Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

SA Premier Steven Marshall says border with Victoria will remain open​

There will, however, be greater requirements for testing for those entering South Australia from the Greater Melbourne area.

People entering from Greater Melbourne will need to have a PCR test (the usual nose and throat swab) on day 1, 5 and 12 in South Australia and isolate after the first test pending a negative result.

Anyone who has been in the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Melbourne since January the 28th will be required to go into hotel quarantine.

Anyone who has been at any of the hotspots identified in Victoria is being asked to self-quarantine and contact SA Health.

SA authorities say their response is different to the hard border applied to Western Australia at the weekend because the two state have very different hotel quarantine facilities and testing regimes.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So Victoria weren’t doing what they publicly said they were doing (ie daily) presumably because guards are off-shift so they now intend to do daily.......so much BS spin....then getting others States to follow their standard via lobbying at AHPPC.

And for not much net gain ....

.

Vic publicly said they were testing all HQ workers daily. The info that I all recall being issued was that workers would test each day as part of their shift. This was done.
Do you have a statement where they said that were also testing daily workers who were not working, or had left?

So this is an additional measure. And presumably an additional measure that other states will also choose to adopt.

Testing workers daily is good.
Now also testing them daily when they are not working is even better.

 

[jase05]

Trying to find out more but 2 of our Melbourne managers have flown to SYD this morning and are being held on the tarmac and not being allowed to disembark. They said other aircraft from MEL also in same situation

 

[justinbrett]

Trying to find out more but 2 of our Melbourne managers have flown to SYD this morning and are being held on the tarmac and not being allowed to disembark. They said other aircraft from MEL also in same situation

They will need to be screened by NSW health.

I think we can safely say NSW won’t be closing the border to VIC.

Unless we are doing it out of spite...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Trying to find out more but 2 of our Melbourne managers have flown to SYD this morning and are being held on the tarmac and not being allowed to disembark. They said other aircraft from MEL also in same situation

ABC is reporting they are organising health screening. People will be screened at the gate as they disembark and temperatures taken

 

[Carrots]

South Australia’s borders with Victoria will remain open, despite a new outbreak from an Australian Open hotel quarantine worker in that state.

Premier Steven Marshall announced this morning “we do need to be alert, we don’t need to be alarmed” about the new case in Victoria, which is linked to a number of exposure sites.

“The good news is that the borders with Victoria will remain open,” he said.

This is a few lines from The Advertiser /Adelaidenow article just up -

This really does highlight a problem as big and as bad as 'Rona itself... the word choice and comments made by members of Government, elected or appointed alike, and the media.

One case only and the first response has become "shut the borders!"

There should be no need for a Premier to say "we don't need to be alarmed" over one case - that should be common sense. But alas not.

Rant over.

 

[Lynda2475]

Vic publicly said they were testing all HQ workers daily. The info that I all recall being issued was that workers would test each day as part of their shift. This was done.
Do you have a statement where they said that were also testing daily workers who were not working, or had left?

You are playing semantics again.

Daily means every day, whereas what they put in place was shift testing. They needed to choose their words better when they introduced the policy, as only now are they genuinely doing daily testing.

Im happy they are closing the gap, Im happy for all other states to do the same. But given airborne transmission seesm to be the cause, its time for better PPE.

 

[Lynda2475]

ABC Reports:

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the Queensland Premier will speak shortly to advise anyone in Queensland who has been in greater Melbourne the 29 January at any time since the 29 January to go and get tested and isolate at home until they have those test results.

"We are also urging them to check the health advice, that Victoria health have issued and that will be repeated by Queensland health which outlines the locations that he is known to have been during that period in which he could have been infectious from the 29th. Any Queenslander who has been an greater Melbourne is urged to check that list. If they have been to any of those locations at the time is of concern, they will be required to quarantine for 14 days, get tested and quarantine for 14 days."

 

[Lynda2475]

They will need to be screened by NSW health.

I think we can safely say NSW won’t be closing the border to VIC.

I have no doubt NSW will remain open for business, with health screenign at airport and restrictions only on those people who are close contacts or who have been to exposure venues.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

You are playing semantics again.

Daily means every day, whereas what they put in place was shift testing. They needed to choose their words better when they introduced the policy, as only now are they genuinely doing daily testing.

Im happy they are closing the gap, Im happy for all other states to do the same. But given airborne transmission seesm to be the cause, its time for better PPE.

It is not semantics at all if what said that a worker is tested each shift at the workplace. That is very specific. That is what I recall. So what was done was what was said to be done. This is an improvement.

Ditto for the surveillance testing for surveillance testing at abattoirs etc, but where the frequency was from memory 50 % of the workforce tested each week. ie not daily. Workers only tested who were working.

 

[jakeseven7]

SA authorities say their response is different to the hard border applied to Western Australia at the weekend because the two state have very different hotel quarantine facilities and testing regimes.

This is hilarious.

Yes their response is different because they trust the VIC response and set up, VIC require their hotel quarantine workers to wear PPE, whereas WA masks are 'optional and encouraged to put a mask on if they have an inkling of someone coming to the door' - quote WA gov.

Could not even stop laughing hearing that ludicrous statement. Bet he got dressed down for that.

 

[Lynda2475]

No presser in NSW today, Melbourne sitiation not considered important enough for Gladys or Dr Chant to front the media.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

.

Vic publicly said they were testing all HQ workers daily. The info that I all recall being issued was that workers would test each day as part of their shift. This was done.
Do you have a statement where they said that were also testing daily workers who were not working, or had left?

So this is an additional measure. And presumably an additional measure that other states will also choose to adopt.

Testing workers daily is good.
Now also testing them daily when they are not working is even better.

If what you say is true, then its pretty pathetic.

A few weeks ago an emergency National Cabinet is called to strengthen border measures which we now know includes quarantine workers, pre-testing for international arrivals, etc.

AHPPC gives us their best advice of daily testing (presumably with caveats of per shift, no isolation required while waiting for result, and whatever other BS qualification/exception). So with all that time over Christmas, it now appears AHPPC could not get it right. Who saying this? The Victorian Department of Health/Premier. And what role did the Victorian DH have in strengthening border measures that were considered by the emergency National Cabinet meeting? Oh they designed it. Oh and who barracked for it in the public domain? The Victorian Premier (acting or otherwise).

You know what is better than daily testing per shift, daily testing.
You know what is better than daily testing, twice daily testing; 6 hourly testing; hourly testing....
Oh and they missed a step - test a day before each shift (with/without isolation while awaiting a result), so you don't indirectly infect the people held in quarantine via the vents or other quarantine workers.

What's changed since National Cabinet last considered this? Absolutely nothing. So can't blame changing circumstances for the need for an 'improved' process.

Imagine being an IT designer/building architect/whatever and your creation sounds/looks good but a few days later you say 'Oh its just bloody useless, it didn't do the job required.' Most would be fired for the incompetence.

 

[jakeseven7]

Queensland borders remaining open to Victoria - same instruction as Vic has issued to its own residents - test and isolate if you have been at an exposure site.
That's it.

Very surprising (pleasing?) calm reaction from QLD!

Waiting for WA to wake up and start screeching

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Queensland borders remaining open to Victoria - same instruction as Vic has issued to its own residents - test and isolate if you have been at an exposure site.
That's it.

Very surprising (pleasing?) calm reaction from QLD!

Waiting for WA to wake up and start screeching

So did Qld not adopt quarantine for 14 days if visited exposure site at the wrong time??

 

[Must...Fly!]

Queensland borders remaining open to Victoria - same instruction as Vic has issued to its own residents - test and isolate if you have been at an exposure site.
That's it.

Very surprising (pleasing?) calm reaction from QLD!

Waiting for WA to wake up and start screeching

The WA website still has Victoria transitioning to very low risk as of 12:01am February 5, but I fully expect that will change.

 

[nutwood]

Arriving at MEL this morning, ex ADL, we were met by lines of begowned permit and ID checkers. This the first time I've had my permit checked on MEL arrival.
Not sure why. I thought the latest outbreak was within Victoria.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Will the States/Territories replace shut the border/14 day mandatory hotel quarantine policy with follow the exposure site policy? (Excluding WA, and not if the exposure site occurs in NSW)

Australia’s hope for 2021.

 

[RooFlyer]

It is not semantics at all if what said that a worker is tested each shift at the workplace. That is very specific. That is what I recall.

To use your own words ... “do you have a statement” about that? I’m sure it’s true but a “recollection” and “if what said” [sic] doesn’t cut it when you start requiring “statements” from others.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

To use your own words ... “do you have a statement” about that? I’m sure it’s true but a “recollection” doesn’t cut it when you start requiring “statements” from others.

You missed the ‘if what’.....semantics