Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Agree but maybe the person to ask is SA’s CMO. I’d suggest it is more than 5 community transmissions. SA didn’t close to Qld when the 3 Qld Covidiots did their thing as the tracers were on to it.

Isn’t it the Police Commissioner in the Emergency designated role?

 

[jakeseven7]

During todays presser Gladys was asked what the conditions were for SA keeping Border open once it opens tonight, she didn't know. She expressed a hope that NSWs effective management of community transmission (keeping it low) since Vic's second wave triggered community spread in NSW, was evidence enough that they could remain open indefinitely.

I feel it is really important so that people can plan travel that they know the criteria (if any) that would see the borders close again. SA need to declare their position on this, so people can assess the risk of booking.

Agree and honestly, they really shouldn't be shutting borders again - at all - unless there is extreme and sustained risk for a major outbreak.

They have the health infrastructure and systems to cope (allegedly) with some inevitable community spread that will happen so we don't want these knee jerk reactions to continue on happening, we need to approach this together as one country.

 

[Lynda2475]

The other interesting observation is that when NSW health talk about community transmission they mean local transmission with known sources + mystery cases (basically everyone who is not in hotel quarantine). Whereas in Victoria Community transmission refer only to mystery cases.

We really need to get the whole nation using common definitions too, especially if border opening/closure and restrictions are tied to them.

 

[jakeseven7]

We really need to get the whole nation using common definitions too, especially if border opening/closure and restrictions are tied to them.

Yes.... sigh.... that is what national cabinet is for, allegedly

 

[Lynda2475]

ABC News confirms:

SA's border restriction with NSW will ease at midnight

The South Australian Premier has confirmed border restrictions with New South Wales will be eased at midnight tonight..

As foreshadowed yesterday, people will be free to enter South Australia from New South Wales with no requirement to self-isolate.

However anyone who has already entered within the past fortnight or who enters before midnight tonight will be required to complete 14 days of self-isolation.

The announcement means that from midnight, South Australia's only restricted border will be with Victoria.

Only people considered essential travellers are allowed to enter South Australia from Victoria.

The SA Premier Steven Marshall says the state's Transition Committee hopes to provide a timeline within the next week for the easing of restrictions with Victoria.

He says returning South Australian residents will be the first priority, followed by people in regional Victoria, ahead of metropolitan Melbourne.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The other interesting observation is that when NSW health talk about community transmission they mean local transmission with known sources + mystery cases (basically everyone who is not in hotel quarantine). Whereas in Victoria Community transmission refer only to mystery cases.

We really need to get the whole nation using common definitions too, especially if border opening/closure and restrictions are tied to them.

NSW Health is using the same definition as the Federal Govt.

Locally-acquired is all cases diagnosed outside hotel quarantine. This includes everyone, people linked to a known case or cluster and those who have no known link. These are sub-divided in the surveillance reports into
Locally-acquired known contact / cluster
Locally-acquired no known contact /cluster
Community transmission is evident when there are locally-acquired cases with no-known contact.
I’m not aware of NSW health using Community Transmission to describe all locally-acquired cases.

 

[Pushka]

Isn’t it the Police Commissioner in the Emergency designated role?

It seems very blurred here to be honest but she tends to be the one making the health decisions and some announcements based on statistics then the Police Commissioner comes on to explain and enforce it in his deep growly voice.

 

[Lynda2475]

NSW Health is using the same definition as the Federal Govt.

Which is what i thought, but ABC News posted this:

 

[Princess Fiona]

Which is what i thought, but ABC News posted this:

View attachment 228418

Well he’s wrong

EDIT: Whoever is running the NSW Twitter is wrong.
None of the official releases or policies use this term for locally acquired cases

 

[Seat0B]

The other interesting observation is that when NSW health talk about community transmission they mean local transmission with known sources + mystery cases (basically everyone who is not in hotel quarantine). Whereas in Victoria Community transmission refer only to mystery cases.

We really need to get the whole nation using common definitions too, especially if border opening/closure and restrictions are tied to them.

Yes and also even agreeing on a common definition of a hot spot. The state by state approach to this is truly reminiscent of pre-Federation days and different railway gauges in different states meaning you had to literally change trains at the border. Crazy times, and not a good approach to managing a national health crisis.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW Health is using the same definition as the Federal Govt.

Locally-acquired is all cases diagnosed outside hotel quarantine. This includes everyone, people linked to a known case or cluster and those who have no known link. These are sub-divided in the surveillance reports into
Locally-acquired known contact / cluster
Locally-acquired no known contact /cluster
Community transmission is evident when there are locally-acquired cases with no-known contact.
I’m not aware of NSW health using Community Transmission to describe all locally-acquired cases.

They seems to use it interchangeably

From today’s media release

This marks the second day in a row with no community transmission of COVID-19. The last time NSW had consecutive days without community transmission was July 3, 4, and 5.

While there were no locally acquired cases recorded in the past 48 hours, the virus is likely still circulating and it is imperative anyone displaying mild symptoms get tested immediately and not delay their test.

From the latest weekly surveillance report

How much transmission is occurring in NSW?
All new cases are investigated by public health staff to determine the likely source of infection and to identify clusters. To understand the extent of community transmission, locally-acquired cases who have had contact with a case or who are part of a known cluster are considered separately to those with an unidentified source of infection. Cases with no links to other cases or clusters suggest that there are people infected with COVID-19 in the community who have not been diagnosed. Currently, public health efforts are focussed on contact tracing to limit further spread in the community, and identifying the source of infection for every case.

From 22 July media release

Most cases have been linked to known clusters. However community transmission continues, and NSW Health is calling on people across the state to redouble their efforts to stop the virus spreading.


It does get confusing.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

To add to the confusion a NSW Health YouTube...

Ignore the heading, it addresses what is community transmission.

 

[Princess Fiona]

To add to the confusion a NSW Health YouTube...

Ignore the heading, it addresses what is community transmission.

It’s a dogs breakfast right enough

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The first part of today's DHHS report:


Media Release
23 September 2020

Victoria has recorded 15 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,100.
The overall total has increased by 24 due to nine cases being reclassified.

Within Victoria, 10 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and five are under investigation.

Of today’s 10 cases linked to outbreaks, four are linked to aged care (Baptcare Wyndham Lodge, Estia Keilor, Japara Elanora and Edenvale Manor), four are linked to existing outbreaks (Alfred Hospital and Dandenong Police Station) and two are linked to complex cases which remain under investigation.

Of today’s 15 new cases, there are three cases in Greater Dandeong, two cases in Manningham, Moreland and Wyndham and singles cases in Boroondara, Frankston, Melton, Moonee Valley and Whittlesea. One case is subject to further investigation.

There have been five new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. One man aged in his 70s, two women in their 80s, one man in his 90s and one woman in her 100s. Three deaths occurred prior to yesterday.

All of today’s five deaths is linked to a known outbreak in an aged care facility. To date, 771 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

 

[dajop]

It’s a dogs breakfast right enough

Here in Singapore, they don't publicly use the term "community transmission". Early on in the pandemic the Ministry of Newspeak government decreed the term to use was "cases in the community", to distinguish them from "imported cases" (in hotel quarantine) and those in worker dormitories (which are prevented from circulating in the community).

In the same way that Dan & co in Victoria refer to "mystery cases" here they talk publicly about "unlinked cases in the community". I actually think this makes a lot of sense from a personal perspective, as to judging what is happening outside of institutions. In Victoria (for example) you could make the case that "cases in the community" exclude aged care residents who don't interact with members of the public at all, but still include aged care workers.

Avoiding specific epidemiological jargon when communicating to the public probably helps.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW mystery case watch

- 0 in the last 14 days
- 6 in the period 15-28 days
- 24 older than 28 days and since Crossroads emerged

No public health alerts this evening *fingers crossed*

NSW mystery case watch

- 0 in the last 14 days
- 3 in the period 15-28 days
- 27 older than 28 days and since Crossroads emerged

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Here in Singapore, they don't publicly use the term "community transmission". Early on in the pandemic the Ministry of Newspeak government decreed the term to use was "cases in the community", to distinguish them from "imported cases" (in hotel quarantine) and those in worker dormitories (which are prevented from circulating in the community).

In the same way that Dan & co in Victoria refer to "mystery cases" here they talk publicly about "unlinked cases in the community". I actually think this makes a lot of sense from a personal perspective, as to judging what is happening outside of institutions. In Victoria (for example) you could make the case that "cases in the community" exclude aged care residents who don't interact with members of the public at all, but still include aged care workers.

Avoiding specific epidemiological jargon when communicating to the public probably helps.

We can all blame the confusion on WHO, which states:

Community transmission is evidenced by the inability to relate confirmed cases through chains of transmission for a large number of cases, or by increasing positive tests through sentinel samples (routine systematic testing of respiratory samples from established laboratories).

Using google, throws up this hit.

 

[Flashback]

To put things into perspective a little bit, though...... # cases / 100,000 over 14 days.

 

[dajop]

To put things into perspective a little bit, though...... # cases / 100,000 over 14 days.
View attachment 228439

Australia for this purpose doesn't exist right now, having devolved into a collection of feuding fiefdoms So you can cross out Australia, write in Victoria and multiply the figures by 4, and it still puts thing into perspective (Wed 09.09 about 20),

For further perspective where things got to at its worst, , at the peak # of new cases over 14 days is probably about 28/100,000 Australia wide whilst in Vic it got close to 100.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Despite all the winging, Australian states have done very well. Oh to be in the UK now that coronavirus is back in town.