Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

4 new cases for NSW
1 community transmission case

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

View attachment 231506

4 new cases for NSW
1 community transmission case

Just for clarity - 1 is local case linked to existing cluster, not a mystery cases ......

 

[moa999]

In particular it's a household contact of one of the Oran Park cluster and they've been in isolation.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Great regarding Victorian showing 0 cases.

I guess now we need to know how many mystery cases each state has so we can work out possible dates when states open.

Queensland wanted 28 days of no mystery cases, but with an election on Saturday this might change a bit.

 

[Lynda2475]

Queensland wanted 28 days of no mystery cases,

But also have a 48 hours rule, so cases remain a mystery case even if linked at say the 49th hour.

Sounded like on Fridays national cabinet they may have had to rethink that, of course wont announce anything until after the election. And the damage is largely done, most people will have already booked their xmas travel and avoided Qld due to the uncertainty - they may pick up so Easter bookings.

 

[jakeseven7]

Great regarding Victorian showing 0 cases.

I guess now we need to know how many mystery cases each state has so we can work out possible dates when states open.

Queensland wanted 28 days of no mystery cases, but with an election on Saturday this might change a bit.

But also have a 48 hours rile, so cases remain a mystery case even if linked at say the 49th hour.

Sounded like on Fridays national cabinet they may have had to rethink that, of course wont announce anything until after the election. And the damage is largely done, most people will have already booked their xmas travel and avoided Qld due to the uncertainty - they may pick up so Easter bookings.

If you hadn't noticed, the QLD CHO has been 'parked' from commentating on this matter with her border clock now somewhat muffled....and to your point @Lynda2475, the caretaker QLD government has been slowly backpedalling over the last week on it as well.

Regardless of the result next week, I suspect the 28 day rule will be shelved..... (my reading of the tea leaves up here)....

 

[antycbr]

If you hadn't noticed, the QLD CHO has been 'parked' from commentating on this matter with her border clock now somewhat muffled....and to your point @Lynda2475, the caretaker QLD government has been slowly backpedalling over the last week on it as well.

Regardless of the result next week, I suspect the 28 day rule will be shelved..... (my reading of the tea leaves up here)....

I think the border clock is having problems with Daylight Savings Time.

 

[Flying mermaid]

This is an interesting article showing the chain from Box Hill Hospital to the Northern outbreak

Box Hill Hospital COVID ward the source of northern suburbs outbreak

A doctor on the Victorian Government's healthcare worker infections taskforce says the Box Hill Hospital cluster that led to an outbreak across Melbourne's north highlights ongoing weaknesses with infection control standards in hospitals.

www.abc.net.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

This is an interesting article showing the chain from Box Hill Hospital to the Northern outbreak

Box Hill Hospital COVID ward the source of northern suburbs outbreak

A doctor on the Victorian Government's healthcare worker infections taskforce says the Box Hill Hospital cluster that led to an outbreak across Melbourne's north highlights ongoing weaknesses with infection control standards in hospitals.

www.abc.net.au

Thank you an, interesting article.

On hospitals, performance seems to have been quite variable. At my daughter's hospital they have had very few cases, all were contained and none spread outside of the immediate transmission, and that is with having at time multiple covid wards of various types in operation. The main problems that occurred were from random patients including one who went for covid test, and then went to the hospital for a procedure and only advised staff of the test (ie they deliberately were not truthful) after the procedure was completed. That put into quarantine 4 staff.

Other hospital's have had quite large clusters. Where my niece was the cluster was very large


Though

The northern suburbs outbreak that has delayed confirmation of Melbourne's next step out of lockdown has been traced back to the Box Hill Hospital outbreak, which began in early October.

is probably misleading going on the text and the graphic (see below) where it is just one group (and one of the smallest groups) within the Northern Outbreak that relate to EPIC rather than being a link to all Nothern outbreak cases that have a geographic link to EPIC.. The north metro family cluster, which included the Year 5 student, is across 6 households).

I might have misunderstood yesterdays' presser but I thought that the delay was more around the geographically linked, but not linked by transmission EPIC cases, as they were fearful that there could be unknown transmission chains still being very active. Whereas apart from the cases in the Croxton group the other cases were all contained., and that Croxton group is now contained as well.

Still one good thing about the links below is it means that the mother in the Croxton group is not a mystery case. So again in itself would not be a reason to have delayed the announcement unless the link was only made after the presser.


The hospital outbreak started when a patient on the coronavirus ward infected two staff members.

One of the staff later worked on another ward before the onset of their symptoms. They then gave the virus to a patient and a nurse.

The nurse brought it home to her household at Heidelberg Heights in Melbourne's north and infected seven others.

From that home, the virus spread to East Preston Islamic College, Croxton School at Northcote, and an aged care home.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

and then later:



So let's hope that she has the good goss

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Herald Sun saying (pre-Presser) two phase re-introduction.

Some now, and some in 2/4 weeks.

Much of 1st Nov scheduled easings to be brought forward to this week.

Retail and hospitality this week.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From the Presser:

At midnight Nov 8 is when the Metro Boundary goes. 25km goes. ie Becomes one state again for movement.

Whoohooooo so I can travel again

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just listening to the presser - wonderful news - not just for Victoria but for Australia as this affects us all

 

[blackcat20]

From the Presser:

At midnight Nov 8 is when the Metro Boundary goes. 25km goes. ie Becomes one state again for movement.

Whoohooooo so I can travel again

I can finally go see my mum!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Revised household visit/gathering restrictions to be announced tomorrow.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From Presser: On Masks; Rules stay for now.


Not a surprise as I think all were expecting this.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Metro Easing Document - New Restrictions. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-10/201026 - Metro Melb Easing Restrictions.pdf




And Press Release from Premier of Victoria.

26 October 2020

Zero.

The last time Victoria had zero cases was 9 June, 139 days ago.

Even more incredibly, it’s zero cases off the back of a huge testing drive.

Over the course of this weekend, we asked Victorians living in our northern suburbs to get tested. They did just that.

In 24 hours, we have been able to process an additional 14,024 tests – 3196 of them from these communities. This morning we’ve processed an extra 1157.

And not a single new case has been found.

I want to thank everyone who did the right thing by their community and our state in getting tested. I also want to thank the nurses, lab technicians, collectors, couriers – everyone who has been working around the clock to process these tests.

Because of that effort, we’ve been able to get the results faster than we thought. These results give us confidence – confidence that even if we do identify positive cases in any further tests – we are firmly on top of this virus.

It’s why today I can confirm what we’ve long waited for: Melbourne will move out of lockdown and into the Third Step. Before we get to the bit that almost everyone will be waiting for, an ask:

As we take these steady steps towards reopening, the message remains the same: please, stay safe. And if you have symptoms, you must get tested.
Under the Third Step, and from 11:59pm on Tuesday, Melbourne will move from “stay home” to “stay safe”, with no more restrictions on the reasons to leave home.

The 25-kilometre limit though, will remain in place. I know it’s frustrating, but this is about making sure that even as we ease restrictions, we’re limiting the virus’s ability to travel.

It’s why the border between regional Victoria and Melbourne will also remain in place – for just a bit longer.
Under the Third Step, Melbourne’s cafes, restaurants and pubs can reopen. Outdoors with a limit of up to 50, indoors up to 20. Density limits, record keeping and COVIDSafe Plans also apply.

Remaining retail will also open. Beauty and personal care services can resume. And for those businesses who need to get ready for their reopening – staff will be able to attend onsite straight away.

Outdoor contact sport for those aged 18 and under will also begin again – so too can non-contact sport for adults. PT, fitness and dance classes can also be held outdoors with up to ten people, and the number of people at outdoor pools can increase to 50, subject to density limits.

Libraries and community venues will be able to open for outdoor events. Outdoor entertainment venues can also begin hosting visitors.
And faith communities will be able to meet for outdoor religious ceremonies with up to 20 people, in addition to those required for the service. Indoor services can be held with up to 10.

Weddings will increase to ten people, and funerals up to 20.

Workplaces will no longer need to be on the permitted work list to open and the ability to work will change to “if you can work from home you must work from home”.

While the boundary is in place, work permits will still be required for workers from Melbourne travelling into regional Victoria – and vice versa.
I know the thing many people are missing is having people over to visit – but as we’ve seen, this virus is at its most dangerous when we’re indoors and relaxed and comfortable.

It’s why we’re going to take the next 24 hours to understand how we might be able to make this work – safely – and I’ll have more to say about this tomorrow.

From 8 November, and if we can continue driving case numbers down, the 25km limit will come off and Melbourne will be able to meet regional Victoria at the same level.

That means the same eased restrictions that apply to regional Victoria will also apply to Melbourne.

The capacity of pubs and restaurants will increase, with up to 40 inside and 70 outside.
Religious gatherings will expand with up 20 people and a faith leader indoors, and 50 outside.
Gyms and indoor fitness will be able to reopen – with some strict safety precautions in place.

And because Melburnians will have well and truly earnt a holiday, accommodation will also reopen.
The border between the city and the rest of our state will also fall away.

I know personally – deeply – just how much this will mean for thousands of Victorians who haven’t been able to see loved ones for far too long.
It will mean families are whole again. Our state is whole again.

I understand there'll be questions, “what about X?” or “when can I do Y?”. And I promise, we’ll also have an update on 8 November on the timelines and thresholds for taking the Last Step.

We want to reach COVID Normal by Christmas and right now, we’re on track to do that.

It’s why we’ve got to keep going – all of us. Understanding that even though restrictions may ease, our personal responsibility in all this doesn’t.
We have come so far and given so much.

Getting here – and staying here – relies on the efforts of every Victorian.
Keep going.

 

[jakeseven7]

VIC just announced that regional VIC borders will opened up bilaterally to NSW and SA in the next few weeks, with discussions to occur this week

 

[kyle]

I'm annoyed. Pokies only from 8 November and with max 10 ppl and there's still no date on amusement arcades and Crown.

 

[RooFlyer]

I listened the Vic Gov presser yesterday. Andrews, Sutton and Weimar all spoke on it. It was quite clear on waiting for the test results. They are the ones who decide. So why would a different source be relevant?

Independent analysis (from any of the media outlets) vs government spin, for a start. If you believe everything the government tells you, I've got a bridge you might be interested in.