Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[dajop]

Couldn’t the science be re-evaluated and new modelling done in Qld after Oct 31 to support reopening of the borders?

 

[jakeseven7]

Just about everybody will including those who has been complaining (jealously?) about not being able to escape to Glorious Queensland. Short memory syndrome will kick in

The hotel deals will be insanely good as bookings are so low - so good maybe @antycbr will come visit us

I'm not sure what the flight prices will be like though, I suspect higher than normal if this scenario played out.

 

[jb747]

Who in their right mind will book in Queensland given that the border can open and close on the whim of AP, JY and "Dr" SM?

Exactly. I'm itching to get the van out again, but the northern parts of NSW will do just as well as southern Qld.

 

[tgh]

With many au tourist areas chockers already, it seems likely that prices will be going up.
Last weekend Stanthorpe , in the New England wine belt , was booked solid.
It is an ill wind indeed that blows nobody any good

 

[jakeseven7]

With many au tourist areas chockers already, it seems likely that prices will be going up.
Last weekend Stanthorpe , in the New England wine belt , was booked solid.
It is an ill wind indeed that blows nobody any good

Can you get to the GC? If so bargains aplenty there.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And another situation where lessons just aren't being learned. The same strategy was used in SA for the last cluster start a few weeks ago, where a college student tested positive, so 80 close contacts were put into Hotel isolation paid by us but ok with that, comprising of a large mix of languages and cultures plus another 1000 people put into home isolation. The leaders of those communities were briefed by SA Health and spoke to each of their cultural clusters explaining what they needed to do.

Initially I just thought the Victorian part of your post was incorrect, but on reading up on the Thebaton Cluster just now the situation based on the media reports is not at all the perfect picture of rapid and perfect virus transmission suppression that you claim.

27 July:

An Essential Worker was meant to be self-isolating.

After checking-in to the hotel on July 27, the man was in close contact with a woman aged in her 20s.

Comment: so 2 people not following rules.

While at the hotel, the man developed coronavirus symptoms

SA Health has confirmed to InDaily that the man left his hotel room and travelled to a COVID-19 clinic to be tested.


29 July
The man returned a positive COVID-19 test on Wednesday July 29. It was only then that SA Health was informed.

Comment: So it took 2 days to get the result back.

As part of our contact tracing process, anyone who is determined a close contact of a confirmed case will be contacted and identified by the Communicable Disease and Control Branch (CDCB) to assess any risk and make decisions on who may need to isolate,” SA Health said.

“A close contact is someone who has had face-to-face contact for at least 15 minutes, or has been in the same closed space for at least 2 hours, as someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 when that person was infectious. Close contacts are advised by public health officials of the need to self-isolate.

Comment: No mention of checking close contacts of close contacts at this time.


“Following our extensive interview processes, we notified one close contact of the need to self-isolate.”

A woman who had been in close contact with the man at the hotel tested positive for COVID-19.

But before that, she had visited Thebarton Senior and Roma Mitchell Secondary colleges while infectious, forcing the temporary closure of both schools, affecting more than 2000 students and staff.


Comment: So this is somehow good compared to the Victorian Truck Driver?


3-5 Aug

On Monday, August 3, SA Health reported that a 50-year-old male has tested positive for COVID-19, but no further details were given.

On Wednesday, August 5, chief public health office Professor Nicola Spurrier revealed that a Walkers Arms Hotel staff member had also been infected by the man while in self-isolation.

“This gentlemen did attempt to self-isolate correctly and he did the right thing because he went to a hotel rather than his home, but unfortunately quarantine does mean you stay in your room and you don’t have anybody in there and you don’t come in close contact with them,” she told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“Unfortunately that wasn’t the case because he was able to transmit that to a number of people – one included somebody that worked at the hotel – and it just shows how transmissible this virus is.”

However, hotel manager Steven Munro told InDaily soon after Spurrier’s August 5 interview that none of his employees were infected with COVID-19, and SA Health had advised him that the hotel could continue to trade as normal.

Comment: What?

They (SA Health) said all the way from accommodation through to bistro you’re absolutely fine to go ahead and trade as normal,” he said.

Comment: What?

How self-isolation at an Adelaide pub sparked the "Thebarton Cluster" - InDaily

indaily.com.au

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have advised anyone who was in the vicinity (of the Walkers Arms Hotel) to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if they develop any symptoms.” it said.

Comment: Again no third ring here yet, and this at time delay greater of which are lambasting the Vic Official.. Instead just asking those that had been in the vicinity to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms.

The cluster has since grown to include two more cases: a woman aged in her 20s who tested positive on Monday August 3 after visiting several public places while infectious, and a third young woman aged in her 20s who tested positive yesterday after attending Thebarton Senior College.




7 Aug

In response, SA Health today ordered 94 Thebarton Senior College students to be placed in immediate quarantine at a city medi-hotel, and another 1100 students, staff and their families to self-isolate until mid-August.

Those in self-isolation who work in aged care, disability care or health care will get priority COVID-19 testing.

Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas and his deputy Susan Close are also self-isolating after visiting the campus last Thursday.

Spurrier today said she wanted to put a “double ring” around the cluster to stop it from spreading further.

Comment: This is 7th Aug. First positive result was known on 29 July nine days prior. So only after mistakes had been made and the situation had spread and had the risk of becoming substantial were more cautious measures rolled out.

Note also that the students sent to hotel quarantine were adult students living together in circumstances that did not allow them to isolate "at -home" and so were all moved to a medi-hotel (Medi-hotels having also been used in Vic for months now for people who cannot isolate at home).

 

[Lynda2475]

doubt it will give any boost to Queensland's tourism industry. Who in their right mind will book in Queensland given that the border can open and close on the whim of AP, JY and "Dr" SM?

Exactly, you would only book flights on points (if available) so are fully refundable and only book fully refundable up to day of travel accommodation. But paying for fully refundable options costs significantly more so makes it too hard for average person, and as does buying an airfare on the day of travel.

I booked when AP opened the border in July, and within 2 weeks it was shut again 3 days out for travel - that experience has made me loathe to plan anything for Queensland while AP remains in charge.

Just about everybody will including those who has been complaining (jealously?) about not being able to escape to Glorious Queensland. Short memory syndrome will kick in

I wanted to go to FNQ during winter, there is nothing appealing about FNQ in Summer (Rain, Cyclones, Stingers, crazy humidity). I booked Byron since I had to cancel Hawaii, because I cant trust that GB wont lock me out of my own state. The weather on the Gold Coast isn't any better than Byron in Dec/Jan.

People who booked SE Qld for Christmas back in Jan/Feb or those with family who don't have to pay for accommodation may travel at Christmas but I seriously doubt there will be too many from Vic or NSW willing to gamble on border opening and staying open to book now for this summer.

People wont start to forgive big time til next Autumn or winter when the chill returns down south.

 

[antycbr]

Exactly, you would only book flights on points (if available) so are fully refundable and only book fully refundable up to day of travel accommodation. But paying for fully refundable options costs significantly more so makes it too hard for average person, and as does buying an airfare on the day of travel.

I booked when AP opened the border in July, and within 2 weeks it was shut again 3 days out for travel - that experience has made me loathe to plan anything for Queensland while AP remains in charge.



I wanted to go to FNQ during winter, there is nothing appealing about FNQ in Summer (Rain, Cyclones, Stingers, crazy humidity). I booked Byron since I had to cancel Hawaii, because I cant trust that GB wont lock me out of my own state. The weather on the Gold Coast isn't any better than Byron in Dec/Jan.

People who booked SE Qld for Christmas back in Jan/Feb or those with family who don't have to pay for accommodation may travel at Christmas but I seriously doubt there will be too many from Vic or NSW willing to gamble on border opening and staying open to book now for this summer.

People wont start to forgive big time til next Autumn or winter when the chill returns down south.

The longer term risk for Queensland is that people who typically go to the Gold Coast will find somewhere they like even more in NSW and not return as frequently to Queensland.

Christmas is now not that far away and most people will have made their plans if they have to book somewhere.

The free mixing of Queenslanders and NSW residents in the Northern Rivers has seen that area become a popular destination for a lot of people to meet up at with a low risk of Annastasia ruining your Christmas.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The hotel deals will be insanely good as bookings are so low - so good maybe @antycbr will come visit us

I'm not sure what the flight prices will be like though, I suspect higher than normal if this scenario played out.

Well, not so sure. Have you tried to book places in QLD recently? Many of the best places are fully booked. Even getting accommodation in Longreach is becoming very tricky! We booked two places for Xmas and NY back in late August and now they and many others are completely booked out for that period.

 

[Pushka]

the perfect picture of rapid and perfect virus transmission suppression that you claim.

I didn’t say anything like that as you are well aware .

Weirdly over 7 days they managed to put everything into a containment situation involving over 1200 people. Very mixed cultural group of 90 people into hotels. And you say that isn’t better than the 14 days of eventual discovery with the Shepparton situation. Go figure.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well, not so sure. Have you tried to book places in QLD recently? Many of the best places are fully booked. Even getting accommodation in Longreach is becoming very tricky! We booked two places for Xmas and NY back in late August and now they and many others are completely booked out for that period.

I work with the hotel industry, particular SE QLD and there are PLENTY of rooms there.... I don't know so much about Longreach though, good luck!

 

[moa999]

Good result for NSW as well today.
1 local (household contact of Lakemba cluster)
4 hotel quarantine

Qld with 2 hotel quarantine

 

[jakeseven7]

5 absolute cases for NSW, higher than VIC again.

Only 1 in the local community though.

And better levels of testing again which is good.

 

[Pushka]

View attachment 230565

4 absolute cases for NSW, higher than VIC again.

Only 1 in the local community though.

And better levels of testing again which is good.

We should never take into account returning Hotel travellers especially when NSW is doing the lions share of the work for Australia.

 

[jakeseven7]

We should never take into account returning Hotel travellers especially when NSW is doing the lions share of the work for Australia.

Agreed, maybe they should stop publishing it now...

 

[DC3]

Well, not so sure. Have you tried to book places in QLD recently? Many of the best places are fully booked. Even getting accommodation in Longreach is becoming very tricky! We booked two places for Xmas and NY back in late August and now they and many others are completely booked out for that period.

Yes, I have a road trip coming up soon, through parts of QLD. Longreach, along with other towns have limited vacancies. The advice is to book some time ahead.

Edit: So-called “deals”, are non-existent in some areas.

 

[Lat34]

Agreed, maybe they should stop publishing it now...

I think the published stats are fine with "New Local Cases" presented first followed by "New Overseas Acquired" and then "Total New Cases".
Just have to train the media to report in the order presented. But that would not be as newsworthy would it...

 

[moa999]

We should never take into account returning Hotel travellers especially when NSW is doing the lions share of the work for Australia.

We are probably getting close to Victoria restarting hotel quarantine.

think the published stats are fine with "New Local Cases" presented first followed by "New Overseas Acquired" and then "Total New Cases".

Agreed. Particularly if they increase return numbers which will result in higher numbers.

 

[DC3]

.... People wont start to forgive big time til next Autumn or winter when the chill returns down south.

Many travellers will have very short memories about this and won’t worry about being fickle. It’s probably more of a topic on AFF.

Edited

 

[DC3]

.... I wanted to go to FNQ during winter, there is nothing appealing about FNQ in Summer ...

Although many travellers may be a bit more adventurous, and see advantages of travelling ‘out of season‘.