Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[TheRealTMA]

Not sure what part of Qld that you are in, but in my area social distancing and QR code/paperwork done on entry to cafes/restaurants, etc, and hand sanitising seems to be diligently followed. No hanging around random strangers.

QLD is doing very well at managing all of this, from where I see it.

Edit: Those that I know, have the masks ready to go.

Well, not in Brisbane. Hasn’t been taken too seriously at all. Went to dinner at burger joint on Newmarket road couple of week ago, COVID sign was on back wall but no attempt get details or suggest signing up. On an average day, one sees perhaps 1-2 people with masks but very very few.

This is evidenced by the run on masks today and blatant profiteering on mask prices.

Times have changed now.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But you did quote it the opening line of your post stated
“Most people can travel to QLD unless they have been in a hotspot or ANY part of NSW”
That’s not correct. Anyone in huge areas of NSW can travel to QLD unless they have been in a hot spot area. It’s basically Greater Sydney/ Central Coast/ Blue Mountains/ Wollongong that can’t go to QLD not people from any part of NSW.

I copied and pasted their advice in its entirety from their website and so the wording is all theirs.. See Queensland border restrictions

However you seem to have omitted a word = freely: Most people can travel freely to Queensland

And it needs also to be read to be read with the the next line of their advice which I copied in full from their website which was:
Road border checkpoints are in place, and border passes are required for anyone entering Queensland from New South Wales.

So I guess while their wording is not perhaps clear, what they mean I would believe is that as you need a border pass and have to enter via checkpoint that you hence cannot "freely" enter from NSW as one would without the checkpoint and border pass requirement. ie You cannot just (freely) walk, fly or drive in from NSW.

 

[N860CR]

Can you check the silly politics at the door? The hotspot declaration came out of the National Cabinet - you know the one, with all State and Territories Leaders. The QLD government declared Greater Brisbane a hot spot first!

Except it doesn’t meet the definition. What’s the point of having a “hot spot” model if 1) the states ignore it anyway and 2) we just make it up as we go along

 

[tgh]

Brisvegas is closely linked with its heavily populated satellite regions, south and north.
The frantic mass exodus today tells me that the genie may have left with the crowd.
I agree with the proactive lockdown, but fear that the 24hour warning may prove costly
Time will tell

 

[Princess Fiona]

So, have you already rolled up your sleeve Princess? We are hopeful of being in the second tranche. Allied medical and medical conditions.

Not yet but if I don’t get my Vax in that first tranche of frontline HCW I will have a right royal tantrum

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well on the plus side local community cases were zero in Qld today = promising news?

I assume at least some of the most immediate close contacts should have been tested? ie Anyone live or work with. I did not watch the Qld Presser and so missed any commentary on testing progress


Does anyone know what time the Qld 24hrs is to for their official daily count? . ie NSW = 8pm. Vic = midnight

 

[jase05]

SA has just changed its rules for those arriving from Greater Brisbane.

Anyone who had travelled into SA from the hotspot area from January 2-7 was required to get a COVID test but not isolate under the previous rules issued today but just before 6pm, SA Health issued a revised directive. Now, today’s arrivals must isolate after their first test until they get a negative result. They will not need to isolate after subsequent tests.

They must also not attend any event with a COVID management plan or attendance of more than 1000 people, such as a festival.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am well aware it's not about immunity.

But it's pretty obvious that state premiers believe it is. There is a fear in the community they have seized on, they are being seen no longer as politicians in most cases but as protectors which bodes well for them.

They have a serious issue ahead as to how to explain how vaccinations will lead to more covid in the community. If they open borders, that is.

I dunno. Perhaps I am giving 'the people' more credit?

Taking my parents as an example... they absolutely want 'zero' now, but accept once the vaccine is here that covid will be in the community, but are ok with that because the risk to them is greatly reduced.

it was difficult to sell to vulnerable and elderly that if hospital resources had to be rationed that they would be at the end of the list. With a vaccine, there shouldn't be the same danger of getting to that point.

 

[kpc]

Not yet but if I don’t get my Vax in that first tranche of frontline HCW I will have a right royal tantrum

I'm expecting to get the Pfizer jab in mid Feb.

 

[dajop]

Aaah a global pandemic and all this commentary in various threads about how bad our governments are collective handling this.

The evidence suggest countries who’ve tried to keep the economy open and steaming along and prevent escalation of deaths and severe illnesses have failed at both.

It seems economically Australia (as measured by forecast GDP growth by IMF) is on a par with the US, but of course we have a much better health outcome. Of course that says nothing about disproportionate impact on different people within the economy/inequality , but I suspect US is doing no better on the equality scale than Australia, if not much worse. Meanwhile much of Europe is lagging significantly on both health and economic indicators.

Our politicians are probably doing OK at trying to juggle the health and the economy. It doesn't matter what they do, if there are substantial outbreaks of the virus, in any country, the economy will suffer. That's what happens during pandemics. If you look at even Japan, which has a much more compliant population (re masks, social distancing etc), it's cases are getting much worse and parts of the country are taking more significant steps.

Hopefully the vaccine can render it's spread and severity much more akin to the flu, which seems to be a risk we all accept.

 

[MooTime]

Well, not in Brisbane. Hasn’t been taken too seriously at all. Went to dinner at burger joint on Newmarket road couple of week ago, COVID sign was on back wall but no attempt get details or suggest signing up. On an average day, one sees perhaps 1-2 people with masks but very very few.

This is evidenced by the run on masks today and blatant profiteering on mask prices.

Times have changed now.

We're in Gold coast on holiday & 80%+ at sit down restaurants ask you to qr check in while takeaway don't at all we've found.
Mask's very rare, see more in my suitcase them in the street.
Coming from Mel it's strange not wearing masks in Woolies.

Not bad effort considering Qld basically covid free for good while.

 

[DC3]

Well, not in Brisbane. Hasn’t been taken too seriously at all. Went to dinner at burger joint on Newmarket road couple of week ago, COVID sign was on back wall but no attempt get details or suggest signing up ...

I can only comment on what I’ve seen.

Edit: I eat out regularly. I barely get in the doorways when I’m asked if I’m dining in, then directed to complete the QR code. I would hope that restaurants/cafes/pubs, etc, are reported to authorities, if non-compliant.

 

[Pushka]

Sky news is currently showing the WA PM making a speech while snivelling and wiping his nose, multiple times. WT?

 

[hydrabyss]

I thought I heard they passed it on to their husband but can't find any reference in any news articles.

I found the reference I heard which was the male who was infected in hotel quarantine had passed it onto their partner.

 

[jase05]

 

[SydneySwan]

The frantic mass exodus today tells me that the genie may have left with the crowd.
I agree with the proactive lockdown, but fear that the 24hour warning may prove costly
Time will tell

To me this new UK strain is either a great potential threat or it isn't. The actions of the QLD govt in instituting a lockdown suggest it is but the delays in its implementation imply it isn't. The residents in the social housing towers in Melbourne were given no such warning and were locked down immediately. Vic was only dealing with 'regular' COVID then not supercharged COVID 2.0.

I am reminded how restrictions were gradually becoming more restrictive in March and on a Friday tighter restrictions were announced starting on the following Monday. Our erstwhile PM reminded everyone that you can still go to the footy at the weekend as the restrictions don't start to Monday and he was going to watch his underperforming Sharks on the Saturday night. In the end his advisors pointed out his stupidity and he didn't go.

If cases start popping up on GC or SC from Brisbane residents who skipped town today AP and JY will have some explaining to do.

 

[Milboo]

I can only comment on what I’ve seen.

Edit: I eat out regularly. I barely get in the doorways when I’m asked if I’m dining in, then directed to complete the QR code. I would hope that restaurants/cafes/pubs, etc, are reported to authorities, if non-compliant.

I was in BNE between Xmas and NY, and spent some time in James St area. 3 of the 4 venues visited did not require check in. Certainly no social distancing etc. Friend (resident) said this was the norm up there.

Coming from Sydney it was a little disconcerting as it made me realise there was no hope of contact tracing in the event of a positive case.

 

[DC3]

I was in BNE between Xmas and NY, and spent some time in James St area. 3 of the 4 venues visited did not require check in. Certainly no social distancing etc. Friend (resident) said this was the norm up there ....

So, I hope that this was reported to the authorities, so as the incidents may be investigated.

 

[jakeseven7]

It'll have to be a collective approach, basically Scomo and all the premiers interlocking hands all stating full support for re-opening.

They will. 3 have ridden the virus to re-election, soon to be 4 in March. Then what? They will have to champion a recovery. Won’t have a choice.

 

[jakeseven7]

I was in BNE between Xmas and NY, and spent some time in James St area. 3 of the 4 venues visited did not require check in. Certainly no social distancing etc. Friend (resident) said this was the norm up there.

Coming from Sydney it was a little disconcerting as it made me realise there was no hope of contact tracing in the event of a positive case.

Yup try living in Brisbane...!

I’ve posted many times on hear how concerning the lack of COVIDSafe practices has been in QLD. I think im only aware of it v the majority of my fellow QLD’ers because I’ve been travelling through the pandemic and seeing what has been happening in other states....

It’s clear that’s one of the reasons Brisbane is in lockdown is that QLD Health know there are going to be gaping holes in most the places the 70 contacts have been....