Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

I just find it incredibly condescending when the only state to have a major quarantine failure was Victoria, and they're not even a week into resuming international flights and they have the gall to tell other states to tighten their protocols. Meanwhile NSW have been doing the heavy lifting and processed somewhere in the order of 100,000 pax.

Any state that allows people to walk straight off an international flight and into the community needs to check their procedures, there is nothing wrong with that and the comment was hardly inflammatory, was just a point of fact and NSW has already recognised they have a gap that needs to be plugged. Done, no need to be too caught up on it

 

[justinbrett]

Any state that allows people to walk straight off an international flight and into the community needs to check their procedures, there is nothing wrong with that and the comment was hardly inflammatory, was just a point of fact and NSW has already recognised they have a gap that needs to be plugged. Done, no need to be too caught up on it

There has been no suggestion in either of these cases that people "walked straight off into the community".

In fact, both cases referred to exemptions of some kind. I don't think it matters whether this occurs landside or airside. In the recent case the pax were escorted to the domestic terminal which completely fits with the narrative the police thought the pax had an exemption.

I'm with Gladys. Mistakes will happen no matter what system you have. We're talking about 2 out of 100,000 which is 0.002%. Time for the snide remarks from WA, QLD and VIC to stop until they want to start processing the volume of pax anywhere close to what NSW is doing. It smacks of jealousy and political point scoring.

 

[pagingjoan]

Yep, throwing stones....

As you will.
Perhaps a case of “What you see depends on where you stand’”

 

[RooFlyer]

I think the better comment from ‘Victoria’ in relation to the NSW incident would have been: “There but for the grace of God go us ( or we went) ”

 

[jakeseven7]

The now usual warning for SW and W Sydney as virus detected, again.

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New COVID alert for 39 Sydney suburbs​

NSW Health has issued an alert urging residents in 39 Sydney suburbs to come forward for testing if they have any symptoms.

It comes after fragments of the virus that causes COVID-19 were detected at the Liverpool sewage treatment plant.

"The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in sewage may reflect the presence of known cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the area served by this sewage treatment plant," a spokesperson said.

"However, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local community in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are just a cold."

The area served by the treatment plant includes the suburbs of Bardia, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, Abbotsbury, Ingleburn, Prestons, Holsworthy, Edmondson Park, Austral, Cecil Park, Cecil Hills, Elizabeth Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Edensor Park, Green Valley, Pleasure Point, Casula, Hammondville, Liverpool, Moorebank, Wattle Grove, Miller, Cartwright, Lurnea, Warwick Farm, Chipping Norton, Voyager Point, Macquarie Links, Glenfield, Catherine Field, Gledswood Hills, Varroville, Leppington, West Hoxton, Horningsea Park, Middleton Grange, Len Waters Estate, Carnes Hill, Denham Court.

Concern over 'crazy' issue with hotel quarantine

Experts have called out a "crazy" oversight in the Australia's hotel quarantine system, with fears it could put the country at risk of a fresh outbreak.

www.news.com.au

 

[pagingjoan]

And the New Daily continues its less than exemplary reporting, with a headline today attached to the July incident:
“More virus cases confirmed, amid revelations of fresh airport bungle”.

”Fresh” bungle, five months old.

 

[dajop]

I just find it incredibly condescending when the only state to have a major quarantine failure was Victoria, and they're not even a week into resuming international flights and they have the gall to tell other states to tighten their protocols. Meanwhile NSW have been doing the heavy lifting and processed somewhere in the order of 100,000 pax.

Find it condescending if you like. But it's a media beat up.

The fact that Victoria had a major quarantine failure, means that all should be learning from their mistakes. When a major safety incident happens in a big workplace, and the company responsible for it undertakes a major investigation into the incident to understand root causes and learn what should be don differently, others in the industry tend to look closely at what they've done and learnt and do take on board some of their advice. The attitude is almost certainly not one of "they stuffed up, we're much better, we don't need to listen to them".

Likewise states I am sure watched closely to learn from what happened in Vic and what they are doing differently now. If you remove the politics from it, I am sure the bureaucrats are doing exactly that in the background. It's a folly to assume that good past performance is going to guarantee good future performance.

And, IME there is room for improvement in NSW. When I arrived in Singapore, once landside, I was directed to a table, I showed my passport, they marked off my name from a list, and sent me to a specific bus. When I arrived in Sydney, once landside, I went past a table, they counted me, but did not verify ID or anything. I thought they would have known exactly who they were expecting to board the bus and marked our names off or something. I suspect that may improve now that the Travel Declaration has been implemented. Australia Travel Declaration | COVID-19 and the border

 

[justinbrett]

Find it condescending if you like. But it's a media beat up.

The fact that Victoria had a major quarantine failure, means that all should be learning from their mistakes. When a major safety incident happens in a big workplace, and the company responsible for it undertakes a major investigation into the incident to understand root causes and learn what should be don differently, others in the industry tend to look closely at what they've done and learnt and do take on board some of their advice. The attitude is almost certainly not one of "they stuffed up, we're much better, we don't need to listen to them".

Likewise states I am sure watched closely to learn from what happened in Vic and what they are doing differently now. If you remove the politics from it, I am sure the bureaucrats are doing exactly that in the background. It's a folly to assume that good past performance is going to guarantee good future performance.

And, IME there is room for improvement in NSW. When I arrived in Singapore, once landside, I was directed to a table, I showed my passport, they marked off my name from a list, and sent me to a specific bus. When I arrived in Sydney, once landside, I went past a table, they counted me, but did not verify ID or anything. I thought they would have known exactly who they were expecting to board the bus and marked our names off or something. I suspect that may improve now that the Travel Declaration has been implemented. Australia Travel Declaration | COVID-19 and the border

Yes, I'm sure NSW CHO will be watching ABC news to receive health advice from VIC government spokesperson.

Do you seriously think other states didn't follow the VIC hotel quarantine enquiry and its recommendations - or what has been discussed at the AHPPC committee? Nobody is saying there isn't room for improvement for any state. But the comments made by her were just wrong (the fact you process people airside doesn't mean you won't confuse exemptions, where it happens is irrelevant). She literally said the same thing "can't" happen in Victoria - which IMO is a terrible attitude to have because it indicates they think their system is perfect.

 

[Lynda2475]

 

[Lynda2475]

Covid Live is reporting 10 days since last local case for both SA and Qld. SA relates to the Parafield cluster, but did I miss something in Queensland?

There is 1 active local case in NSW (the hotel worker).

All of the other cases are oversea acquired in Hotel Quarantine:
* NSW 69
* Qld 20
* WA 13
* NT 15
* Tas 3

Would expect to see some overseas acquired in both SA and Vic now that they are receiving overseas arrivals again.

 

[Pushka]

Covid Live is reporting 10 days since last local case for both SA and Qld. SA relates to the Parafield cluster, but did I miss something in Queensland?

There is 1 active local case in NSW.

All of the other cases are oversea acquired in Hotel Quarantine:
* NSW 69
* Qld 20
* WA 13
* NT 15
* Tas 3

Would expect to see some in SA and Vic now that tehy are receiving arrivals again.

Agree re starting to see positives in SA Med Hotels but so far so good. And when we do just hope our media don't whip the public into getting scared off again and that SA Health have implemented better control procedures this time round. The headline about the Tasmania experience today was pathetic.

 

[RooFlyer]

The headline about the Tasmania experience today was pathetic.

Did you mean NSW or did I miss something?

 

[NZflygirl]

Covid Live is reporting 10 days since last local case for both SA and Qld. SA relates to the Parafield cluster, but did I miss something in Queensland?

There is 1 active local case in NSW (the hotel worker).

All of the other cases are oversea acquired in Hotel Quarantine:
* NSW 69
* Qld 20
* WA 13
* NT 15
* Tas 3

Would expect to see some overseas acquired in both SA and Vic now that they are receiving overseas arrivals again.

Not a community case.
Close contact of someone in HQ that acquired it overseas. Likely a couple or something.

 

[Pushka]

Did you mean NSW or did I miss something?

I read the headline along the lines that Tasmania has breaks its x number of days without a Covid case. Of course the detail was that it was in three travellers in hotel quarantine.

 

[RooFlyer]

I read the headline along the lines that Tasmania has breaks its x number of days without a Covid case. Of course the detail was that it was in three travellers in hotel quarantine.

Ah, OK. News has been received remarkably calmly locally. It’s been about 110 days without a case.

 

[RAM]

Well, I tried to wade through that a couple of times, but came up short. Are you conflating the so-called 'priority' (?) of "non citizen, non permanent residents being approved to travel to Australia ahead of those that live here" during COVID repatriations with the entry requirements under the Migration Act, or usual rules for entry into Australia of skilled/unskilled labour?

No, not conflating anything. Thousands of 'vulnerable' Australians registered with DFAT have been unable to get a seat back to Australia despite over 200,000 international arrivals since restrictions were imposed.

In Lynda2475's post there were around 17 different exemption/entry routes available currently for a foreign national to gain entry into Australia since March 27th. These were the two that caught my eye.

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force and decision makers may grant you an individual exemption if you are:

• a foreign national with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
• a foreign national sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)

Searched for PMSOL which led to Fed Gov Homeaffairs web site which then led to the detailed 35 page listing of what occupations are covered under the PMSOL +/or critical skills or critical sector. All of those occupations allow foreign nationals entry to Australia currently. 18 additional occupations were added on 20 November.

Yes all those occupations I detailed in my previous lengthy post - such as 'sports officials', 'cinema managers' and 'gardeners' are deemed to be crticial skills or working in a critical sector.

Looks like the list only ever gets added to & not culled - given how many thousands of 'cooks', chefs, flight attendants have lost their jobs in the last year - why are they still down as occupations allowing entry & permanent residency? Equally - learn to swim instructors? Since in NSW's case only requires a 10 day course (max) to be qualified for a State Govt operated facility - yet a way to get into Australia ahead of Australian citizens & permanent residents.

Now given the details of some of the Darwin International student arrivals aired on the ABC - how exactly does the young man coming to do a cookery course qualify? This would seem to be the only one that covers an unqualified international student?

• a student in your final years of study of a medical, dental, nursing or allied health profession university degree, where you have evidence of a confirmed placement in an Australian hospital or medical practice which commences within the next two months

Yet they were granted an exemption as well as people doing other 'courses' - none of which were medical nor dental related.

The question remains - why hasn't the Federal Govt simply announced with a few days notice (as they did back in late March) a new condition for gaining entry into Autsralia - that being only those registered with DFAT. Once those Australians have arrived (with suitable time limits to travel back) then, and only then should the 700 occupations be able to gain entry.

Currently - they who pay the most get the seats, not those the most vulnerable according to DFAT.

 

[Flashback]

No, not conflating anything. Thousands of 'vulnerable' Australians registered with DFAT have been unable to get a seat back to Australia despite over 200,000 international arrivals since restrictions were imposed.

In Lynda2475's post there were around 17 different exemption/entry routes available currently for a foreign national to gain entry into Australia since March 27th. These were the two that caught my eye.

The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force and decision makers may grant you an individual exemption if you are:

• a foreign national with critical skills or working in a critical sector in Australia
• a foreign national sponsored by your employer to work in Australia in an occupation on the Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL)

Searched for PMSOL which led to Fed Gov Homeaffairs web site which then led to the detailed 35 page listing of what occupations are covered under the PMSOL +/or critical skills or critical sector. All of those occupations allow foreign nationals entry to Australia currently. 18 additional occupations were added on 20 November.

Yes all those occupations I detailed in my previous lengthy post - such as 'sports officials', 'cinema managers' and 'gardeners' are deemed to be crticial skills or working in a critical sector.

Looks like the list only ever gets added to & not culled - given how many thousands of 'cooks', chefs, flight attendants have lost their jobs in the last year - why are they still down as occupations allowing entry & permanent residency? Equally - learn to swim instructors? Since in NSW's case only requires a 10 day course (max) to be qualified for a State Govt operated facility - yet a way to get into Australia ahead of Australian citizens & permanent residents.

Now given the details of some of the Darwin International student arrivals aired on the ABC - how exactly does the young man coming to do a cookery course qualify? This would seem to be the only one that covers an unqualified international student?

• a student in your final years of study of a medical, dental, nursing or allied health profession university degree, where you have evidence of a confirmed placement in an Australian hospital or medical practice which commences within the next two months

Yet they were granted an exemption as well as people doing other 'courses' - none of which were medical nor dental related.

The question remains - why hasn't the Federal Govt simply announced with a few days notice (as they did back in late March) a new condition for gaining entry into Autsralia - that being only those registered with DFAT. Once those Australians have arrived (with suitable time limits to travel back) then, and only then should the 700 occupations be able to gain entry.

Currently - they who pay the most get the seats, not those the most vulnerable according to DFAT.

Unfortunately this is life and money talks.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just to show that even a pre/test doesn’t stop a trip to nowhere being disrupted/ruined

'Worst fear': Cruise ship passenger tests positive for coronavirus

Covid was detected on a 'cruise-to-nowhere', with nearly 1700 passengers told to remain in their cabins.

au.yahoo.com

 

[Princess Fiona]

The question remains - why hasn't the Federal Govt simply announced with a few days notice (as they did back in late March) a new condition for gaining entry into Autsralia - that being only those registered with DFAT. Once those Australians have arrived (with suitable time limits to travel back) then, and only then should the 700 occupations be able to gain entry.

Currently - they who pay the most get the seats, not those the most vulnerable according to DFAT.

Ok but as you aren’t actually in charge of this process I’m guessing you haven’t thought of the consequences of your idea.
Every year my hospital and many others in Australia rely on junior Drs coming out from the UK and Ireland etc to keep our rosters filled safely and our patients seen and treated safely.
No staff, no healthcare.
Thankfully you aren’t in charge of this process and we have been able to get some of them to come over to maintain our workforce

 

[drron]

Just to reinforce what Princess Fiona has said the hospital I am working at for the last 6 months has only been able to open it's ED from 0800 to 1800 each day for the last 6 months because junior doctors who had been hired and signed contracts couldn't get into Australia.So after hours emergencies had to be taken to hospitals 50 or 90 Km away then often transferred back to our wards the next day.
This month we have gone back to a 24 hour ED as they have been able to come in.