victoria. We have had one item on order for a while now but knew there would be delays.

Some manufacturing is still occurring. Not all. What is occurring is at much reduced staffing levels in most cases.

 

[RooFlyer]

There is construction going on all around me every day, cement mixers queuing up in the street. Construction workers blocking the footpath having their lunch from nearby cafes. Not nearly as many as before, But we are definitely not shut down and nowhere near as much as many other citys overseas were.

That’s good to hear. We inter-staters do get a media diet of vision of deserted streets etc. On ABC radio this morning, a Tas ‘expat’ was interviewed - alone in her apartment, said it was so quiet etc.

 

[Pushka]

Well compared to New Zealand in the First Wave, the current Melbourne restrictions on work are no where near as strict and more people are still working.

But overall mixing and movement is extremely low.



I may just be too optimistic, but if you look at what has been happening with new cases since the new restriction have commenced new cases have plummeted and seemingly are on track to have new cases at an extremely low level within a fortnight.

View attachment 227286

But the measure will be what happens when there is a new outbreak when numbers are manageable and so tracing should be effective if done correctly and in a timely fashion. What is happening now is not the test, reduction was always going to happen with the shutdown.

 

[Flashback]

You could still buy things online in the UK during the lockdown and get them delivered? Dr FM bought a number of things, including a mixer and blender, so she could alleviate her boredom by cooking

Correct, but my view is that when people say retail are closed that would mean physical stores; online is of course always going to be available as is mail / courier delivery. Dr FM can feel free to cook me some treats and courier them over

 

[p--and--t]

How about maunfacturing? Retail is pretty much as normal in SA but the issue for larger items is that they are made in Victoria. We have had one item on order for a while now but knew there would be delays.

AFAIK there was a negotiation with all sizeable industry sectors (by workforce) where that was practicable. The gov introduced broad brush measures (shutdown) on smaller operators like gardeners dog groomers, et al.

Covid-safe practices were stipulated for larger workforces and assessed and that resulted in a drop to sometimes around 25% of original staffing levels if adequate social distancing couldn't be semi-guaranteed. That's one of the reasons I think Australia Post is struggling - due to their way of doing things, they lost quite a few staff when they were at their busiest and haven't moved quickly enough to adapt. Other courier firms are very busy but didn't grind to a halt. Amazon can still deliver in less than 48hrs.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Depends on your circumstances doesn’t it? If you were running a little landscaping business you might have a different viewpoint. While it may not be as strict as some others have been a large number of small businesses have been severely impacted

Yes indeed. But Melbourne is not in total lockdown, and certainly not as strict as NZ in the first wave, or say parts of Italy at their worst.

They said before the current restrictions were announced that they would not be as strict as NZ had been and would factor in what had been learnt to date. But they also said that they had to minimise how much people were mixing and moving about and that workplaces was a a location that in particular needed to be addressed as transmission in workplaces was rapidly escalating. So this meant that many had to stop working, or as with say pub workers not get back to work as many had not. They were about to as the first wave had ended.

So far the steady decline in cases would indicate that the measures are working. But yes some people are more negatively affected than others by the measures and so for some of us it is extra tough. My own business is down 99% since March, and I doubt things will now change for myself in any significant way till November or even 2021.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But the measure will be what happens when there is a new outbreak when numbers are manageable and so tracing should be effective if done correctly and in a timely fashion. What is happening now is not the test, reduction was always going to happen with the shutdown.

Well we can agree then that you are on the pessimistic side and I am on the optimistic side

Personally I see changes in:

• The extra senior epidemiologists that have now joined Sutton
• That they are ramping up the abilities and tools of the contact tracing (ie such as the recent study mission to NSW)
• That testing is now more available, including things like in-home testing for those that cannot get to testing stations, or the saliva test which while not as accurate does allow those who cannot, or will not, use nsal swabs to still be tested..
• That some of the reasons why people were not presenting for testing or isolating (which was a key accelerator of the second wave ) have been offset with measures such the payment for people who do not have sick leave
• The increased sewer testing to monitor for cases where normal testing has shown no cases. ie Apollo Bay recently
• That Correction Victoria is now managing quarantine and that dedicated staff have been hired that they manage who are trained for the task (ie not random security guards such as many other states are still using)

 

[Pushka]

Well we can agree then that you are on the pessimistic side and I am on the optimistic side

Personally I see changes in:

• The extra senior epidemiologists that have now joined Sutton
• That they are ramping up the abilities and tools of the contact tracing (ie such as the recent study mission to NSW)
• That testing is now more available, including things like in-home testing for those that cannot get to testing stations, or the saliva test which while not as accurate does allow those who cannot, or will not, use nsal swabs to still be tested..
• That some of the reasons why people were not presenting for testing or isolating (which was a key accelerator of the second wave ) have been offset with measures such the payment for people who do not have sick leave
• The increased sewer testing to monitor for cases where normal testing has shown no cases. ie Apollo Bay recently
• That Correction Victoria is now managing quarantine and that dedicated staff have been hired that they manage who are trained for the task (ie not random security guards such as many other states are still using)

All good things.

 

[Flashback]

Western Australia Has Recorded 5 Months With No COVID-19 Community Transmission | So Perth

5 months since the last community transmission was recorded.

soperth.com.au

One supports the other, right?

First person ordered to wear GPS tracking bracelet in WA after alleged quarantine breach

WA Police said when quarantine officers conducted a routine check on the woman on September 10 they found two men at the house where she was meant to be alone.

www.watoday.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

First person ordered to wear GPS tracking bracelet in WA after alleged quarantine breach

WA Police said when quarantine officers conducted a routine check on the woman on September 10 they found two men at the house where she was meant to be alone.

www.watoday.com.au

Though maybe I missed something:

WA Police said when quarantine officers conducted a routine check on the woman on September 10 they found two men at the house.​

How would the bracelet stop people from visiting?

This was always the flaw I saw in GPS bracelets as they track people if they leave, but do not stop people from visiting the the person in quarantine.

 

[Pete98765432]

During a pandemic, you want doctors making the decisions, not politicians.

I agree that politicians shouldn't make decisions that are contrary to medical advice.

O/T - I don't understand the media frenzy about Dan Andrews deciding on a curfew rather than the CHO. It supports the medical advice to limit movement. (I'm not commenting on whether the curfew is a good idea or not, just who has the power to impose it).

(Actually I do understand the media frenzy - their need to get a gotcha moment).

 

[p--and--t]

Though maybe I missed something:

Perhaps she wasn't "missing out" .

 

[p--and--t]

O/T - I don't understand the media frenzy about Dan Andrews deciding on a curfew rather than the CHO. It supports the medical advice to limit movement. (I'm not commenting on whether the curfew is a good idea or not, just who has the power to impose it).

(Actually I do understand the media frenzy - their need to get a gotcha moment).

Still off topic, in the specific instance of the curfew, in chatting to friends on the phone, whatsapp, text, I have not so far come across anyone in my circle who didn't think it was a great idea. Some are impacted, not many, but support the measure all the way and don't care who made it, if it gets us to lower figures months quicker than otherwise.

 

[Flashback]

Though maybe I missed something:

WA Police said when quarantine officers conducted a routine check on the woman on September 10 they found two men at the house.​

How would the bracelet stop people from visiting?

This was always the flaw I saw in GPS bracelets as they track people if they leave, but do not stop people from visiting the the person in quarantine.

Exactly, but a reality check is needed. Regardless of measures put in place, there's always going to be people who flaunt it (otherwise why would we have laws in society in general, police to enforce etc.). WA is trying to achieve this pinnacle of no infections ........ forever ........ they need a reality check, you can live with it and just get on with life. Politics will never let that happen, though.

 

[DC3]

Collectively, what do we hope to achieve here, apart from a bit of friendly banter and venting?

Are we expecting any Premier/PM to be taking note of the brilliant minds on AFF?

 

[OZDUCK]

Though maybe I missed something:

WA Police said when quarantine officers conducted a routine check on the woman on September 10 they found two men at the house.​

How would the bracelet stop people from visiting?

This was always the flaw I saw in GPS bracelets as they track people if they leave, but do not stop people from visiting the the person in quarantine.

Because she was moved from the house to quarantine in a hotel.

 

[p--and--t]

Collectively, what do we hope to achieve here, apart from a bit of friendly banter and venting?

Are we expecting any Premier/PM to be taking note of the brilliant minds on AFF?

Besides some excellent informative reporting and analysis by a few on the status diligently each day (we all know who they are) and venting to release the tensions of restrictions and not being airborne (or in a freebie lounge), idly filling in time when we could be doing something eminently more useful ; we are waiting for that exquisite pleasure of saying I told you so when one of the Premiers does something we suggested into the ether seemingly to no avail

 

[dajop]

Are we expecting any Premier/PM to be taking note of the brilliant minds on AFF?

I’d expect them to be taking as much note of AFF contributors as QF do (at least since Red Roo left the building).

 

[jb747]

Still off topic, in the specific instance of the curfew, in chatting to friends on the phone, whatsapp, text, I have not so far come across anyone in my circle who didn't think it was a great idea.

I don’t know that all that many people do disagree. The issue that seems to be coming up though, is the government’s inability to say who exactly, is responsible for anything.

 

[Pushka]

Collectively, what do we hope to achieve here, apart from a bit of friendly banter and venting?

Are we expecting any Premier/PM to be taking note of the brilliant minds on AFF?

Entertainment while we sit this thing out?