Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

DHHS Vic Media release
31 December 2020

Victoria has recorded five new cases of coronavirus since yesterday.

Of the five new cases, all are close contacts of the three locally acquired cases announced yesterday, bringing the total of locally acquired cases to eight. These five cases will be officially counted in tomorrow's case numbers.

All positive cases are in self isolation at their homes and their close contacts are being contacted and tested. More than 70 close contacts have been identified. Close contacts have been identified across Melbourne, in Leongatha and Barwon Heads.

There are now 16 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria. Nine of these are locally acquired cases and seven are in returning international travelers in hotel quarantine.

The details of the positive cases are 1 child under 18, 1 woman in her 70s, 2 men in their 70s and 1 man in their 40s.




Ok 5 new cases today.

• While that may seem bad it probably is not as all are close contacts.
• In addition most of the 90 odd contacts will have been tested with their results rushed through.

While there are some public sites, the mask wearing requirement that was in place for locations like shopping centres in Victoria may have helped to minimise transmission we hope.

 

[Lynda2475]

How heavy was the lockdown though?

NNB had to stay at home, could only leave your house for medical assistance, grocery shopping, outdoor exercise (must be within the NNB) and essential work. The 3 ways in/out of the NNB to the SNB were patrolled. Small reprieve for 3 days at Xmas where you could have 5 people in your home but only if they also lived in the NNB. Im not convinced mandating lasks (when you basically had to stay home) or banning takeaway food would acheive much more.

SNB less strict, as more exit points so not all were patrolled 100% of the time, but they also have had to stay in the SNB area with sames reasons for leaving home. Except that over xmas (24,25,26) they could have up to 10 people inlcuding people from outside NB (but no one from NNB). But since 27th they are back to the prior arrnagements, no one form outside SNB can enter (the main entrances are police patrolled), can have up to 5 people in your home but only if they also live the SNB).

 

[aikman]

Unlucky Busselton Airport. Will they ever get to launch commercial flights?

 

[Pushka]

I was going to write 2020 on a piece of toilet paper and flush it down the toilet when I go to sleep. But as my brother said, knowing the gift of 2020 it would block the toilet and I'd have to get a plumber out on a PH.

 

[Lynda2475]

Here in north West Tasmania there were police road blocks on all major roads and some of the minor roads.

Tassie is basically a country town (tiny population, many fewer roads). Plus the outbreak there was impacting hopsitala nd aged care. Different situation, there were only 2 local cases in hospital last time I checked.

A cop friend of mine who lives on SNB has been working patrols so they are happening, and another friend that lives in NNB was pulled over (RBT style roadblock) coming back from supermarket yesterday to verify she was a local - the check points move all the time.

NB area is quite insular, they dont tend to cross the Harbour Bridge unless working in the CBD and most corporates are closed from 24 Dec through 8th Jan this year. Cases linked to NB for poepl living outside NB have mostly been people who went into NB.

The Croydon cluster is a bigger concern, not because it is as yet unliked, but because the family has large links to south west Sydney - you see majority of the venues affected are not in the innerwest despite the fact 2 of the 3 families live in inner west, but in Bankstown/Bass Hill area and as far a field as Blue Mountains. People to west and southwest of the CBD tend to move about much more than those on the NB or Eastern Suburbs.

 

[antycbr]

On this last day of 2020 my thoughts today are with the thousands of staff of our major carriers QF and VA who have been laid off as well as those stood down, stood up and most likely will be stood down again in the new year.

On the rare occasion where I have been able to fly, mainly between Sydney and Ballina, the staff I have interacted with have been amazing.

May 2021 be a better year for aviation in this country.

 

[Lynda2475]

On the rare occasion where I have been able to fly, mainly between Sydney and Ballina, the staff I have interacted with have been amazing.

Im supposed to fly to BNK from SYD on Sunday, hoping Covid stays out of my suburb so I can still go. I havent been anywhere that has cases, been home alone for the past fornight apart from a couple of masked supermarket visists, an outdoor coffee and I havent socialised with anyone except on xmas day when I saw my parents (who dont go anywhere because mum is immuno compromised), Sister and BIL (who have likewise been antisocial).

 

[antycbr]

Im supposed to fly to BNK from SYD on Sunday, hoping Covid stays out of my suburb so I can still go. I havent been anywhere that has cases, been home alone for the past fornight apart from a couple of masked supermarket visists, an outdoor coffee and I havent socialised with anyone except on xmas day when I saw my parents (who dont go anywhere because mum is immuno compromised), Sister and BIL (who have likewise been antisocial).

If there’s a winner out of 2020 aviation it’s BNK. Have a look at 4xQF flights a day, two on 737s - Qantas only returned there in March! VA is double daily as well as JQ from Sydney. Good thing Ballina Council expanded their terminal a couple of years ago...

 

[Lynda2475]

If there’s a winner out of 2020 aviation it’s BNK. Have a look at 4xQF flights a day, two on 737s - Qantas only returned there in March! VA is double daily as well as JQ from Sydney. Good thing Ballina Council expanded their terminal a couple of years ago...

Yeah this is my second trip in 5 months, I was there 30Aug to 5th Sept. I flew QF last visit, but this trip is on JQ (eek) as its a Classic Reward and there were no seats of QF. So yes regional NSW has done well from me because I wasnt game to book anythign outside the state.

 

[moa999]

Ok 5 new cases today.

• While that may seem bad it probably is not as all are close contacts.

It's good that they've caught these early.

These are presumably the 3rd gen in Vic

Traveller from NSW on 18-Dec infected 6 people on 21st.
These 6 infected the next set on 25-27th.

We've now got 5.. probably more to come.

Much like i expect more spread from Croydon in NSW in the next few days, whereas Northern Beaches is dying out.

 

[nutwood]

Tassie is basically a country town (tiny population, many fewer roads). Plus the outbreak there was impacting hopsitala nd aged care. Different situation, there were only 2 local cases in hospital last time I checked.

Bit patronising. The amount of roads out of the NW of Tassie is comparable to the amount of roads out of the northern beaches area. Both are geographically constrained.
Agree the populations are totally different but if you're discussing controlling movement, the ingress/egress points are the crucial factors.

 

[hydrabyss]

It's good that they've caught these early.

These are presumably the 3rd gen in Vic

Traveller from NSW on 18-Dec infected 6 people on 21st.
These 6 infected the next set on 25-27th.

We've now got 5.. probably more to come.

Much like i expect more spread from Croydon in NSW in the next few days, whereas Northern Beaches is dying out.

Was the person who went to Victoria from NSW from Victoria and returning from visiting the Nth Beaches in NSW.

 

[DC3]

... The amount of roads out of the NW of Tassie is comparable to the amount of roads out of the northern beaches area. Both are geographically constrained ...

Interesting. I lived in Sydney for many years but did not realise that the roads would be so comparable with anywhere in TAS. As far as TAS goes, I’ve only travelled around the Hobart area, and not to the North.

 

[drron]

Tassie is basically a country town (tiny population, many fewer roads). Plus the outbreak there was impacting hopsitala nd aged care. Different situation, there were only 2 local cases in hospital last time I checked.

A cop friend of mine who lives on SNB has been working patrols so they are happening, and another friend that lives in NNB was pulled over (RBT style roadblock) coming back from supermarket yesterday to verify she was a local - the check points move all the time.

NB area is quite insular, they dont tend to cross the Harbour Bridge unless working in the CBD and most corporates are closed from 24 Dec through 8th Jan this year. Cases linked to NB for poepl living outside NB have mostly been people who went into NB.

The Croydon cluster is a bigger concern, not because it is as yet unliked, but because the family has large links to south west Sydney - you see majority of the venues affected are not in the innerwest despite the fact 2 of the 3 families live in inner west, but in Bankstown/Bass Hill area and as far a field as Blue Mountains. People to west and southwest of the CBD tend to move about much more than those on the NB or Eastern Suburbs.

Well you don't know North west Tasmania..There are many roads out of the North West.lots of local roads.I can drive out of Latrobe here in the North West and can virtually get to Hobart without using a main road.Less roads going out of the Northern end of the Northern Beaches.And there is a much larger police force to enforce a road block.

One picture on the Bass highway out of Burnie from the NW lockdown.

.

Has anything like that been seen on the Northern Beaches?Not according to some reports on here.Not seen anything like it in the media either.

 

[moa999]

Was the person who went to Victoria from NSW from Victoria and returning from visiting the Nth Beaches in NSW.

No details yet. It was a likely scenario from the Vic CHO. They are still waiting on test results. Was no comments on where they had been in NSW

 

[DC3]

... Has anything like that been seen on the Northern Beaches?Not according to some reports on here.Not seen anything like it in the media either.

Are you sure that’s not a scallop pie inspection check point?

 

[antycbr]

Are you sure that’s not a scallop pie inspection check point?

I was fortunate enough to see my parents in Tasmania last week. We spent a night in Stanley and then went on to Smithton. The road network for farm access across the northwest and north, between Devonport through Burnie, Ulverstone and on to Wynyard and the north west coast is very dense. There’s a bit of a gap over towards Launceston and the Tamar.

Anyway back in NSW, so the Tasmanian Government can you please stop messaging me?

 

[Flashback]

Friends of mine came over on the 27th. They are now in a regional area of WA for another 5 days. They have no idea what to do and if they have to face paying for a further week accommodation or if they can return, on their own, to Perth and then ultimately back east.

I also have relatives in Victoria visiting from WA who earlier today had the foresight to change flights to tomorrow, cutting short family reunion time. They still face 14 days self-quarantine here. Luckily some contingency plans were made for their small business, though it may yet still have to remain shuttered for the duration of the proprietor's self-isolation depending how it all works out.

The emotional impact is also significant, on top of the business and financial costs.

Yeah it's crazy that if your already over in WA, your expected to self isolate, what in your hotel, after mixing with public for a week or so already. I understand the reasoning behind it, but really much more of this & nobody will travel & whole sector will suffer big time, Airlines n all.
Vaccine won't be the great saviour anticipated imo.

I don't have an answer, but surely there needs to be a better option & preferably on a national basis. Where's the great minds of this country, obviously not on the public purse.

This state power constitution getting as bad as the 2nd amendment the US has, bloody ridiculous, sorry dumb.

Unfortunately that's all too common here in Europe and we're just used to it now. Essentially, any travel is at your own risk and you need to be prepared for an extra 14 days cost in lodging, food, etc. plus even possibly more. That's the risk of traveling right now and will continue to be for some time......

 

[nutwood]

Are you sure that’s not a scallop pie inspection check point?

Scallop pie inspectors do not wear masks.

 

[DC3]

Scallop pie inspectors do not wear masks.

That’s why I figured that the image may have been photoshopped.