Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

The test is not compulsory, but the response has been high, and thousands of travelers are choosing to undergo testing immediately on landing in Israel.

Friends living there say you cant really refuse the rapid test on arrival, as you are directed towards the testing station. Locals know it isnt wise to upset norms if you want a smooth experience entering.

Either way the family obviously willingly complied with the rapid test request, and now need to follow Israeli govenrment directions and undergo further PCR testing to prove its a false positive if they want exemptions.

I know the rapid tests are less accurate than PCR, but can the false positive be due to an old infection? Its likley that there were lots of undiagnosed cases during the Victorian Second wave, espeically if asymptomatic and already stuck at home.

 

[jakeseven7]

ACT opens border to Greater Brisbane​

The ACT will lift quarantine requirements for people from Greater Brisbane, and people currently in quarantine will be allowed to leave from 2:00pm AEDT.

ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman says Greater Brisbane is no longer considered a hotspot by the ACT.


----
Decisions made today:

ACT: Reopen
NT: Reopen
VIC: No changes (review in next few days)
WA: Closed to all of QLD

Restrictions ease across some parts of Australia for NSW and Greater Brisbane

The Northern Territory and the ACT are the first jurisdictions to revoke their hotspot declarations for Greater Brisbane. Meanwhile Victoria has reopened its border to regional New South Wales but remains closed to Greater Sydney.

www.abc.net.au

No changes to Tasmanian border requirements also for QLD/Greater Brisbane travellers, following VIC's lead by saying they will review in 2 days.
SA also follows VIC and TAS by leaving restrictions as they are.


ACT: Reopen
NT: Reopen
VIC: No changes (review in next few days)
WA: Closed to all of QLD
TAS: No changes (review in next few days)
SA: No changes (review in next few days)

 

[nutwood]

Does anyone know if the new Victorian permit system replaces the previous transit permits? Next week I've got to drive through Victoria from Melbourne airport to Griffith and return the next day. They appear to still be distinguishing between "coming to Victoria" (entering and remaining) and "transiting through". The new permit system appears to only apply to the former but it seems a bit vague.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

No changes to Tasmanian border requirements also for QLD/Greater Brisbane travellers, following VIC's lead by saying they will review in 2 days.
SA also follows VIC and TAS by leaving restrictions as they are.


ACT: Reopen
NT: Reopen
VIC: No changes (review in next few days)
WA: Closed to all of QLD
TAS: No changes (review in next few days)
SA: No changes (review in next few days)

You forgot NSW - no change, always open and from 6pm no quarantine/isolation required

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

So how does everyone rank

1. Parafeld - lockdown and most borders closed based on a lie
Vs
2. Brisbane cleaner w UK strain - lockdown and most borders closed as a precaution.???

I’d say Qld was the bigger stuff up- like an own goal jumping at shadows.

 

[drron]

I don't rate either as failures.Much better to be sure than sorry.
And even better both Governments communicated their fears early to other states to keep them in the loop and let them make their own decisions.
SA thought they were dealing with a case that only had a very short exposure to become positive.
QLD knew they had a new strain which is more infectious.Though the latest guesstimate out of the UK is 565 more likely to transmit.

 

[DC3]

So how does everyone rank

1. Parafeld - lockdown and most borders closed based on a lie
Vs
2. Brisbane cleaner w UK strain - lockdown and most borders closed as a precaution.???

I’d say Qld was the bigger stuff up- like an own goal jumping at shadows.

Let’s look to a better future.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I don't rate either as failures.Much better to be sure than sorry.
And even better both Governments communicated their fears early to other states to keep them in the loop and let them make their own decisions.
SA thought they were dealing with a case that only had a very short exposure to become positive.
QLD knew they had a new strain which is more infectious.Though the latest guesstimate out of the UK is 565 more likely to transmit.

Surprised by your response as I thought you were on the economy is important / we need an exit plan bandwagon.

 

[DC3]

I don't rate either as failures.Much better to be sure than sorry.
And even better both Governments communicated their fears early to other states to keep them in the loop and let them make their own decisions.
SA thought they were dealing with a case that only had a very short exposure to become positive.
QLD knew they had a new strain which is more infectious.Though the latest guesstimate out of the UK is 565 more likely to transmit.

I like your response. Well said.

 

[RooFlyer]

VIC just rejected WA's attack on NSW management of the latest outbreak. Good to see some support for rational thinkers.

Also outright rejected any realignment to an elimination strategy as proposed by WA.

Excellent. And good on Premier Andrews (that's "Dan" for some) for coming out to put Premier McGowan in his place.

Want are you thinking? Unexpected Quarantinees (is that the right word?) being led away in handcuffs!

In the story in the Oz today, noted and part quoted in the thread above, handcuffs were "all but" part of the drama. I dare say if anyone wasn't sheepishly compliant to the barks of the 'health' officials, I'd have no doubt the 'cuffs would have come out. Totally Kafkaesque, the PDRV.

 

[RAM]

I’m not putting too much faith in much of what our state leaders have to say about anything that’s COVID-related. I’ve given up on following the status of restrictions in every state other than my own. Just keeps changing too often. It will do your head in.

As for overall strategy .......?

No question at all. The 'Australian' politician strategy in all circumstance whether in power or opposition continues to be 'stay elected come what may'.

And yes panic buying is back. In Brisbane this time.

People still have not figured out that supplies are ample, and if new cases are about then that queuing up at supermarkets is actually not a good idea!

..and these are the same 'Australian citizens' that others think would follow the rules & act sensibly if international arrivals were allowed to self-quarantine at home (even with ankle bracelets)?

Common sense is a rare commodity these days - just more obvious with some politicians.

Mind you the 'beautician' who has been widely reported that as she's had two negative tests she can do whatever she likes regardless - ranks very high. Aspiring politican like 'Karen' from Melbourne?

 

[Must...Fly!]

The permit system has now been in effect for approximately 6 minutes.

As of 18:05 the Services Victoria website displays the below.

How Andrews is continuing to get away with this is just beyond me now.

 

[clifford]

Surprised by your response as I thought you were on the economy is important / we need an exit plan bandwagon.

I didn't think he was Paul Kelly, though.

 

[DC3]

... How Andrews is continuing to get away with this is just beyond me now ...

Duly elected by the good folks of Victoria.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Duly elected by the good folks of Victoria.

I think we all know that, but you also probably know it was a question in the frame of incompetence.

 

[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?)

To 8pm 10/1 - 148,815 (544/1000 test rate)

PS Surprisingly to me 2 unlinked cases in Northern Beaches LGA. 10 overall in NSW in the last 4 weeks

 

[DC3]

I think we all know that, but you also probably know it was a question in the frame of incompetence.

Maybe I did, but maybe I didn’t.

Edit: Anyway, ‘it is what it is’, as someone or other once said.

 

[drron]

Surprised by your response as I thought you were on the economy is important / we need an exit plan bandwagon.

A short sharp lockdown can be effective with not so much damage to the economy.Now if the other States responded in a similiar fashion and lifted their travel bans also when the original State lifts their lockdown.Then we would not be so paranoid about interstate travel which would be good for the economy.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Maybe I did, but maybe I didn’t.

That's fine.

I don't think threatening your taxpayers with fines of almost $5,000 for not having a permit, after locking them out of their residences for weeks and not even opening applications by the time the system comes in to effect is the sign of competent government.

Nor is presiding over (by far) Australia's worst covid case load, highest death toll and longest & most significant lockdown, but maybe that is another matter.

 

[oz_mark]

A short sharp lockdown can be effective with not so much damage to the economy.Now if the other States responded in a similiar fashion and lifted their travel bans also when the original State lifts their lockdown.Then we would not be so paranoid about interstate travel which would be good for the economy.

Funny how you end up with more people isolating in other states, than in the state the outbreak occurred in...