Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

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Clearly I hit a few nerves with my post. I will be the first to say it was poorly worded and poorly framed. I will also say that I'm not having a good week and all these snap closures within the country is starting to have a mental toll - mainly because I am letting it, though.

My point regarding the Victorian government though, in my mind, still stands. A risk assessment is fine, but the risk is clearly not the UK. The UK is essentially leading the way in genomic sequencing of this virus (3x that of CDC). It is extremely possible that this variant, while first discovered in Kent, originated in a far away place, long before October.

Wherever it is looked for, it seems it is found. So the "risk" is nothing to do with the UK any more, and even if it was, that was on December 23 not January 5. If elimination is the true goal then we are well and truly behind the mark of where we need to be - that is hyper-vigilant and hyper-reactive to every bit of news that could have a negative effect on the elimination goal.

I will not get in to the aged care debate because that has been had and solved many times here, those who wish to disagree may continue to do so as is their right.
 
Must...Fly! said:
Clearly I hit a few nerves with my post. I will be the first to say it was poorly worded and poorly framed. I will also say that I'm not having a good week and all these snap closures within the country is starting to have a mental toll - mainly because I am letting it, though.

My point regarding the Victorian government though, in my mind, still stands. A risk assessment is fine, but the risk is clearly not the UK. The UK is essentially leading the way in genomic sequencing of this virus (3x that of CDC). It is extremely possible that this variant, while first discovered in Kent, originated in a far away place, long before October.

Wherever it is looked for, it seems it is found. So the "risk" is nothing to do with the UK any more, and even if it was, that was on December 23 not January 5. If elimination is the true goal then we are well and truly behind the mark of where we need to be - that is hyper-vigilant and hyper-reactive to every bit of news that could have a negative effect on the elimination goal.

I will not get in to the aged care debate because that has been had and solved many times here, those who wish to disagree may continue to do so as is their right.
Click to expand...

Yes, there were reports it was found (outside of the UK) as far back as September. The reason we got flagged with it, is because BoJo the clown and co. made a big song and dance about it and the media latched onto it as (only) our problem etc. Oh well.
 
Must...Fly! said:
Clearly I hit a few nerves with my post. I will be the first to say it was poorly worded and poorly framed. I will also say that I'm not having a good week and all these snap closures within the country is starting to have a mental toll - mainly because I am letting it, though.

My point regarding the Victorian government though, in my mind, still stands. A risk assessment is fine, but the risk is clearly not the UK. The UK is essentially leading the way in genomic sequencing of this virus (3x that of CDC). It is extremely possible that this variant, while first discovered in Kent, originated in a far away place, long before October.

Wherever it is looked for, it seems it is found. So the "risk" is nothing to do with the UK any more, and even if it was, that was on December 23 not January 5. If elimination is the true goal then we are well and truly behind the mark of where we need to be - that is hyper-vigilant and hyper-reactive to every bit of news that could have a negative effect on the elimination goal.

I will not get in to the aged care debate because that has been had and solved many times here, those who wish to disagree may continue to do so as is their right.
Click to expand...

Yes we can all have good and bad weeks. So hopefully yours turns around soon.



However I think that there is some confusion about, possibly due to some people going with a dramatic headline than rather than what Prof Allen Cheng was actually raising. Somehow a newspaper chain has become the Vic Gov.

It was not about banning passengers or flights from the UK. (Though yes this could become, but one tactic).

It was not a risk assessment on the UK.

Victorian deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng would raise the issue at an AHPPC meeting today and seek national agreement to undertake a risk assessment of the situation.​

It was about assessing the risk to Australia from the recent more transmissible strains which are now active in many countries. of which I believe there are now at least two new strains of. Just because the UK has been active in its genomic sequencing does not mean that the threat is only from the UK. The threat to Australia from these more transmissible viruses could enter Australia from many countries.

Also even if it was currently confined to the UK, which it is not, then it would be naïve to think that it would only stay there.

To me is it very sensible for this to be discussed on a national basis by the various Health Officials to assesses the risk of these new more transmissible strains, and to then if required to decide what will be done about it or not.

Remember too that both of these strains have already arrived in Australia. The risk and problem is already upon us.

The ostrich head in the sand approach is not going to work. One cannot just ignore it.
 
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First people charged and fined under Sydney’s strict new mask rules​

Sydneysiders were ordered to mask up on public transport and in shopping centres from Monday, but people have already fallen foul of the new rules.

A Sydney man has been charged and another two fined in a first under NSW’s new mandatory mask rules.

The 39-year-old man appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday facing a string of charges following a confrontation with police in Strathfield in Sydney’s inner west.

Just hours after the public health orders came into effect on Monday morning, the man was arrested about 9.30am after allegedly attempting to steal an energy drink from a grocery store.

NSW Police allege the man became aggressive and refused to put on a face mask after being told he was under arrest for shoplifting.

He has been charged with shoplifting, resisting an officer in execution of duty, two counts of intimidating a police officer in execution of duty and not wearing a fitted face covering in retail/business premises.

Two other men were issued $200 fines in separate incidents on Monday afternoon.

Police said a 35-year-old man was stopped at Seven Hills Railway Station in Sydney’s west and given several warnings before he swore at officers and challenged them to fine him.

He was then given a $200 public infringement notice, police said.

Later on Monday afternoon a 39-year-old was given a $200 fine for walking through a shopping centre without a mask after being warned earlier in the day, police said.

NSW Police said they issued more than 25 official warnings across Sydney on Monday after the rules came into force in an attempt to suppress the latest outbreak of the potentially deadly coronavirus.

Under the mandate, face masks are compulsory in all shopping centres, on public transport, at cinemas and theatres, places of worship, hair and beauty salons and for anyone visiting aged care facilities.

There are exemptions for people with medical conditions and children under 12.



www.news.com.au

First man charged under Sydney’s strict new mask regulations

A Sydney man has been charged and another two fined in a first under NSW’s new mandatory mask rules.
www.news.com.au www.news.com.au
 
Pushka said:
Does Vic even have any of the UK strain? SA has two, one of whom has already been released from quarantine.
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Yes, along with Qld, SA, NSW and WA. This would be probably be one reason why Cheng was raising it nationally.

At least 2 that I am aware of in Vic.
indaily.com.au

Second COVID variant arrives in Australia - InDaily

indaily.com.au indaily.com.au

WA now as well
www.abc.net.au

New fast-spreading UK coronavirus strain found in Perth hotel quarantine system

Three people in Western Australia's hotel quarantine system test positive for the new COVID-19 variant from the UK, Premier Mark McGowan reveals.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au


The highly transmissible South African Strain is here too.
 
The biggest things we really need to look at, now that it’s several weeks since the “northern beaches cluster” came to be...

1) Has anyone died? No
2) Is anyone dying? No
3) Is anyone in ICU? No

4) Have we continued to shutdown connection between the states and cost the economy billions? Yes

5) Do 1-3 justify 4? No

We need a massive readjustment of our management of this virus as the “cure” is now far worse.

And yes, I appreciate that there are some people here who get great pleasure out of the damage that’s being done to the country by our mishandling of this virus, but that doesn’t make it right.
 
I draw attention to a warning posted in June:
serfty said:
[Moderator Hat]
Discussion within this thread on Aged Care homes including any royal commissions other than that directly related to COVID-19 is off topic.​
​
Any further posts breaching this will be moderated and the member posting such may be subject to sanction.​
[/Moderator hat]
Click to expand...
Several posts have been removed from this thread.
 
N860CR said:
The biggest things we really need to look at, now that it’s several weeks since the “northern beaches cluster” came to be...

1) Has anyone died? No
2) Is anyone dying? No
3) Is anyone in ICU? No

4) Have we continued to shutdown connection between the states and cost the economy billions? Yes

5) Do 1-3 justify 4? No

We need a massive readjustment of our management of this virus as the “cure” is now far worse.

And yes, I appreciate that there are some people here who get great pleasure out of the damage that’s being done to the country by our mishandling of this virus, but that doesn’t make it right.
Click to expand...

This is possibly an example of outcome bias.

Without the shutdown, could 1-3 have eventuated? Possibly.

Without the shutdown could the cost to the economy have been much higher? Possibly.

The measures put in place have resulted in the outcome we have.
 
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kyle said:
www.news.com.au

Flight crew member tests positive preparing to leave Melbourne

A Qatar Airways flight has been forced to leave Melbourne without any passengers after a crew member tested positive for coronavirus.
www.news.com.au www.news.com.au

Why does the government care about an infected crew member on the way out? To stop the spread in other countries?
Click to expand...

I'm wondering if that is to prevent the spread of the virus during transport to the airport, and while walking around the airport prior to boarding?
 
The way I read it though, the infected crew member is then isolated. The others who test negative are fine to leave, but just without passengers.

So either they're OK to be out in public, in the airport..... to board their flight without passengers, or they're not and also should be put in isolation? Bit odd.
 
Flashback said:
The way I read it though, the infected crew member is then isolated. The others who test negative are fine to leave, but just without passengers.

So either they're OK to be out in public, in the airport..... to board their flight without passengers, or they're not and also should be put in isolation? Bit odd.
Click to expand...
Apparently flew without passengers: Flight crew member tests positive preparing to leave Melbourne
So probably safe to fly amongst the other members of their bubble.
 
Tasmania has added (as of yesterday pm) a bunch of new Victorian premises and locations to its 'high risk' list. Means no travel to Tas except under an exemption.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

View COVID-19 information from the Department of Health (Tasmania).
coronavirus.tas.gov.au coronavirus.tas.gov.au

NSW Northern beaches remains high risk, but most other affected areas in NSW regarded as Medium Risk (meaning quarantine on arrival).

This approach seems a lot more liberal than previously (or at least prior to December). Hopefully signals confidence in their response to an outbreak (per drron's comments previously).
 
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