Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

Isn't just the provision of a pen and paper and getting people to manually sign in, enough in NSW? I know it is in SA due to people not having smart phones or who forget them.

Nope. I refer you to NSW Health:

Recording customer information digitally became mandatory for many NSW venues and businesses on Monday 23 November 2020. Under the rules, any businesses who do not record contact details of customers via QR codes or other electronic forms will face strict penalties.

The venues it applies to are:

• amusement centres
• aquariums
• business premises that are used for auction houses, other than clearing houses
• business premises that are used for nail salons, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
• crematoria
• drive-in cinemas
• entertainment facilities
• hospitality venues, including casinos, food and drink premises, micro-breweries, small distilleries, pubs, small bars and registered clubs
• function centres
• funeral homes
• information and education facilities (other than libraries)
• party buses
• properties operated by the National Trust or the Historic Houses Trust
• public swimming pools
• recreation facilities (indoor)
• recreation facilities (major)
• sex on premises venues
• sex services premises
• strip clubs
• vessels used for hosting functions or for commercial tours
• zoological parks and reptile parks.

The rules will also apply to events, including:

• corporate events
• funerals and memorial services and gathering after funerals and memorial services
• wedding services and gatherings after wedding services.

For customers entering venues without a mobile phone, venues are asked to record their details and time of entry on another device.

Venues must manually collect contact details in instances where electronic forms can not be accessed, including during internet outages.

At my fav cafe, when elderly people come in without a smart phone, the owner uses his phone to check them in. Where manual sign-in is used venue is supposed to re-enter digitally asap thereafter. My local cafe, nail salon, hairdresser, take-outs stores have all had QR codes since July.


But as announced last week:

As of 1 January 2021, hospitality venues and hairdressers will be required to use the NSW Government QR code system. And a week later the 8th Jan onwards, all other venues listed above must also have Service NSW app in place.

Bascially only places that wont require electronic check-in are take-away/pick-up.

Mr Hazard said at yesterdays presser $5k fine for any venue not complying. Rules have changed to minimise people making keying errors, using fake names and reduce the timeframe for NSW Contact Tracers to access details when notified on an exposure. Apparently some places using other QR or other solutions (including clubs) didnt readily know how to retrieve the data for Service NSW when asked, frustrating contract tracers.

NSW Health can send a SMS to all patrons within 5 mins, if they have the electronic records in the Service NSW app.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

3 new cases till 8PM last night. Linked to Avalon. (Note NSW official daily totals are to 8PM each day)

But if I heard correctly an additional 3 cases after 8PM. At least one in Wollongong. One Sydney Inner West and one nothern area.
(So cases numbers to be announced tomorrow will be at least 3).

However NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that several positive cases been detected in the hours after 8pm, and will be included in tomorrow’s update.

She said the later cases are outside of the northern beaches, including a resident in Wollongong. They have not yet been linked to the cluster.

NSW records six new cases, including three unlinked​

NSW has recorded six locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Three cases are linked to the Avalon cluster and are already in quarantine. The other three are yet to be linked, but they were recorded after Monday’s 8pm reporting period and will show up in Wednesday’s case numbers.
There were more than 16,000 tests done in the 24 hours to 8pm.

As it happened: NSW records six new cases including Wollongong and Sydney mystery cases

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging people to stay at home this New Year's Eve after she announced she would further restrict outdoor gatherings across Greater Sydney from 100 to 50 people.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Flying mermaid]

3 new cases till 8PM last night. Linked to Avalon.

But if I heard correctly 3 cases after 8PM. At least one in Wollongong. One Sydney Inner West and one nothern area.
(So cases numbers to be announced tomorrow will be at least 3).

However NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian warned that several positive cases been detected in the hours after 8pm, and will be included in tomorrow’s update.

She said the later cases are outside of the northern beaches, including a resident in Wollongong. They have not yet been linked to the cluster.

NSW records six new cases, including three unlinked​

NSW has recorded six locally acquired cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Three cases are linked to the Avalon cluster and are already in quarantine. The other three are yet to be linked, but they were recorded after Monday’s 8pm reporting period and will show up in Wednesday’s case numbers.
There were more than 16,000 tests done in the 24 hours to 8pm.

As it happened: NSW records six new cases including Wollongong and Sydney mystery cases

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging people to stay at home this New Year's Eve after she announced she would further restrict outdoor gatherings across Greater Sydney from 100 to 50 people.

www.smh.com.au

View attachment 236855

Yes Dr Chant was hoping that by the time they interviewed everyone and did their detective work they would be able to find linkages. It’s a pity, as the 3 cases today were already in isolation during their infectious period. I guess we are all hoping the cases after 8pm aren’t new chains, but at least they are being found.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Yes Dr Chant was hoping that by the time they interviewed everyone and did their detective work they would be able to find linkages. It’s a pity, as the 3 cases today were already in isolation during their infectious period. I guess we are all hoping the cases after 8pm aren’t new chains, but at least they are being found.

Yes it is very normal that many cases get linked quickly. Of the 3 two were early this morning.

I know that in Vic that new cases that were shown as unlinked at 8am would often be linked by the presser due to contact tracing interviews and maybe more again linked by the time the CHO's report came out by 3 to 6pm.

Plus genomic testing will be being rushed through.

 

[Lynda2475]

So it appears that the Bride and Groom at the wedding were from NB - how selfish to proceed. Time to name and shame!

 

[Pushka]

For customers entering venues without a mobile phone, venues are asked to record their details and time of entry on another device.

I must say this sounds much more sensible than pieces of paper floating around.

Post automatically merged: Dec 29, 2020

So it appears that the Bride and Groom at the wedding were from NB - how selfish to proceed. Time to name and shame!

How could they even proceed? Surely the venue had their address?

 

[Lynda2475]

How could they even proceed? Surely the venue had their address?

Would love to know more details - I do wonder if perhaps it was the venue that called crime stoppers?

Its possible if Mum and Dad paid and that they live outside the area, the venue wouldnt know where the bride and groom actually lived. Im sure they asked people to scan in (there has been no claim that the venuie has doen anythign wrong), but if using Service NSW app the venue cant see the details, only the govt can.

Or peopel could have been signing in with fake contact details, and only after call to crimestoppers did police check ids like licenses. I assume the 3 they have yet to charge didnt have a ID on them with their address.

 

[DC3]

South African virus strain in QLD (iso, now in hospital):

South African COVID strain discovered in Queensland hotel quarantine 'thought to be more contagious' than UK variety

Queensland records a case of the new South African variant of coronavirus — the first positive case of that kind in Australia. The strain is thought to be more contagious and has been described by the Chief Health Officer as "very concerning".

www.abc.net.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Doltone House (wedding venue) claiming that Bride & Groom lied and told them the bridal party and immediate family had been residing outside the NB for 2 weeks prior to the wedding. The venue uses the Service NSW app, so if any of the attendees had linked to their drivers license it would be obvious they were in breach.


Their statement:

We acknowledge that individual guests have breached the Public Health Order which requires residents of the Northern Beaches to stay home. These residents are responsible to abide by this Order as NSW Citizens.

Doltone House were advised by the bride that she and her immediate family had taken all measures including staying and remaining outside the Northern Beaches cluster region to comply with the Public Health Order.

Had we been aware that any of the information supplied to us by the couple was incorrect, we would have taken the necessary steps. The venue itself was compliant.

All guests are also required to register their attendance on the NSW Govt QR Code App.

 

[Lynda2475]

From ABC:​

Three recommendations made for WA's hotel quarantine program​

WA Health Minister Roger Cook has detailed the three recommendations: ​

1. "The first is to do with high-risk assessment of quarantine travellers. A new matrix is being finalised to define and standardise how we deal with travellers who have either breached their quarantine requirements or have indicated that they intend to. This will allow both Health and police to have a framework to jointly assess the risk rating of whether an individual should be moved to the high-risk hotel. This high-risk hotel is guarded by WA police."

2. "The second recommendation concerns the security guards in our other hotels. New, specific powers under the Emergency Management Act will be granted for security guards at the state-run hotel. A need was identified to strengthen the existing civil powers of the security guards. The new powers will give them better legal protection to prevent a person from breaching a quarantine direction. This is an important next step. The authorised power would be administered through section 61 of the Emergency Management Act for the sole purpose of enforcing hotel quarantine. Further training will be provided for security guards to enforce the directions."

3. "The final recommendation concerns the actual hotels. Health will work with each hotel to review the physical barriers stopping a person from leaving the hotel without assistance. Most hotels already have lockdown floors and lifts. The recommendation is for each hotel to have secured entry and exit points, but each hotel is different, so we will be working through this with each one."

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The venue uses the Service NSW app, so if any of the attendees had linked to their drivers license it would be obvious they were in breach.

Can't the person reside at a different address to that of their licence?

Three recommendations made for WA's hotel quarantine program​

​

2. "The second recommendation concerns the security guards in our other hotels.

Strange! In Victoria it was deemed 'criminal' by the media/public/opposition that security guards were used. But WA is still using them?

 

[Lynda2475]

Can't the person reside at a different address to that of their licence?

It is my understanding your license is supposed to contain your residential, not mailing address. If you move you have 3 months to update it before penalties apply.

The Service NSW website only allows you to record one residential address (and one mailing address), so if you move and update it but havent yet received the sticker to apply to your physcial license card. there may be a mismatch.

And of course if you lie to government re where you are living then I guess may also differ, but since most people would link their accounts so they can have a digital license, its unlikley to be incorrect.

The service NSW app validates your mobile number via SMS and also validates email account used.

If you receive a health order to stay home and the Police or NSW Health go to the address on file in your Service NSW account and find you not there (and the person who actually lives there confirms you dont live there) you could get hit with a infringement notice and be charged with providing false data.

 

[Lynda2475]

Strange! In Victoria it was deemed 'criminal' by the media/public/opposition that security guards were used. But WA is still using them?

NSW use private security at quarantine hotels, but they are supervised by NSW Police and NSW Health. The medi-hotels (which are the ones where positive cases stay) are run only by NSW Health and Police.

It does seems strange that WA have had no police presence at their QHs.

On WA press conference they made a big deal about how this was the first international escapee, but i recall that there have been more than one breach for domestic travellers either leaving the hotel or having guests that they shouldnt have. WA have just been lucky to date that no virus has escaped as they have had 4 escapes by inmates vs 2 in NSW and 2 in Vic.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

NSW use private security at quarantine hotels, but they are supervised by NSW Police and NSW Health. The medi-hotels (which are the ones where positive cases stay) are run only by NSW Health and Police.

It does seems strange that WA have had no police presence at their QHs.

On WA press conference they made a big deal about how this was the first international escapee, but i recall that there have been more than one breach for domestic travellers either leaving the hotel or having guests that they shouldnt have. WA have just been lucky to date that no virus has escaped as they have had 4 escapes by inmates vs 2 in NSW and 2 in Vic.

Not sure who the two escapees were in Vic, but John-Lee Berridge who had rerturned from working in NSW was in the news recently after he left his Tullamarine quarantine hotel room and was intercepted by 4 police (there for that purpose) when he tried to leave the hotel.

When he exited the hotel, he was met by four officers, who stopped him from going any further. Mr Berridge said there was one constable in particular that “calmed [him] down”

Man arrested after escaping Tullamarine quarantine hotel

Police arrested the 24-year-old in front of the hotel after he left his room without permission on Boxing Day afternoon.

www.theage.com.au

However it is not just people leaving that can be of concern. NSW and SA have both had lady "visitors". The Thebarton Outbreak in Adelaide was caused due to a young lady "visiting" a quarantining returned SA interstate worker who was positive. The young lady then developed Covid 19 and transmitted it to others.

 

[Pushka]

Can't the person reside at a different address to that of their licence?

I do.

 

[RooFlyer]

Strange! In Victoria it was deemed 'criminal' by the media/public/opposition that security guards were used. But WA is still using them?

Not to mention the findings of the Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.

Private security used in Tas, supported by Tas Police and they get a pay supplement to full time to discourage working a second job (they can't, apparently, be forced not to take a second one).

However it is not just people leaving that can be of concern. NSW and SA have both had lady "visitors".

And Victoria, I think .. the security guards, at least? Or was that debunked by the inquiry?

 

[drron]

And Victoria, I think .. the security guards, at least? Or was that debunked by the inquiry?

That was debunked.

 

[VPS]

I do.

Isn't that illegal in SA - I thought you only had 14 days to change your address (not that I'll report you if it isn't )

 

[Lynda2475]

Lots of people finding out the hard way that 2020 isnt the year to have a mismatch between your actual address and the photo ID that is commonly used to prove residency.

If you are the rate payer, then you will have council statements and utility bills to prove otherwise, but if there is nothing official with your actual address on it, it may be hard going.

Many people dont realise that if their license says they are resident in one state, and they are proven to reside in another that your car insurance can be invalidated. Look at the rush of ex-victorians who were converting their liceses to NSW ones to prove they werent Victorians to escape lockdown.

 

[Pushka]

Isn't that illegal in SA - I thought you only had 14 days to change your address (not that I'll report you if it isn't )

Well. Covid times and all that. We had to explain it to the Police at border control last August.

Post automatically merged: Dec 29, 2020

Lots of people finding out the hard way that 2020 isnt the year to have a mismatch between your actual address and the photo ID that is commonly used to prove residency.

If you are the rate payer, then you will have council statements and utility bills to prove otherwise, but if there is nothing official with your actual address on it, it may be hard going.

Many people dont realise that if their license says they are resident in one state, and they are proven to reside in another that your car insurance can be invalidated. Look at the rush of ex-victorians who were converting their liceses to NSW ones to prove they werent Victorians to escape lockdown.

We have statements that prove both. But three places in SA. Home. Rental. Apartment being renovated.