Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Flying mermaid]

All of whom have had 12 months (almost) to get home. You makes your choice you take the consequences

Exactly what I expected from you.

My daughter and many other specialist trainees accepted 12 month positions overseas in order to get training and experience. My daughter won her position right at the beginning of February and travelled to London on the 6th March. She applied for and won a position at Brisbane Children’s in late September and immediately booked a flight home with Singapore Air - she decided to pay for business to try to ensure she could get home if things went wrong.

Fast forward to December and Singapore bans all transits. Because she thought it was safer to fly into Brisbane than take a chance on having to do two sets of quarantine if Brisbane closed its borders with NSW, she now has a 16 hour transit. Singapore still hasn’t cancelled her flight, so she can’t rebook otherwise she could find herself out of pocket for thousands of dollars.

she still thought she had a fallback, as up to a week ago there were plenty of Qatar and Emirates flights for around $10,000 to $14,000 and if Singapore cancelled she was prepared to pay that to get back. However since the caps were lowered they have all gone.

I hope no-one you know has children requiring a doctor with heart expertise, as Brisbane is going to be understaffed and there are dozens of doctors in the same position as she is, needed all over Australia.

 

[N860CR]

Exactly what I expected from you.

Unfortunately it’s a common attitude from certain people who live very insular lives and don’t understand that not everyone’s life involves waking up, going to a menial job that hasn’t been impacted by the pandemic and then going home to troll.

Ironically, those who most loudly oppose citizens returning home would generally be the ones worst impacted if they were in the same position - except I guess the chance of that happening is slim.

 

[james4321]

Exactly what I expected from you.

My daughter and many other specialist trainees accepted 12 month positions overseas in order to get training and experience. My daughter won her position right at the beginning of February and travelled to London on the 6th March. She applied for and won a position at Brisbane Children’s in late September and immediately booked a flight home with Singapore Air - she decided to pay for business to try to ensure she could get home if things went wrong.

Fast forward to December and Singapore bans all transits. Because she thought it was safer to fly into Brisbane than take a chance on having to do two sets of quarantine if Brisbane closed its borders with NSW, she now has a 16 hour transit. Singapore still hasn’t cancelled her flight, so she can’t rebook otherwise she could find herself out of pocket for thousands of dollars.

she still thought she had a fallback, as up to a week ago there were plenty of Qatar and Emirates flights for around $10,000 to $14,000 and if Singapore cancelled she was prepared to pay that to get back. However since the caps were lowered they have all gone.

I hope no-one you know has children requiring a doctor with heart expertise, as Brisbane is going to be understaffed and there are dozens of doctors in the same position as she is, needed all over Australia.

Thats life. Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. And I understand your family bias, that Ok because I'm proud of my family too. But that doesn't excuse the rudeness of your first sentence.

Post automatically merged: Jan 15, 2021

Unfortunately it’s a common attitude from certain people who live very insular lives and don’t understand that not everyone’s life involves waking up, going to a menial job that hasn’t been impacted by the pandemic and then going home to troll.

Ironically, those who most loudly oppose citizens returning home would generally be the ones worst impacted if they were in the same position - except I guess the chance of that happening is slim.

Rubbish comment - you have no idea

 

[jakeseven7]

Wow this thread needs a Friday night drink or five....

Well some good news for Victorians at least, though WA really should be fully open to VIC not just in this stupid ‘low risk’ bucket.

——

Breaking: WA border with Victoria softened after another day of no community cases​

Western Australia's hard border with Victoria will be relaxed from Monday at midnight after the state went a ninth day without a locally acquired case of COVID-19.

After receiving new health advice about Victoria on Friday afternoon the WA government has decided to downgrade the state from a 'medium risk' to 'low risk'.

WA border with Victoria softened after another day of no community cases

After receiving new health advice about Victoria on Friday afternoon the WA government has decided to downgrade Victora from a 'medium risk' state to 'low risk'.

www.watoday.com.au

 

[Flying mermaid]

Thats life. Sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. And I understand your family bias, that Ok because I'm proud of my family too. But that doesn't excuse the rudeness of your first sentence.

Post automatically merged: Jan 15, 2021

Rubbish comment - you have no idea

I have read many posts from you and have yet to see one that shows any empathy or understanding of what other people are going through. Yes it was rude and I am not normally rude but these are stressful times and a little bit of empathy on your part wouldn’t go astray.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Wow this thread needs a Friday night drink or five....

Well some good news for Victorians at least, though WA really should be fully open to VIC not just in this stupid ‘low risk’ bucket.

——

Breaking: WA border with Victoria softened after another day of no community cases​

Western Australia's hard border with Victoria will be relaxed from Monday at midnight after the state went a ninth day without a locally acquired case of COVID-19.

After receiving new health advice about Victoria on Friday afternoon the WA government has decided to downgrade the state from a 'medium risk' to 'low risk'.

WA border with Victoria softened after another day of no community cases

After receiving new health advice about Victoria on Friday afternoon the WA government has decided to downgrade Victora from a 'medium risk' state to 'low risk'.

www.watoday.com.au

It should never have been medium risk in the first place

What a joke

 

[lovetravellingoz]

countries.

If Vic set up testing stations at MEL

You can get tested at MEL already.

 

[oz_mark]

Wow this thread needs a Friday night drink or five....

Well some good news for Victorians at least, though WA really should be fully open to VIC not just in this stupid ‘low risk’ bucket.

Not sure how good the news is. I suspect that it will have blasted a big hole in confidence with interstate travel.

People won't go to WA for fear the rules will change on them. WA people won't travel for fear they can't get back.

Fear of what actions governments will take is greater than the fear of the virus...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Really isnt any logical reason for regional NSW to be orange, with the exemption of the Bermagui cases which werent local, rest of regional NSW has been >28 days without a locally transmitted case.

While I personally would not have regional NSW as orange at present, NSW Health currently lists a number of regional exposure sites. Bermagui is not included on that current list.

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW

www.health.nsw.gov.au

While cases are normally listed against their residential address, exposure sites are wherever there has been a significant risk that members of the public may have been infected and therefore where unknown cases may possibly be. The map below is where NSW Health believes that there has been significant risk that is still current.

Howewer being orange is not that onerous. Test on return and end quarantine when a negative result is obtained.


There are ample testing sites throughout the state. One near the airport and indeed testing is also often in the terminal for domestic flights from time to time as well if from a higher risk area. Many people choose test before they arrive home.

 

[Port Power]

Not sure how good the news is. I suspect that it will have blasted a big hole in confidence with interstate travel.

People won't go to WA for fear the rules will change on them. WA people won't travel for fear they can't get back.

Fear of what actions governments will take is greater than the fear of the virus...

I’d say “rubbish“ except that sounds rude. If tourists/visitors come to WA, they are pretty well assured of being able to go home whenever they want, wherever that might be. For locals travelling out of WA, that is easy, just be prepared to quarantine at home on return in these rapidly changing times. I doubt anyone is “afraid” of border closures. Annoyed, accepting or feelings anywhere in between, perhaps, but not fearful.

I have just come out of quarantine, knowing I was never at risk but accepting the rules. I am also going to Melbourne in two weeks even with the risk of having to isolate at home again upon return. I might be peeved, but definitely not fearful.

 

[Lynda2475]

No cases have resulted from those regional exposure sites, they were sites a positive person visisted before they tested positive. They include the sites the visiting Victorian's visited in Bermagui area, and the 3 stops the camper from Berala made in Orange, Nyngan etc. Visits were 2 weeks ago, no community transmission has occurred, so no justification for being designated Orange, the risk has long since passed.

Metro Melbourne has more active cases and more recent community transmission than the regional NSW. Melbourne is a bigger risk to regionwl NSW than regional NSW is to Melbourne.

I dont need to see proof of Vic testing stations, never said they dont exist. Juet suggested that testing coild be better utilised to allow Victorians in Greater Sydney and Greater Brisbane (neither of which shoukd be red nor orange) to be vetted so can return home.

If Vic systems are so great, then they shouldn't be fearful of being able to safely manage their own residents returning from interstate. Hard borders say we aren't confident we can deal with cases.

If sports people can test and isolate to gain entry, Victorian residents should be afforded the same right, especially since no where in Australia is high risk for Covid, yet it is rampant in the places the AO participants are coming from.

 

[oz_mark]

I’d say “rubbish“ except that sounds rude. If tourists/visitors come to WA, they are pretty well assured of being able to go home whenever they want, wherever that might be. For locals travelling out of WA, that is easy, just be prepared to quarantine at home on return in these rapidly changing times. I doubt anyone is “afraid” of border closures. Annoyed, accepting or feelings anywhere in between, perhaps, but not fearful.

Why would any one visit WA when they know their visit could be just cut short, and they need to make a hasty exit from the state.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It’s really sad that the pandemic has exposed Australia as a kind of country but not really. I should be able to fly to PER/BNE/ADL/DRW to teach adult and paediatric resuscitation (spoiler: I did this on multiple occasions over many years prior to 2020). I should be able to go into the hipster coffee shop next to my hotel on a daily basis and fly home in the safe expectation that I’ll be contacted at exactly the same time as all the other WA/QLD/SA/NT patrons if an employee at the coffee shop tests positive to COVID-19. Sadly I suspect that wouldn’t happen at the same time as the local contacts and I would blithely go about my business in my home state until days later. I think the federation has a lot of work to do. It isn’t enough to have high level cooperation between state CHO we need a national coordination of contact tracing.

 

[Port Power]

Why would any one visit WA when they know their visit could be just cut short, and they need to make a hasty exit from the state.

Why would you need to make a hasty exit? If your home state is shutting its border, that is not WA’s fault. You make it sound like it is, rather than the home state as in the current Victorian situation. Or am I misinterpreting? Stay a bit longer and relax. If a person is concerned that their eastern state might shut its border, then stay at home and holiday intrastate with peace of mind. That would be a preferable choice. If I was going to be anxious about not being able to return home, I would not go interstate for a holiday. These are personal choices. No one is being forced to go on holiday interstate. (Note we are talking ‘holiday’, not work travel.)

 

[oz_mark]

Why would you need to make a hasty exit? If your home state is shutting its border, that is not WA’s fault. You make it sound like it is, rather than the home state as in the current Victorian situation. Or am I misinterpreting? Stay a bit longer and relax. If a person is concerned that their eastern state might shut its border, then stay at home with peace of mind. That would be a preferable choice. If I was going to be anxious about not being able to return home, I would not go interstate for a holiday. These are personal choices. No one is being forced to go on holiday interstate. (Note we are talking ‘holiday’. A work situation is entirely different.)

Because WA backdates its quarantine requirements.


As examples, on January 9 WA announced that anyone that had arrived from Queensland since January 2 had to isolate

On 31 December, WA announced that anyone that had arrived from Victoria since 21 December had to isolate.

So getting into WA doesn't mean you won't find yourself with a backdated requirement to isolate. The people that I know that got caught up left WA with much hast,e

 

[Port Power]

Because WA backdates its quarantine requirements.


As examples, on January 9 WA announced that anyone that had arrived from Queensland since January 2 had to isolate

On 31 December, WA announced that anyone that had arrived from Victoria since 21 December had to isolate.

So getting into WA doesn't mean you won't find yourself with a backdated requirement to isolate. The people that I know that got caught up left WA with much hast,e

I do completely understand. That was not a nice situation to be in. Victorians in NSW are suffering similarly. But that is why people should not holiday interstate to any state if they want peace of mind. Unfortunately this is our current way of life, no guarantees.

 

[jakeseven7]

I doubt anyone is “afraid” of border closures. Annoyed, accepting or feelings anywhere in between, perhaps, but not fearful.

Any person employed by either directly or indirectly by industries that are in or around tourism, hosipitality and events / or any industry that comes off second best to state governments randomly shutting borders are absolutely fearful of those border decisions. Most are irrational and at best unpredictable.

We are talking about people’s livelihoods and sometimes their entire life’s work of their own business.

I work for one and we are in touch every day with other people in businesses up and downstream that are going under / barely staying afloat. It’s absolutely heart breaking and it’s very easy to tell on this forum who is / isn’t affected deeply by these closures by the lack of understanding of what this is doing to hundreds of thousands of people.

Clearly you aren’t fearful and good for you! I’m glad you are clearly not very affected, one less person hurt by this madness!

 

[OATEK]

AJ applies some heat:

Andrews fires back at ‘bizarre’ ban

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the border will reopen to Victorians stranded in parts of Queensland and NSW, a day after stinging criticism from Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

www.news.com.au

 

[SydneySwan]

AJ applies some heat:

Andrews fires back at ‘bizarre’ ban

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the border will reopen to Victorians stranded in parts of Queensland and NSW, a day after stinging criticism from Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

www.news.com.au

I never thought I would say this but I finally agree with AJ about something!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

AJ applies some heat:

Andrews fires back at ‘bizarre’ ban

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the border will reopen to Victorians stranded in parts of Queensland and NSW, a day after stinging criticism from Qantas boss Alan Joyce.

www.news.com.au

Odd right? Why take aim at Victoria when the Cth would have been the ones that allowed the flights in in the first place? What about international caps?

AJs comments seem focused on QF's bottom line, no doubt mindful of domestic flight disruptions into Vic.

I wonder if QF is providing any of the charters for tennis players?