Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

This guy has constantly been dramatic plus he is from the AMA (double whammy) but why not:

——

‘Amateur’ WA hotel quarantine and ‘ridiculous’ COVID-19 preparation to blame for Perth lockdown​

A West Australian doctor has come out swinging against his state's COVID-19 preparation and hotel quarantine system, accusing it of being "amateur" and "ridiculous".

Dr Andrew Miller, the president of AMA WA, yesterday said he believed it was the state’s poorly run hotel quarantine system that led to a security guard at Sheraton’s Four Points Hotel contracting coronavirus.

Perth and its surrounds were thrown into lockdown yesterday following the discovery the guard had tested positive and had spent some time out in the community.

“Hotels are not designed to be quarantine facilities and they are not run in a way that will be effective at keeping COVID out of the community,” Dr Miller said.

Dr Miller said the air in hotel quarantine was a concern, and called for all hotel quarantine workers to wear N95 masks while travelling through hallways.

The WA AMA president has repeatedly called for his state to strengthen its COVID-19 response and hotel quarantine system.

‘It’s over’: Relief as WA lockdown ends

WA is finally free after Perth's snap five-day lockdown lifted at 6pm local time (9pm AEDT).

www.news.com.au

 

[Pushka]

This guy has constantly been dramatic plus he is from the AMA (double whammy) but why not:

——

‘Amateur’ WA hotel quarantine and ‘ridiculous’ COVID-19 preparation to blame for Perth lockdown​

A West Australian doctor has come out swinging against his state's COVID-19 preparation and hotel quarantine system, accusing it of being "amateur" and "ridiculous".

Dr Andrew Miller, the president of AMA WA, yesterday said he believed it was the state’s poorly run hotel quarantine system that led to a security guard at Sheraton’s Four Points Hotel contracting coronavirus.

Perth and its surrounds were thrown into lockdown yesterday following the discovery the guard had tested positive and had spent some time out in the community.

“Hotels are not designed to be quarantine facilities and they are not run in a way that will be effective at keeping COVID out of the community,” Dr Miller said.

Dr Miller said the air in hotel quarantine was a concern, and called for all hotel quarantine workers to wear N95 masks while travelling through hallways.

The WA AMA president has repeatedly called for his state to strengthen its COVID-19 response and hotel quarantine system.

‘It’s over’: Relief as WA lockdown ends

WA is finally free after Perth's snap five-day lockdown lifted at 6pm local time (9pm AEDT).

www.news.com.au

Except he's making a bit of sense re strengthening hotel quarantine issues.

 

[Lynda2475]

From SMH:

 

[henrus]

I know it's still early in the morning but normally by about 5:30 there'd be a few mining charters in the sky. As of right now just a single QantasLink A320 and VAAR F100 in the sky both operating regularly scheduled passenger flights. It looks like about 15 mining charters canceled in the next one and a half hours.

 

[Lynda2475]

Now that is surprising... NSW is stricter than every other state by making those who've previously arrived get a test and self isolate until the 5th. All other states are just saying get a test and once negative you're free to go about your normal activities.

Not quite NSW is applying the same approach they took to Brisbane when they had their HQ breach a few weeks ago - which is asking visitors from the impacted regions (not the whole state) to comply with the restrictions they would have to if back in their home state and date range is based on WA advice of when they believe the security guard was infectious.

“To help control the spread of the infection, a new Public Health Order places travellers from Western Australia coming to NSW since January 25 under the same ‘stay-at-home’ restrictions as they would have faced had they stayed in Western Australia,” NSW Health said in a statement last night.

I'd say this less strict as NSW isnt forcing anyone into paid HQ and is allowing its own residents to return home (unlike Victoria).

 

[MelMel]

Thanks. I do appreciate the info, but I don’t think a ptv bus will take me through! . Walk in only for me.

You could try this one, they also have a clinic in Ringwood but if you click through to the website they say they do not do asymptomatic testing. Possibly call ahead and check if you are eligible.

 

[blackcat20]

Was a little when the WA premier thanked the state for doing such a great job over the last year. What job? They've been closed off to the rest of the country (and reality) for months so that they can carry on BAU Hardly a tough time...

 

[Lynda2475]

If WA and Qld had keep up physical distancing and mandated government QR check-in isntead of relaxing all retsrictions (except for the domestic border), then their govts wouldnt have been so fearful of not being able to track and trace and not needed to do such widespread lockdowns.

I suspect WA have limited (if any) sign-in data for all the locations the positive person went to. When you looked at panic buying footage on tv yesterday no one was wearing a mask, it seems many West Australians didnt have any on hand in case needed.

The biggest risk to Australians remains overseas arrivals and how effectively they are quarantined. Its a timely lesson for WA that the risk isnt domestic travellers, but HQ and their focus should have been on strengthening HQ procedures not enforcing hard domestic borders.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

 

[bcworld]

This guy has constantly been dramatic plus he is from the AMA (double whammy) but why not:

——

‘Amateur’ WA hotel quarantine and ‘ridiculous’ COVID-19 preparation to blame for Perth lockdown​

A West Australian doctor has come out swinging against his state's COVID-19 preparation and hotel quarantine system, accusing it of being "amateur" and "ridiculous".

The headline doesn't really match the article. The doctor's criticisms seem to be about hotel quarantine in general...the same approach used in all states & territories with the exception of NT. I'd personally read it as more of a criticism of the federal govt for not coming up with something better over the past 10 months.

 

[jeza]

If WA and Qld had keep up physical distancing and mandated government QR check-in isntead of relaxing all retsrictions (except for the domestic border), then their govts wouldnt have been so fearful of not being able to track and trace and not needed to do such widespread lockdowns.

I suspect WA have limited (if any) sign-in data for all the locations the positive person went to. When you looked at panic buying footage on tv yesterday no one was wearing a mask, it seems many West Australians didnt have any on hand in case needed.

The biggest risk to Australians remains overseas arrivals and how effectively they are quarantined. Its a timely lesson for WA that the risk isnt domestic travellers, but HQ and their focus should have been on strengthening HQ procedures not enforcing hard domestic borders.

There is QR codes or contact registers in a lot of places already & was in the process of being expanded. A bit late now!

Media statements | Western Australian Government

Media statements

www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au

 

[Lynda2475]

There is QR codes or contact registers in a lot of places already & was in the process of being expanded. A bit late now!

WA was late to the party on requiring customers to register their details, and is still allowing manual sign-ins. Ex-colleagues in Perth tell me majority of people just walk past the sign-in sheets and that venues arent checking to see that you have check-in before allowing you to enter and/or sit down.

Maybe this scare will see better complaince.

 

[Flying mermaid]

How many Australians in ICU. How many Australian deaths in the last month?

Personally I'd be giving our vaccine stores to those booked on flights into Australia over the next few months.. they are clearly the greatest risk.

But what’s the point? Apart from the fact that at the moment it appears you can still get infected and infect others when vaccinated, although the hope is that the viral load will be so low they won’t be very infectious, the vaccine only becomes effective at least 12 days after getting the first dose and you need 2 doses at least 3 weeks apart for maximum protection. So you would need to vaccinate people like a month before they get on the flight.

the current plan to vaccinate all hotel workers in the first group seems a more effective way to cut the risk from arriving travellers.

 

[jeza]

WA was late to the party on requiring customers to register their details, and is still allowing manual sign-ins. Ex-colleagues in Perth tell me majority of people just walk past the sign-in sheets and that venues arent checking to see that you have check-in before allowing you to enter and/or sit down.

Maybe this scare will see better complaince.

Compliance is an & will continue to be an issue everywhere

'Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse': NSW residents urged to complete QR codes correctly as cases rise

Fake names such as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse being entered into the QR code systems of NSW venues are hampering efforts of contract tracers.

www.sbs.com.au

 

[milehighclub]

I was going through the documentation that we have regarding the restrictions for airline crew and passengers. It is updated every time there is a change (feel sorry for the poor person who has to keep it updated as it is currently sitting at 77 pages). Thought I would share how many pages each state has for passenger and crew entry requirements.
ACT: 2
NSW: 4
NT: 3
QLD: 10
SA: 5
TAS: 4
VIC: 5
WA: 15 (and that was before yesterdays outbreak, there has been no changes on entering WA)
Australia - Rules for all states: 5

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Compliance is an & will continue to be an issue everywhere

'Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse': NSW residents urged to complete QR codes correctly as cases rise

Fake names such as Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse being entered into the QR code systems of NSW venues are hampering efforts of contract tracers.

www.sbs.com.au

I think it was previously mentioned that NSW Government included a verification step (not sure when introduced) in their QR system, which became mandatory for hospitality and hairdressers in January (I think).

With all systems there will be loopholes.

 

[Lynda2475]

Compliance is an & will continue to be an issue everywhere

That article you posted is out of date for NSW. QR codes/Electronic check-in has been mandatory at high risk places (hopsitality venues, beauty salons, gyms, medical settings) since mid November (although most cafes had them since June), and switching to the Service NSW one mandatory from 1 Jan .

Whilst you technically could give a false name in Service NSW app (ony possible if you have never used that mobile for another Service NSW facility) you cant give a false mobile or email as the app validates these before you can use it.. If you have a NSW drivers or fishing license youd already have a service NSW account, so they have your details.

Because of this when an expsoure venue is identified, NSW contract tracers can send a SMS and email alert to you within a few minutes.

As I posted on another thread the two times Ive been to Theatre recently you werent allowed in without showing the usher your QR check-in, cant get seated in a restaurant without checking in etc.

Whilst some covidiots thought it was funny to sign in under false names this was a small percentage, and loophole has been closed. Anywhere that still allows manual sign-in hasnt closed that loophole.

The main gap in NSW wrt to registrations is Supermarkets, as their covid marshalls arent enforcing check-in.

 

[mannej]

Was a little when the WA premier thanked the state for doing such a great job over the last year. What job? They've been closed off to the rest of the country (and reality) for months so that they can carry on BAU Hardly a tough time...

There are people in WA who have been impacted by the closures, whether it be not being able to see loved ones before they pass (I.e not being able to get back in etc), or have lost work (tourism, events, sporting etc). I fall under the latter and things have been tough regardless of what it looks like from the outside.

Yes those in Vic copped it tough, but don’t forgot the knock on effects of the border closures over here as well.

 

[henrus]

I was going through the documentation that we have regarding the restrictions for airline crew and passengers. It is updated every time there is a change (feel sorry for the poor person who has to keep it updated as it is currently sitting at 77 pages).

Whilst I'm sure that most of it's the same stuff that's public on the respective states/territories websites I'd love to see how you can write 15 pages (or even 10 for QLD) about border restrictions.

It's a bit like a game of monopoly, if you've been on a blue property in the last 14 days do not pass go, do not collect $200 and go to jail.

 

[Lynda2475]

or have lost work (tourism, events, sporting etc). I fall under the latter and things have been tough regardless of what it looks like from the outside.

Given this Im surprised McGowan's hard domestic border approach has so much support.