That article you posted is out of date for NSW.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.
When jb747 queried the QR system usage on the other thread, I read NSW Government QR system was only mandatory for hospitality and hairdresser (ie not gym, medical settings)
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.
WA has probably the most strictest requirements for crew, so this is a big part of why that section is hitting nearly 15 pages. And it is causing a huge headache operationally for both VA and QF because there are so many crew who can't operate flights.
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.
Yes they've been closed off from friends and family and I have sympathy in regards to jobs, but from all reports people haven't followed the same covid-safe rules that other states have implemented. eg social/physical distancing, gathering limits, WFH, venue check ins etc etc. A lot of people I know in WA have loved the hard border because "we can go about our lives as usual".
When jb747 queried the QR system usage on the other thread, I read NSW Government QR system was only mandatory for hospitality and hairdresser (ie not gym, medical settings)
Business premises that are used for auction houses, other than clearing houses
Business premises that are used for nail salons, beauty salons, hairdressing salons, waxing salons, tanning salons, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours
Crematoria
Drive-in cinemas
Entertainment facilities <-- cinemas, theatres
Hospitality venues:
Casinos (all persons entering the premises)
Food and drink premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
Micro-breweries, small distilleries holding a drink on-premises authorisation under the Liquor Act 2007 or cellar door premises (all persons consuming food or drink on the premises, plus staff and contractors)
Pubs, small bars and registered clubs (all persons entering the premises, but not if they are entering the premises solely for the purpose of collecting food or drink to consume off the premises)
Function centres
Funeral homes
Information and education facilities (other than libraries)
Party buses
Properties operated by the National Trust or the Historic Houses Trust
Public swimming pools
Recreation facilities (indoor) <-- gyms fall under this
Recreation facilities (major)
Sex on premises venues
Sex services premises
Strip clubs
Vessels used for hosting functions or for commercial tours
Zoological parks and reptile parks
Events
Controlled outdoor events
Corporate events
Funerals and memorial services and gathering after funerals and memorial services
Wedding services and gatherings after wedding services
Electronic recording of entry is not mandatory for persons entering premises to attend a significant event at a place of public worship (such as a wedding or funeral) or entering premises for a religious service.
WRT medical --> I've used QR codes at optomitrist and dentist. Both Mum and Dad have had to QR check in at all their recent medical appointments (GP, scans at provate hospital, blood test at pathology lab).
Medical centres and hospitals generally arent allowing anyone but the patient (for whom they have medicare / insyrance details) on the premises unless you are accompanying a minor or a carer. My aunt is in hospital at the moment and only her husband and 1 son (who is carer) can visit and only one of them at a time - they have to check in using QR code.
Even before QR codes where mandated, most places I frequented had QR codes.
I am really agitated about this - locking out residents - becoming the accepted norm. I just feel like it is totally wrong to lock people out from their homes and jobs and schools etc in our current context of extremely low case numbers. Let them come home if they want to, and either self isolate (monitored) or hotel quarantine. I feel very strongly about this.
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WA has probably the most strictest requirements for crew, so this is a big part of why that section is hitting nearly 15 pages. And it is causing a huge headache operationally for both VA and QF because there are so many crew who can't operate flights.
Daily COVID-19 testing took three weeks to roll out in WA quarantine hotels: Premier
Daily testing of hotel quarantine workers, which could have identified WA’s first community transmission case of COVID-19 in nearly 10 months several days earlier, was only rolled out on Friday, my colleague Hamish Hastie reports.
Following a National Cabinet meeting on January 8 all states and territories agreed to roll out daily tests of hotel quarantine workers after a Brisbane hotel worker was infected with the highly transmissible UK COVID-19 variant.
Victoria had already been doing daily saliva testing and Queensland enacted their testing regime three days later but WA Premier Mark McGowan said on Sunday that WA had only just finished testing its new regime at the Novotel hotel last week.
“We put in place the saliva testing as quickly as we could using the health department and appropriate protocols, unfortunately, it didn’t start until late this week,” he said.
A Perth security guard contracted COVID-19 while working at the Sheraton Four Points quarantine hotel in the CBD sometime in the past week, health officials believe.
The last time the guard was tested under the old regime was January 23 despite working his last hotel quarantine shift on January 27.
It wasn’t until he started developing symptoms that he got tested again and the results came back at midnight on Saturday.
WA’s Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson said the guard became symptomatic on January 28 and was infectious from January 26, which means he spent six days in public potentially spreading the virus.
On January 13 the health department said daily saliva tests would start “as soon as possible”.
Australian Medical Association WA president Dr Andrew Miller has lashed the state government for not introducing daily testing sooner.
“He was working in a system which I believe did not provide him with the appropriate PPE to protect him from the virus, did not provide him with adequate ventilation and therefore I think also he was not getting the daily testing,” he said.
“Daily testing only started on Friday and we all know it’s now one year since coronavirus first visited Australia, this is happening too late.”
Dr Miller also criticised the state for continuing to allow hotel quarantine workers to work second jobs when it was revealed the security guard also worked as a rideshare driver, though Mr McGowan said he had not driven for the company since becoming infectious.
“People working in quarantine facilities need to be on contracts that pay them sufficiently and put in place sufficient prohibition that prevent them from working other places,” he said.
This sounds all too familiar for Victorians who endured a catastrophic second coronavirus wave after hotel quarantine security guards contracted the virus and spread it throughout the community.
The final report of the Victorian COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry set out new guidelines for the state’s hotel quarantine system. Hotel quarantine in Victoria is now operated by a single designated government agency with a clear chain of political accountability to a single responsible minister. Those involved must not work in other jobs. And there is no contracting out.
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From SMH:
Perth patient turns to social media to make COVID warning, but authorities believe he’s not infectious
A man who says he tested positive to COVID-19 after going to a Perth emergency department with difficulty breathing, what he describes as “heavy brain fog” and memory problems has posted to social media to warn the Western Australian community.
Philip Latour said he had been kept in hospital after a rapid swab test came back positive to COVID-19.
He is now waiting on further testing to confirm the result. He said his plan was to inform the community as early as possible so they could act accordingly and be responsible.
“I went into the emergency department by myself because of breathing difficulties ... I am glad I did instead of going to work on Monday and possible [sic] infecting all my workmates,” he wrote.
“I wish no one what I am feeling right now so I made the decision to post this which wasn’t easy at first ... I feel guilt, also shame and fault.”
Mr Latour said he had followed all procedures required of him and he was proud of himself for going to the hospital by himself in pain.
“We can always ask ourselves why how and when or who’s fault it is but this won’t solve anything ... we need to stay strong and fight through this together,” he wrote.
Mr Latour said health officials had asked him what he had done and where he had been over the past seven days. But Chief Health Officer Dr Andy Robertson said the Health Department believed this was a historic case and that this person was infected in Mexico in December 2020.
“He has subsequently completed two weeks in hotel quarantine in Sydney and there were no cases in the hotel that could have infected him,” Dr Robertson said.
“His current PCR tests are very weak, which are in keeping with him being non-infectious and having infection some time ago.
“The nasal-throat PCR will be repeated tomorrow, so that the trend can be confirmed. The expectation is that this result will get weaker and/or go negative.”
Yes they've been closed off from friends and family and I have sympathy in regards to jobs, but from all reports people haven't followed the same covid-safe rules that other states have implemented. eg social/physical distancing, gathering limits, WFH, venue check ins etc etc. A lot of people I know in WA have loved the hard border because "we can go about our lives as usual".
I know it's wrong of me, but I can't help feeling a little frisson of schadenfreude every time I hear about a case in WA or Qld. I do know it's wrong, but it's honestly how I feel after their holier-than-thou, appalling posturing throughout.
I know it's wrong of me, but I can't help feeling a little frisson of schadenfreude every time I hear about a case in WA or Qld. I do know it's wrong, but it's honestly how I feel after their holier-than-thou, appalling posturing throughout.
Yes most of that document is in there. The definitions are not and it doesn't have the recent outbreaks which have further restrictions.
The G2G is a nightmare (as are most of the permit systems). From what I read, crew are constantly having to e-mail the police to get their applications deleted so they can do a new one, because they need a new permit every time and the systems were not designed for those who would apply so frequently. Non WA crew don't have to isolate at the hotel depending on their movements since the 25th of Jan.
Hotel quarantine contracts are keeping some companies afloat, but occupancy rates are still well down on pre-COVID levels and it could take years before many city hotels return to profitability.
Hotel quarantine contracts are keeping some companies afloat, but occupancy rates are still well down on pre-COVID levels and it could take years before many city hotels return to profitability.
I've been wondering about that too - those poor hotels in Melbourne must have been named hundreds of times in the media reports, and it does leave a bit of an "ick" factor in my mind. I'm not usually especially germophobic, but I'm just not sure how effective the cleaning really is in relation to COVID.
I've been wondering about that too - those poor hotels in Melbourne must have been named hundreds of times in the media reports, and it does leave a bit of an "ick" factor in my mind. I'm not usually especially germophobic, but I'm just not sure how effective the cleaning really is in relation to COVID.
We stayed in a Adelaide one only a short time after it was stopped being used for HQ the first time. TBH we like that hotel and the thought of it being used for HQ never really crossed our minds or was a consideration.
Definitely can see how some might stay away from them though
That is really not that many for them to manage for a leading health department like WA Health. Give their wonderful contact tracing team some practice!
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.
You are wonderful! Thank you. However, I rang the DHHS number this morning and after much prompting, the teenager manning the COVID phone line found an ACL in Springvale Road opposite The Glen. No request form needed with my text from DHHS. After the test I need to self isolate until negative result received. (Better visit the bottle shop before testing. )
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.
There are more QR codes than sign in sheets. Good venues ask to see the”tick” before letting you in. But as in all States, some people still don’t seem to take this seriously enough and bypass in sheets. I’ve seen it in Tas and Vic as well as WA. I always distance myself, whether in a supermarket queue or waiting room. I enforce social distancing in my waiting room too.
It is low, although Monday tests (which represent test taken on Sunday) are usually the lowest of the week. Its been 15 days since last local case, and with virtually no colds or flu circulating not many likley to have to symptoms to come forward for testing.
That said even allowing for population differences Id be more worried that WA has very low testing numbers to date. Its got a bigger population than SA yet SA has higher test numbers.
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NT Goverment just annouced that no longer any hot spots in NSW - all of NSW can now go to NT without HQ or need to get a test.
Chief Minister Mr Gunner said:
"Sydney got on top of the local outbreak that emerged over the Christmas period, we want to make sure that is well and truly crossed before opening the final hotspots, which we are now doing. We are removing that hot spots effective immediately, there are no longer any travel restrictions to the territory from Sydney, they are [as safe] as we are which means they are welcome."
In addition:
About 2000 people are being ordered to get tested and isolate in the NT after travelling to the territory from Western Australia hotspots in the past week.
The territory’s Chief Minister Michael Gunner said anyone who had arrived in the NT from WA in the past week would be required by law to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
“It is not just advice or direction to isolate, it is a legal direction enforceable by law,” Mr Gunner said.
“The public health team is contacting all [travellers] to make sure they are aware of their obligation.
“There was a flight in Perth yesterday that landed in Alice Springs before moving on to Darwin. Thirty-nine people on that flight were from a hotspot area, and they have all been directed into isolation.
“The road checkpoints that SA has in place give us an extra layer of protection and confidence. The checkpoints at our airports remain in place. Our process with the Perth case is the same with the Brisbane case a few weeks ago, given how infectious these new strains are and that we do not yet have a complete picture of the possible spread, it is best to go early and go hard until we know more.”
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www.abc.net.au
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