Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[SydneySwan]

Howard Springs NT to increase quarantine capacity to 850, up from 600 per fortnight.

A drop in the bucket compared to the demand for these places.

 

[SydneySwan]

Great piece in The Australian today by Nick Cater about the shambles that is the Victorian DHHS and their actions at Melbourne Airport earlier this month.

A small excerpt:

"Finally, after five hours, an authorised officer served the detainees with detention notices. “You are a prohibited person,” the notice stated. Many protested; they had flown in from the green zone and were expecting to self-isolate at home. Some asked to remain at the airport until an exemption could be considered, still believing this to be a bad mix-up. Others begged to return to NSW, where they had children or partners. All received the same answer: “You have now been detained. You are a red zone arrival. Your only option is to go to the hotel.”

"It was early evening by the time the SkyBus pulled up outside a grey-brick building with the now Orwellian-sounding name of Holiday Inn. A lady in blue boarded and started reading a prepared speech. When she got to the clause informing them the Victorian government expected them to contribute to the cost of their detention, the bus erupted in protest. She yelled that the sooner she finished the speech, the sooner everyone would be allowed off the bus."

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

The more I hear about the actions of the Vic Govt, the less inclined I am to risk a visit there (yes I know I am not allowed to at the moment - I would be a dreaded 'red' zone arrival).

 

[jb747]

That’s certainly not what your tourism industry is saying:

And I suspect that it will get worse.

The way that border closures have been happening, with almost instant changes in where you can, and cannot go, and the ongoing irrational management of border closures, will have the effect of dampening demand for any travel at all. I have bookings for a beachside caravan park in Qld for May. The planned route is entirely through outback NSW and Qld. But...we‘re now wondering whether the risk of being locked out of our own state (assuming it opens at all in the meantime) means that we should not be more than a couple of hundred km from the Victorian border.

What do I mean by irrational? Well, if you are a Wagga resident, you are allowed to travel to Victoria. You can go anywhere, including Melbourne. But, if you are a Melbourne resident, if you so much as set foot across the border, you cannot come back.

I have two nieces staying with me at the moment (both young children). I can go to Albury, but they cannot. The b/s is strong with all of this.

 

[Must...Fly!]

the detainees with detention notices. “You are a prohibited person,” the notice stated. Many protested; they had flown in from the green zone and were expecting to self-isolate at home. Some asked to remain at the airport until an exemption could be considered, still believing this to be a bad mix-up. Others begged to return to NSW, where they had children or partners. All received the same answer: “You have now been detained. You are a red zone arrival. Your only option is to go to the hotel.”

"It was early evening by the time the SkyBus pulled up outside a grey-brick building with the now Orwellian-sounding name of Holiday Inn. A lady in blue boarded and started reading a prepared speech. When she got to the clause informing them the Victorian government expected them to contribute to the cost of their detention, the bus erupted in protest. She yelled that the sooner she finished the speech, the sooner everyone would be allowed off the bus."

I don't see this as much different to the much-decried footage from China in April of people being forcibly placed in to Police vans and taken to quarantine camps.

Disgusting that people are held against their will and prevented from returning to their place of residence within the same country. I hope many of these people find good legal representation.

 

[antycbr]

Howard Springs NT to increase quarantine capacity to 850, up from 600 per fortnight.

Howard Springs should be expanded, with assistance from ADF and major construction companies, to about 10,000 places per fortnight The need for quarantine will continue throughout 2021 and into 2022. The centre in my view will have a full field hospital staffed by AusMAT and contributions from each state and territory. International carriers will be asked to divert through DRW or RAAF Tindal and the Government will pay the cost of the diversions. If they won't do this the RAAF will run designated "hot" flights from the major capitals to keep pax isolated.

Staff at the centre will week 4 weeks on, 2 weeks quarantine in a dedicated hotel facility, then 6 weeks off. They will be paid at FIFO rates.

This economic stimulus program would mean that international arrivals are all sent there rather than our capital cities, and the rest of the country can then get on with tourism and interstate travel.

Even if it costs $2 billion, its still cheap compared to the cost ofNSW and recently Queensland outbreaks.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Great, The Age is reporting that the Victorian government is planning a traffic light system like WA to make things clearer. A small snippet below from the live blog.

As we know, the governments still make their decisions on a completely arbitrary basis depending on the lotto numbers the previous night, and it makes absolutely no difference to confidence to the community or business.

Indeed a national system such as this also would not solve anything, as the states are doing whatever they want.

Back to local news, where a Victorian health sciences leader has called for a nationwide system to govern travel across borders.

This morning, The Herald Sun reports Victoria is considering introducing a "traffic light system" to govern interstate travel.

"An area that’s a red zone in any other state, they’re saying do not travel to that area. If it’s a yellow zone, what they’re trying to say is when you return back to Victoria, you have to self-isolate and get yourself tested immediately until you get a negative result," Professor Bruce Thompson, Dean of Health Sciences at Swinburne University, told radio station 3AW.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just out of interest this week I plan to note the Northern Beaches rolling four week test numbers as we will be arriving at the point where numbers will soon drop because new tests will be less than old tests rolling off.

To 8pm 9/1 - 146,605 (536/1000 rate)

PS also noteworthy 101 cases including 3 unlinked - I think I heard Avalon cluster got to 150 (on Sunday?)

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Howard Springs should be expanded, with assistance from ADF and major construction companies, to about 10,000 places per fortnight The need for quarantine will continue throughout 2021 and into 2022. The centre in my view will have a full field hospital staffed by AusMAT and contributions from each state and territory. International carriers will be asked to divert through DRW or RAAF Tindal and the Government will pay the cost of the diversions. If they won't do this the RAAF will run designated "hot" flights from the major capitals to keep pax isolated.

Staff at the centre will week 4 weeks on, 2 weeks quarantine in a dedicated hotel facility, then 6 weeks off. They will be paid at FIFO rates.

This economic stimulus program would mean that international arrivals are all sent there rather than our capital cities, and the rest of the country can then get on with tourism and interstate travel.

Even if it costs $2 billion, its still cheap compared to the cost ofNSW and recently Queensland outbreaks.

That sounds reasonable. Just need National Cabinet and AHPPC to read that post and for it to sink in.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Howard Springs NT to increase quarantine capacity to 850, up from 600 per fortnight.

Would that mean an extra flight per fortnight or a chance for Qantas to get full capacity on existing flight?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As we know, the governments still make their decisions on a completely arbitrary basis depending on the lotto numbers the previous night, and it makes absolutely no difference to confidence to the community or business.

Just because someone doesn't like the actions of the states, or might be hoping for a different outcome this time, doesn't mean actions can't be foreseen. It should be fairly obvious not to holiday interstate at the moment because the borders could shut with a single case.

The economic benefits cannot simply be considered in view of the interstate travel industry. It is just as important that local restaurants and cafes stay open. And hospitals. And the machinery of government. A friend of mine in the US has had their business name stolen and a large chunk of business taken by the company that stole their name. My friend can't even bring an injunction because the courts are closed due to covid.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Great, The Age is reporting that the Victorian government is planning a traffic light system like WA to make things clearer. A small snippet below from the live blog.

As we know, the governments still make their decisions on a completely arbitrary basis depending on the lotto numbers the previous night, and it makes absolutely no difference to confidence to the community or business.

Indeed a national system such as this also would not solve anything, as the states are doing whatever they want.

Clearly the bit about defining a red, yellow and green zone a la hotspot is entirely missing.....do the public get zombie-fied by traffic lights??? - “yes, we accept. Yes, we accept” lol

 

[VPS]

An article in the local paper this morning reflects what I've been thinking for a while about the testing regime in Tas:

Doctor lashes Tasmania’s ‘pointless’ and inadequate COVID-19 screening tactics (paywalled)
In part:

A HOBART doctor has slammed Tasmania’s coronavirus screening measures, saying a referral system is “pointless” and that limiting testing to symptomatic people could have dire consequences.

Hobart radiologist and returned Brisbane traveller Philippa Taplin said she was astonished to be told last Friday she did not meet the criteria for a COVID-19 test because she wasn’t displaying any flu-like symptoms.

The health worker said she received mixed messages from authorities across Friday when later that afternoon her phone requests were accepted after greater Brisbane was declared a high-risk area.

“After being told ‘no’ about 10am, I called up the COVID hotline about an hour later when Brisbane was announced as a high-risk area and was told, ‘yes, you qualify now’,” she said.

“They called me back with a 2pm test time, which was good, but they never provided a time for my husband, Owen, who was in Brisbane with me.

“We got through again on the phone, but shortly after the whole system crashed – we tried phoning four times, as did two of my staff members but the calls failed.”

To get a test here, you have to call and get a booking, and (in my several experiences) won't get a booking unless you are from a 'high risk' area, or showing symptoms. They tell you to go to a GP for a test. There seems to be no inclination to have a 'background' screening regime. The CHO here was asked about sewage testing a few weeks ago. He replied that it was "being trialled" interstate and that they were "looking at it".

And another story: 'Service Tasmania' has proudly opened its new centre in Hobart. Hmmm ....

View attachment 237583

That's just ludicrous isn't it. Maybe they don't understand asymptomatic

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Would that mean an extra flight per fortnight or a chance for Qantas to get full capacity on existing flight?

I don't know the answer to your question.

Post automatically merged: Jan 11, 2021

Qld Presser; No local cases today.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Qld Presser:

Brisbane lockdown confirmed to end at 6PM today, but with some restrictions.

Mask use to be continued. Indoors at Supermarkets, Shopping Centres and other Public Buildings: Churches, Libraries etc. Plus on public transport etc.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Just because someone doesn't like the actions of the states, or might be hoping for a different outcome this time, doesn't mean actions can't be foreseen. It should be fairly obvious not to holiday interstate at the moment because the borders could shut with a single case.

The economic benefits cannot simply be considered in view of the interstate travel industry. It is just as important that local restaurants and cafes stay open. And hospitals. And the machinery of government. A friend of mine in the US has had their business name stolen and a large chunk of business taken by the company that stole their name. My friend can't even bring an injunction because the courts are closed due to covid.

MAy be true, but just tell that to someone from Northern Beaches who weren’t allowed to holiday intrastate or a NSW person holidaying in Northern Beaches when the carp hit the fan - predictable, oh yes.

 

[Lynda2475]

Great, The Age is reporting that the Victorian government is planning a traffic light system like WA to make things clearer

Well they had a traffic light system before Christams, then summarily opted to ignore it and implement a hard border, even though zero cases in the regional green zones.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Fact Check.

Has NSW listed exposure sites from positive cases visiting regional NSW locations while infectious. ie Orange.

Answer = yes.

Did the truck driver who started the Shepparton Cluster stay overnight or live there?

Answer = no.

 

[Pushka]

I don't see this as much different to the much-decried footage from China in April of people being forcibly placed in to Police vans and taken to quarantine camps.

Disgusting that people are held against their will and prevented from returning to their place of residence within the same country. I hope many of these people find good legal representation.

This morning I thought exactly the same thing. Ok, they aren't nailing doors shut, and at the time we looked on in horror, yet here we are!

 

[antycbr]

Qld Presser:

Brisbane lockdown confirmed to end at 6PM today, but with some restrictions.

Mask use to be continued. Indoors at Supermarkets, Shopping Centres and other Public Buildings: Churches, Libraries etc. Plus on public transport etc.

How about when travelling alone in your private vehicle?

Surely this is one of the most rediculous examples of governmental overreach (and there's been a few since March 2020!).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

How about when travelling alone in your private vehicle?

No mask. Also no mask if travelling with family.

You will have been maskless at home with your family and so nothing to be gained by wearing the mask when travelling.


Having said that people will wear a mask in cars and particularly if visiting multiple sites as doffing your mask on and off increases the likeliehood of touching your face with infected hands. So they wear a mask per total trip out, rather than only when out of the car.