Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Must...Fly!]

We need to eliminate the virus everywhere in Australia

Why?

 

[jakeseven7]

Here comes the slaps from WA (the experts...)

——

WA health minister slams NSW, says COVID-19 jumped into Victoria because NSW failed to control its outbreak​

WA’s health minister says if NSW had “gone harder earlier” with a more widespread lockdown when the COVID-19 outbreak began in the northern beaches it would not have spread to the western suburbs and Victoria.

Roger Cook, who is also the Acting Premier, told reporters on Saturday that he expected the number of cases in Victoria to increase further in the coming days with thousands in isolation being tested.

Mr Cook said Victoria had community spread of the disease as a “direct result” of not controlling the outbreak in NSW and blamed his states border closure with Victoria on NSW.

WA health minister slams NSW for handling of COVID-19 outbreak

WA’s health minister says if NSW had “gone harder earlier” with a more widespread lockdown when the COVID-19 outbreak began in the northern beaches it would not have spread to the western suburbs and Victoria.

www.news.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Why?

Well rightly or wrongly that is the strategy that all essentially all states are following at present, and so if we don't then unfortunately ruinous closing of interstate borders is going to keep occurring too often.

Also if there was completely free travel at all times then to myself at least we would have rampant spread of the virus and many more deaths and other negative health impacts.

Moving forward say 9 months to a year once the vaccines have been widely deployed then the various Fearless Leaders are going to have to decide when to open up to the world with the vaccine better protecting people (how much, and how well the next few months overseas should reveal) but when they do knowing it will most likely cause a case surge and especially if the vaccine/s do not end up limiting transmission (this seems to be quite unknown at present).

Now it may be that a case surge is no real issue if the protection is good. But one of the unknowns is what % of the vaccinated will the vaccine not work for.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Problem with elimination is that it's been shown to be a failure time and time again in this country....not having a go at you @lovetravellingoz but the goal is barely realistic, in my opinion.

Mr Cook said Victoria had community spread of the disease as a “direct result” of not controlling the outbreak in NSW and blamed his states border closure with Victoria on NSW.

Here we go....I'm sick of this rubbish. Tone it down. I can say first hand the locals are absolutely lapping it up, which is why they're doing it.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[Pushka]

We will always have Covid whilst we have returning travellers. And we will always have returning travellers. The virus is insidious. So we shut borders to the unfortunate state on each occasion. We can't keep doing that.

I refuse to lay any blame with NSW. They have done amazingly well considering the number of travellers they have brought in.

 

[oznflfan]

We will always have Covid whilst we have returning travellers. And we will always have returning travellers. The virus is insidious. So we shut borders to the unfortunate state on each occasion. We can't keep doing that.

'THEY' can and will for at least first half if not all 2021 unfortunately, only from 2022 will be we get back to a normalise society. By end of this year 'THEY' will be forced to accept the studies, research and full vaccination being as good as it gets, otherwise you destroy Australia. We will simply be left behind in the world.

New years 2022 will be gangs of fun more that this miserable 2021 new years.

 

[Flying mermaid]

My nephew in RAAF is about to be stationed in Canberra as of next Tuesday. Does this include Queanbeyan People? Although I guess he would have an exemption but his partner won't.

No it’s just greater Sydney, Wollongong, blue mountains and Central Coast. I think they would always have to include Queanbeyan in some sort of bubble, because of access to schools, hospitals etc.

 

[Flying mermaid]

No one really knows how much masks decrease the chance of transmission.The evidence is mixed and there is no conclusive evidence.
The problem is masks really aren't meant to protect the wearer from disease in the way masks have been mandated.
Sure I wear a mask when i see a patient with a probable respiratory viral illness.But that mask is discarded immediately after the consult and a new mask used for the next patient.As well if it is a patient who it was deemed necessary to have a Covid swab I wear an N95 mask plus goggles as that is the State guidelines now.
So saying a mask reduces transmission by 25% is a guess and in most situations in public it is almost certainly too high a figure.

As to the wearing of a mask on public transport that will mean a reduction in risk because of the closeness of contact.but that person i believe had a commute of over an hour and changed modes of transport.By the end of the journey the mask would be less efficient.
But because in that situation a mask is good doesn't mean a positive person not wearing a mask will necessarily pass on the infection.That is often the case for example in close household situations when other family members do not develope Covid and uncommon for every exposed household member to become infected.

So NSW is getting it right now mandating mask at indoor venues only and encouraging their use in other situations if social distancing can't be practiced.

Now look to California where masks were mandated in mid June.

California Makes Wearing Masks Mandatory

‘The use of face coverings by everyone can limit the release of infected droplets when talking, coughing, and/or sneezing, as well as reinforce physical distancing,’ the order says.

www.forbes.com

And they have also been in lockdown of various strictness since then and severe lockdown since early December when the case number reached 1.2 million.Now over 2.2 million.Cases up over 90%,deaths up over 25% in a month despite this.

California Will Impose Its Strongest Virus Measures Since the Spring (Published 2020)

Millions of people across Southern and Central California are likely to see outdoor dining shuttered, playgrounds roped off and hair salons closed within days.

www.nytimes.com

And now they start the year with record cases and deaths with ICU capacity at 0%.

California hits record 585 COVID-19 deaths in 1 day as infections rage out of control

California started the new year by reporting a record 585 coronavirus deaths in a single day.

abc7.com

They might have mandated masks in California but according to Master FM it’s pretty patchy all over and bad in Orange County, which is why Southern California is doing much worse,

 

[Flying mermaid]

This is what I just cannot understand. Don’t (some) people care about others? Why would they do that?

Don’t know. My niece and her partner were due to travel to Canberra for Christmas and cancelled as soon as ACT asked people from Sydney not to travel and had a very lonely Christmas on their own. Clearly others feel it’s OK to make a judgement call on whether they are infectious and carry on with plans

 

[Must...Fly!]

Don’t know. My niece and her partner were due to travel to Canberra for Christmas and cancelled as soon as ACT asked people from Sydney not to travel and had a very lonely Christmas on their own. Clearly others feel it’s OK to make a judgement call on whether they are infectious and carry on with plans

Lots of people have been unable to see their families for 10 months by government decree, and of those it's likely for many this is the longest time they've had to go in their lives.

I don't hold it against them at all for going when they're allowed to.

 

[Pushka]

Don’t know. My niece and her partner were due to travel to Canberra for Christmas and cancelled as soon as ACT asked people from Sydney not to travel and had a very lonely Christmas on their own. Clearly others feel it’s OK to make a judgement call on whether they are infectious and carry on with plans

Sometimes all you can think is to know you did the right thing for everyone.

 

[hydrabyss]

I wonder what the next move is until the vaccination is rolled out?

What, everyone keep NSW locked out until then as a preventative action? Just because they are on a different strategy to everyone else?

Or do we just keep on opening and shutting borders like whack a mole?

Someone needs to get a t shirt made with Gladys holding a mallet over the state of NSW playing Whack a mole with the covid outbreak. Then some brave sole (excluding anyone from NSW due to time frame of being allowed back in) could where it when they land in WA.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Lots of people have been unable to see their families for 10 months by government decree, and of those it's likely for many this is the longest time they've had to go in their lives.

I don't hold it against them at all for going when they're allowed to.

But the point is they are not allowed to. ACT stopped greater Sydney from travelling to Canberra on 21 December. People are ignoring that and travelling against the rules at the rate of 80 a day, so now there are police checkpoints.....

 

[dajop]

Well there is a national hotspot definition it seems agreed by all but WA. But there seems to be a lack of agreement on how to effectively locally manage hotspots. If each jurisdiction could enact, to quote Daniel Andrews, a “ring of steel” around a hotspot or find another effective mechanism for managing them, then perhaps there wouldn’t be a need for state by state border closures.

As much as it is ridiculous, I can sort of see why state Premiers do close borders. On the flight I had down from Sydney to Melbourne on the 19th the young guy in the row in front openly admitted to his seat mate that he put down “Green Zone” (regional NSW) on his permit for travel to Victoria whereas he lived in the “Orange Zone” (Greater Sydney) because no one would check. Added to the anecdotes that @Flying mermaid has shared about the ACT, then it’s sort of clear that people cannot be trusted.

 

[Must...Fly!]

But the point is they are not allowed to. ACT stopped greater Sydney from travelling to Canberra on 21 December. People are ignoring that and travelling against the rules at the rate of 80 a day, so now there are police checkpoints.....

I thought they were open to greater Sydney at that time. Fair point.

However given anywhere up to 45% of people with Covid 19 are basically asymptomatic, there is a risk and chance in opening up at any time. If you are desperately wanting no virus at all.

 

[SydneySwan]

Gladys is taking a weeks leave and John Barilaro will be acting Premier. He is the complete opposite to Gladys in personality and the way he goes about things so this should be interesting. Hopefully he doesn't start to close the NSW borders to other states.

 

[N860CR]

Oh no, Bruz

 

[moa999]

Think it's the knee-jerk reactions and inconsistencies that are the most disappointing.

I mean the current Vic restrictions as to who can travel.
Greater Sydney is (rightly imho) a No.
Albury and Wagga are a Yes (inside the border LGAs)
Queanbeyan is a No (in NSW)
Fyshwick is a Yes (in ACT)
Byron Bay is a No (in NSW)
Gold Coast is a Yes (in Qld).

The NSW mask restrictions that come into play tonight are also inconsistent
You must wear a mask in a supermarket at 10pm at night with 3 ppl in it.
But you don't need to wear a mask in a gym spin class with 30 ppl.

I think the most disappointing thing in recent days has been all the attacking of other states policy settings by Premiers, Opposition, CHOs, AMA presidents (and former AMA presidents/ex-politicians)
(And this is both to and from NSW).

Lowering public confidence in the decisions being made, makes them harder to enforce.

Just imagine if the same public commentary was occuring over last year bush fires, or over judges decisions in the legal profession.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Gladys is taking a weeks leave and John Barilaro will be acting Premier. He is the complete opposite to Gladys in personality and the way he goes about things so this should be interesting. Hopefully he doesn't start to close the NSW borders to other states.

I assume the other two usual participants of the NSW press conference aren’t yet on leave. It might be interesting with an acting Premier and the current NSW Health Minister and current NSW CHO.