Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

They are clearly worried about that gym.... a journalist suspects that record keeping may not have been great - I don’t know why though all the Anytimes I’ve been to you swipe in anyway?

Maybe it was just very high traffic and zero social distancing / poor hygiene...

Well at least with a gym, most users are likely to live locally. Though there may be some who are members because they work nearby, rather than live nearby.

 

[moa999]

I'd think the main issue with Anytime Fitness would be people sharing cards given they are often unstaffed.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[jakeseven7]

I'd think the main issue with Anytime Fitness would be people sharing cards given they are often unstaffed.

True and people who piggy back in for free and never register - seen that a lot too.

They would also be reluctant to come forward...!

 

[jakeseven7]

Can someone remind me why (legally) the NSW government is unable to mandate mask wearing? I do remember there was a discussion about that a while ago...

All this pretty please wear a mask is stupid. Just mandate it for certain environments like VIC.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

So that make the cluster 70 - til tomorrow’s update.

 

[RooFlyer]

Perhaps Hobart could take a few more flights instead of focusing on Pacific farm worker flights? There should be a few hotel rooms free now with the cancellation of the Sydney to Hobart?

I've always said Tasmania should do more re repatriation. There will be a mix of repats and farm workers coming in over the coming month & more. They stay at (separate) hotels with plenty of capacity irrespective of Sydney-Hobart.

But I don't see the Tas Govt stepping up to any greater extent, given the conservatism of our CHO. His policies towards locals mirror the 'hands off' attitude to repat flights! If the Sydney outbreak is sourced to flight crew, they are more likely to take fewer, rather than more repats.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So that make the cluster 70 - til tomorrow’s update.

Yes 70. Plus the bus driver who so far is a single case outbreak from a different strain.

So 71 recent local cases.

 

[N860CR]

Yes 70. Plus the bus driver who so far is a single case outbreak from a different strain.

So 71 recent local cases.

High numbers, especially early, is very good. Suggests the system works. Problem is, the media works people into a panic by suggesting it’s bad

 

[MelMel]

Can someone remind me why (legally) the NSW government is unable to mandate mask wearing? I do remember there was a discussion about that a while ago...

All this pretty please wear a mask is stupid. Just mandate it for certain environments like VIC.

Doesn’t really answer the question

 

[lovetravellingoz]

As mentioned it is good to at see today the test numbers at last really ramping up.

The additional pop-ups in the Northern Beaches will have assisted in this. But it will also be due to people in the rest of Sydney presenting for testing due to have been at an exposure site.

 

[benjy]

Doesn’t really answer the question

Standard political response

 

[jakeseven7]

Dan and Brett and the COVID commander updating on VIC border at 12pm.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Can someone remind me why (legally) the NSW government is unable to mandate mask wearing? I do remember there was a discussion about that a while ago...

All this pretty please wear a mask is stupid. Just mandate it for certain environments like VIC.

Maybe it’s just psychology - if you force someone to do it, a certain segment will rebel. If you ask nicely and many take it up, the ones not listening will feel out of place lol

 

[jakeseven7]

VIC update on border to NSW:

Additional border restrictions are coming in due to the spread outside Northern Beaches.

VIC closes border to all of Greater Sydney and Central Coast (become a red zone) from midnight tonight. If people try to come they enter mandatory hotel quarantine 14 days.

Some provisions for returning VIC residents to
home quickly and home isolate until Monday then hotel quarantine for them post this day.

VIC will implement hard road border at NSW border. Army assisting.

VIC commits border will not be closed a minute longer than needed. VIC is in close contact with NSW and working closely.

VIC is assisting NSW with contact tracing.

 

[jase05]

Dan just said that the NSW outbreak came from a Hotel quarantine breach

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It’s pretty easy actually. Based on current case numbers, the Northern Beaches has reached the definition of a “hotspot” so appropriate controls can be placed on that area. When it’s no longer a hotspot, they can be removed.

Indeed. My question was to the OP who said restrictions in response to the outbreak demonstrated 'small mindedness' and were 'wrecking lives'.

 

[RAM]

A handful of places outside of the northern beaches that somebody visited does not equate to “circulating all across Sydney”. Thus far, it’s contained to the northern beaches.


NSW has proven time and time again that they have world leading tracing systems in place which are currently doing their job. Haven’t seen the slightest bit of incompetence here, simply a state that has remained open all year doing what we need them to do.

Closing borders and hiding under a blanket is not doing a good job

All true points.

The most important issue though is that it is now more than 100 hours since the first community CV+ cases were found - and their source is unknown.

The Tradewinds outbreak was resolved much sooner. That most states held off for more than 72 hours illustrates more restraint than previously exhibited. More than 100 hours later & given the "numbers are expected to become bigger in days to come" then it is hard to fault any other State or Territory restricting access to safe guard their residents.

Given that there has been 1 confirmed case of a Northern Beaches resident who flew to Qld & subsequently was confirmed CV+ - I was surprised that all other States & Territories did not immediately close off access.

Positive case from Sydney's Northern Beaches outbreak flew to Queensland while infectious

www.9news.com.au

Dr Jeannette Young said the lady in her 50s travelled from the Northern Beaches on December 16 on Virgin flight VA925 arriving into Brisbane airport at 9.30am.

After staying overnight, the woman travelled through Brisbane and stopped at the Prince Charles Hospital to get tested for coronavirus.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Dan just said that the NSW outbreak came from a Hotel quarantine breach

Well unless something was just learnt that is not yet known according to Young an hour ago.

ie it is known that it is a recent USA strain.....and that a traveller who returned on 1 Dec has a closely matching strain.

So it may be them...someone else on the flight including aircrew.

Or it may have been from another USA flight from the same strain.

My guess is than 1 Dec travellers genomic sewuencing is jyst a little bit different enough to suggesy thay they may not be actual source of the outbreak.

 

[jase05]

South Australia has followed Victoria’s lead and announced tighter border measures on travellers from New South Wales.
Residents from Greater Sydney will be unable to travel to South Australia without undertaking 14 days of quarantine from midnight on Sunday.
Anyone who has been in the Northern Beaches will be locked out entirely.

Those who do arrive will have to have a coronavirus test three times, once on arrival and again on days five and 12 of isolation.

People arriving from regional New South Wales will be allowed in but must undergo a test on arrival.