Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

Apparently WA didn't tell Aus Health about their positive case for 11 hours which is not protocol.

Many stuff ups from WA (self rated themselves as gold standard although the Finkel review had them dead last) including allowing HQ staff to work multiple jobs.... ummm have they learned nothing?

I still think they will be fine despite being the least prepared state, I just think if there were heaps and heaps of cases from the close contacts it would have leaked by now..... or maybe WA Health has plugged all its holes now....

It’s beginning to sniff a little political to me but we can’t go into detail on that

 

[Pushka]

Many stuff ups from WA (self rated themselves as gold standard although the Finkel review had them dead last) including allowing HQ staff to work multiple jobs.... ummm have they learned nothing?

I still think they will be fine despite being the least prepared state, I just think if there were heaps and heaps of cases from the close contacts it would have leaked by now..... or maybe WA Health has plugged all its holes now....

It’s beginning to sniff a little political to me but we can’t go into detail on that

I think they may be ok too. When this happened in SA last year with the leak from Quarantine, it unravelled very quickly and they got all their positives within a couple of days. The difference maybe that it was a secondary infected person who was detected in SA, so already spread, and not the guard themselves.

 

[Lynda2475]

I just think if there were heaps and heaps of cases from the close contacts it would have leaked by now

Think we need to see today's numbers. Yesterday they mentioned they had tested 66 close contacts but only had results for approx 20% of those or so, didnt say if that included the house mates. Plus only tested 3k on Sunday which is low numbers following a positive even when adjusted for small population.

Seems odd he knew he worked in high risk environment, felt unwell, waited a whole day to see GP and then almost another before getting tested. You'd think if felt unwell and knowing you'd been at a venue with positive cases you'd go for a test before anything else.

 

[Pushka]

Think we need to see today's numbers. Yesterday they mentioned they had tested 66 close contacts but only had results for approx 20% of those or so, didnt say if that included the house mates. Plus only tested 3k on Sunday which is low numbers following a positive even when adjusted for small population.

Seems odd he knew he worked in high risk environment, felt unwell, waited a whole day to see GP and then almost another before getting tested. You'd think if felt unwell and knowing you'd been at a venue with positive cases you'd go for a test before anything else.

Maybe it depends on "how" you may have contracted the virus and whether you knew you'd done the wrong thing by being an Uber driver as well? That his regular testing would have picked it up? This virus does make people think weirdly.

 

[jakeseven7]

 

[Lynda2475]

From what i have read there was nothing in his security contract preventing him from working a second job. The new arrangements put in place in Vic when they resumed international arrivals forbid second jobs, but i dont think this is the case in WA or most other states.

Th3 NSW Premier is quite open about the fact that people working in HQ in NSW are in the community (commuting, shopping, dining out) so no rule about not having a second job in NSW either (except that that second job cant be in aged care). NSW test HQ workers every shift, but realise unless you lock HQ workers in permanent ISO they are going to be in community. So PPE, training in procedures, surveillance and testing every shift are the controls.

 

[MooTime]

A friend in Perth I was chatting with last night told me their bro inlaw mate tested positive for covid y'day so expect some numbers in today's WA ann.
Their family & friends are concerned this will drag on longer than the inital 5-day window.
Very much caught them all by surprise, not many have masks they told me.
I assured them just stay home & with a hard lockdown, it'll all be over soon enough. Easier said than done I guess.

Who's to know, let's see how it plays out.

 

[Pushka]

testing every shift are the controls.

Yes, but not in WA it seems.

But my point is that until we know how/why he tested positive then possibly there may be some thought processes behind why he didn't get tested with symptoms.

 

[jakeseven7]

Oh dear.....

---​

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine​

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the ride from airport to hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

A few days into my 14-day stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Perth I heard a knock on the door. “Excuse me?” a voice outside said. I opened the door and standing roughly a metre away was a security guard, no face mask, no gloves, no PPE of any description. “Your meal has been sitting there for a while. Do you want it?” he asked.

From the moment I landed at Perth Airport on December 20 I noticed the cracks and yesterday, the AMA labelled Perth’s quarantine system as “amateur and ridiculous”.

I can see how the medical body came to this conclusion.

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the airport drive to the hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

www.watoday.com.au

 

[Must...Fly!]

On the assumption that article is accurate then my God what an absolutely disgusting failure.

McGowan should resign in disgrace.

However yesterday he blamed Peter Dutton for the federal government not taking responsibility, so I can only presume he will blame the feds for this somehow, as well.

 

[Lynda2475]

I havent gone looking to confirm if its true, but there was some chatter yesterday that the hotel the guard worked at was being used for HQ yet still hosting weddings in their function centre on the same site.

I think hotels being used for HQ need to HQ only, because of shared air conditioning etc.

I know in the very early days Swissotel in Sydney had HQ guests and regular tourists, on different floors using different lifts, but I was of the understanding that pratice had stopped by start of May, as better contracts were put in place and closed state broders killed off both business and holiday travel.

*** edited to say just read the article that Jake posted was surprised the person had stayed so recently, so a real worry ratehr than a scare article re stays very early on. Guess WA Health and Premier have some explaining to do as to why guards dont wear PPE (N95 shoudl be mandatory as Ive said many many times) and why HQ hotels are mixed use?

 

[Pushka]

Oh dear.....

---​

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine​

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the ride from airport to hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

A few days into my 14-day stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Perth I heard a knock on the door. “Excuse me?” a voice outside said. I opened the door and standing roughly a metre away was a security guard, no face mask, no gloves, no PPE of any description. “Your meal has been sitting there for a while. Do you want it?” he asked.

From the moment I landed at Perth Airport on December 20 I noticed the cracks and yesterday, the AMA labelled Perth’s quarantine system as “amateur and ridiculous”.

I can see how the medical body came to this conclusion.

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the airport drive to the hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

www.watoday.com.au

What could possibly go wrong.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I havent gone looking to confirm if its true, but there was some chatter yesterday that the hotel the guard worked at was being used for HQ yet still hosting weddings in their function centre on the same site.

I think hotels being used for HQ need to HQ only, because of shared air conditioning etc.

I know in the very early days Swissotel in Sydney had HQ guests and regular tourists, on different floors using different lifts, but I was of the understanding that pratice had stopped by May, as better contracts were put in plae and closed state broders killed off business travel.

Regardless of what the real risk is, the government sees it as the most significant risk to the community - so much so that over 2 million people are locked down in Perth due to a single case (so far) of COVID.

So the state government is on one hand saying "trust us, listen to us" but on the other, is doing an absolutely pathetic job at stopping the virus at the quarantine level.

Given everything that has been learned in this country about quarantine and the various successes and failures, it is pretty much unconscionable that a hotel would be used for ANYTHING other than quarantining returned travelers.

Given one can book a room at this same hotel in April via their own website, I am beginning to think it is indeed true.

And actually, the government recently promoted their mid week staycation program, with a list of "participating hotels"

What To Do In Perth | Perth Activities & Places To Go - Destination Perth

Destination Perth is your #1 guide for the things to do & places to visit in Perth. We've got you covered for sightseeing, activities & events. Learn more.

www.experienceperth.com

Does anyone know which hotels are currently being used for HQ in Perth? I would hope no overlap - but that said - I know for absolutely certain that the Duxton and Pan Pacific have been used (evidence for PP as recently as late December) - 'Consequences are significant' for woman who fled Perth coronavirus quarantine hotel

I also know that the Hyatt is (or at least was?) used for international aircrew layovers one two floors, with the remaining being used for regular guests. This is because a family member stayed there and requested a room on a particular floor but was told "no that floor is dedicated for quarantine".

More to come on this story.

 

[MooTime]

Oh dear.....

---​

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine​

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the ride from airport to hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

A few days into my 14-day stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Perth I heard a knock on the door. “Excuse me?” a voice outside said. I opened the door and standing roughly a metre away was a security guard, no face mask, no gloves, no PPE of any description. “Your meal has been sitting there for a while. Do you want it?” he asked.

From the moment I landed at Perth Airport on December 20 I noticed the cracks and yesterday, the AMA labelled Perth’s quarantine system as “amateur and ridiculous”.

I can see how the medical body came to this conclusion.

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the airport drive to the hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

www.watoday.com.au

not sure if having a laugh reading that article makes me a bad person, but geez if true, it's simply amazing & just not good enough by a long stretch.

it could be see as somebody should lose their job over it, but we know that won't happen, nobody will accept responsibility.

after so many months of groundhog day, you'd think, just maybe this HQ would learn after each experience, alas it seems as usual each states only learns from itself.

ah well, WA & McGowan, it's your turn, Eastern States open, good feeling.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Oh dear.....

---​

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine​

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the ride from airport to hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

A few days into my 14-day stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Perth I heard a knock on the door. “Excuse me?” a voice outside said. I opened the door and standing roughly a metre away was a security guard, no face mask, no gloves, no PPE of any description. “Your meal has been sitting there for a while. Do you want it?” he asked.

From the moment I landed at Perth Airport on December 20 I noticed the cracks and yesterday, the AMA labelled Perth’s quarantine system as “amateur and ridiculous”.

I can see how the medical body came to this conclusion.

No masks on guards, hotels full of other guests: Perth’s patchy quarantine

From no mask wearing or social distancing on the airport drive to the hotel, to the hotel remaining full of holidaymakers, the system was ripe for a breach.

www.watoday.com.au

I’m guessing WA might also mix international and domestic quarantine.

Imagine coming from Qld and getting infected through the air conditioning at WA domestic quarantine

 

[oz_mark]

Yes it is, including all other big hotels in Perth. However, Level 2 to 8 are used for Quarantine and their lifts access is from the back of the hotel so it is segregated

As noted in the Hyatt thread, the Hyatt is used for quarantine purposes, but also takes regular guests.

 

[Lynda2475]

the government recently promoted their mid week staycation program, with a list of "participating hotels"

Wonder if WA made deals with the HQ hotels to help them prop up revenue as a reward for doing HQ. Per the article I posted yesterday the better hotels doing HQ are making significantly less per room than if they were selling them to business/tourists, so in WA may have needed sweeteners to partcipate?

Significant publicity of these failings such as shared use and lack of PPE could now influence the election, the opposition must be getting excited.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

It does make me curious whether there are any factors for WA to be the last State with a quarantine into community case.
Since November, I think it’s been SA, NSW x 2, Qld, WA...

 

[Lynda2475]

It does make me curious whether there are any factors for WA to be the last State with a quarantine into community case

Well based on their practices per that article, pure luck would seem to be the answer.

But probably also location, flights into WA come from far fewer locations than those arriving on the east coast. PER isnt a major air freight hub, and no paseenger flights from USA (the location responsible for the highest number of internationla cases in Australia) or South America and limited UK and Asia flights.

NSW was always going to be the higest risk as take significantly more inetrnational arrivals than other states and the bulk of USA arrivals.

 

[Lynda2475]