Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[trevella]

Now, nearly a year later, we are back where we started.

I disagree. From a travel perspective (and many others), we're worse off.

 

[N860CR]

I disagree. From a travel perspective (and many other), we're worse off.

Sadly, you’re probably right. And that’s a real sad reflection on our handling of this.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The best alternative was not really an alternative. It was the federal government policy - “flattern the curve”. Spend money on hospitals, not billions on borders. Allow our highly funded and highly skilled health professionals to do their job. Half the task was complete, plenty of “COVID wards” were built. But they were never used. One of Sydney’s largest wards that was renovated to be dedicated to COVID patients was actually closed for Christmas. The good news is it’s been reopened, however from the whole northern beaches outbreak saw a total of two patients (neither subsequently had COVID).

Australia would have absolutely no problem dealing with a “flat curve” (and health professional would prefer this to their current stand downs), however we’ve never bothered to give it a chance. Now, nearly a year later, we are back where we started.

Unfortunately as we found out in Victoria, hospital beds and hardware isn't the problem. It's staff. Once they start having to isolate it puts too great a strain on remaining resources.

And it's also unfair on those staff to have to isolate from their families, or to have to take their families into isolation with them.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It will be interesting to see what the Victorian Test Numbers will be for tomorrow. Note though that swabs taken tomorrow will be the numbers reported on 1st Jan. Tomorrow's (31st Jan) test numbers reported will be today's (30th Jan ) swabs.

Normally with 3 new cases announced in 3 different suburbs combined with public exposure sites in yet more suburbs you would expect to see a huge surge in tests taken. However many who present for testing tomorrow as they will have to isolate may miss most, or all, of New Years Eve (my test earlier this week arrived at 8.12PM stating that no COVID-19 virus was detected). So will people still surge in for testing?





The public exposure sites have been added to since the first list released late this afternoon

 

[N860CR]

Unfortunately as we found out in Victoria, hospital beds and hardware isn't the problem. It's staff. Once they start having to isolate it puts too great a strain on remaining resources.

Our health systems have had plenty of time to prepare for this. And if the funds from border closures were put into managing it, perhaps that wouldn’t be a problem. Certainly wouldn’t be in NSW. Don’t have first hand knowledge of Victoria but it seems like more an issue of mismanagement than anything else.

And it's also unfair on those staff to have to isolate from their families, or to have to take their families into isolation with them.

Weren’t people recently complaint that this wasn’t being done for flight crew who have simply arrived from overseas?

 

[moa999]

Australia would have absolutely no problem dealing with a “flat curve” (and health professional would prefer this to their current stand downs),

The problem is the virus doesn't work in 'flat'.
By its nature it's exponential.

So you either work hard on suppression (I think most other than WA and Qld have now worked out that elimination just isn't possible).

Or you accept that you will likely have an out of control situation (like the UK and US) with hospital resources stretched.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well the good news is no more to the 3 announced yesterday linked to the Sydney cluster.

On radio this morning they are hypothesising that the 3 may be linked to each other as well as quite random for 3 to pop up in VIC at exactly the same time even with the outbreak in Sydney.

VIC press conference around 10.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Much earlier exposure site now. 21 Dec. Maybe they have found the index case ?

 

[MooTime]

3.5hr wait at Sandringham hospital for testing.

 

[Pushka]

Announcement re SA border with NSW mid morning. All three head honcho’s involved so suspect hard border with NSW.

 

[SydneySwan]

Announcement re SA border with NSW mid morning. All three head honcho’s involved so suspect hard border with NSW.

I wonder whether SA residents (however that is determined) will be allowed in. SA has form banning their own.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Vic and SA press conferences scheduled to go head to head at 10:30. NSW at 11

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Much earlier exposure site now. 21 Dec. Maybe they have found the index case ?

View attachment 236966

MORE INFO: Yes this was a dinner that a returned NSW traveller was at along with key cases in this outbreak and the traveller is the most likely cause but they still need to be tested.

NSW Health are assisting. That person may well have caused cases known or unknown in NSW too (my speculation) as well as having been infected there.

 

[Flying mermaid]

MORE INFO: Yes this was a dinner that a NSW traveller was at along with key cases in this outbreak and the traveller is the most likely cause but they still need to be tested.

NSW Health are assisting. That person may well have caused cases known or unknown in NSW too (my speculation).

Always good to have an idea of the index case. Victoria seem really on the ball with this so hopefully they can squash it

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From 5pm tonight, household gatherings will be reduced from 30 to 15 in Victoria.

Masks will also be mandatory indoors after 5PM tonight



My neighbour will not be happy as they are hosting a 18th Birthday/NYE Party for their son tonight.

 

[jakeseven7]

Swift action from VIC:

Restrictions tightened in Victoria​

From 5pm tonight, the limit of people gathering in private homes will be reduced from 30 down to 15.

Additionally, from 5pm tonight, masks will be mandatory indoors.

"If you are planning to leave your home at the moment, we ask people to carry their masks with them, we are now asking them to wear a mask if they are indoors in any location which is not their private home."

'COVID-19 doesn't respect celebrations': WA sends recent Victorian travellers into isolation

Anyone who arrived in Western Australia from Victoria on or after December 21 will need to self-quarantine immediately as the state reintroduces its hard border from midnight.

www.abc.net.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Always good to have an idea of the index case. Victoria seem really on the ball with this so hopefully they can squash it

Yes are doing very well. Not even 24 hrs yet from the first test results.

Plus also new control measures announced. Obviously lessons learnt from the start of the second wave have been heeded.

 

[jb747]

For the life of me, I cannot understand why NSW isn't making mask mandatory. Such a simple thing, which you barely notice after a while.

 

[jase05]

Vic residents told to return home immediately even if in a green zone.


The Acting Premier said anyone who has visited Wollongong or the Blue Mountains since December 27 have until tonight to return to Victoria.

I reminded to anyone who has been in visited Wollongong or the Blue Mountains in New South Wales from the 27 December, will have until 11:59pm tonight to return to Victoria," Ms Allan said.

“It is important that people think about their travel plans, as we are seeing what is emerging from New South Wales is that this is a very dynamic situation.”

Those who do return must get a permit to cross the border.

They will also need to get tested and self-isolate for 14-days, regardless of the result of their test.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

MORE INFO: Yes this was a dinner that a NSW traveller was at along with key cases in this outbreak and the traveller is the most likely cause but they still need to be tested.

NSW Health are assisting. That person may well have caused cases known or unknown in NSW too (my speculation).

More info: Dinners were at two separate (ie parties not known to each other) tables at the cafe. It is strongly suspected that transmission occurred at the cafe creating the outbreak branches.