Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

Vic went beyond second ring and locked down the whole state. The second ring imo has yet to prove worthwhile as no cases detected in it but a hell of a lot of people impacted. If its so effective they would have stood by it not gone statewide.

The recent media criticism of Vic contract tracers has been that they have not been contacting 100% of close contacts (1st ring) within 48 hours. Its super important to contact all close contacts asap preferably within 24 hours, as that is where the greatest risk is.

Vic also refused contract tracing help offered by feds (despite exceeding the 48hr window). It looks like in some cases they started in on second ring before talking to all close contacts.

NSW both SMS and call all close contacts of positive cases, and put these into 14 days ISO irrespective of test result.

For causual contacts (people at same venue on same day for a short period) they SMS using service nsw app and direct them to get tested, and isolate until test results received. Anyone getting tested at request of NSW health shows the SMS notification at test centre so can be flagged for priority processing.

Its true NSW dont extend restrictions or tracing further as a rule, however in this case they did contact all NSW residents who had visited MEL airport on the exposure day, and also issued a public health order requiring then to get tested and isolate for period of Vic lockdown. Result was no cases btw.

Plus messaging in NSW has been clear and timely, so many not required to test, voluntarily test if they have symptoms. Test numbers > 20k last few days which is high considering over 2 incubation periods since last community case.

I dont see a need for NSW to do more when they meet the metrics for contacting the close contacts which are the highest risk and there hasnt been any dire consequences from the way we manage things, with the benefit of more certainty less mental angusih.

 

[drron]

I doubt there was too much luck involved in the Tassie HQ escapees.They both were there because they had arrived from Melbourne so the risk would have been infinitesimal of one being Covid positive.

 

[jase05]

Moomba festival cancelled for the first time in 66 years

 

[Lynda2475]

Dispicable that Andrews is now refusing to nominate a timeframe for resuming international arrivals into MEL, feds should with hold vaccine until Vic agree to pull their weight.

Afterall if they dont have any international arrivals, they dont have any covid risk and therefore no urgency to vaccinate anyone in Vic - prioritise vaccines for workers in states that are helping Aussies return home.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dispicable that Andrews is now refusing to nominate a timeframe for resuming international arrivals into MEL...

There probably needs to be a review of the whole ban/caps/exemption situation - rules established by the Cth - to make it more fair and equitable.

 

[blackcat20]

Dispicable that Andrews is now refusing to nominate a timeframe for resuming international arrivals into MEL, feds should with hold vaccine until Vic agree to pull their weight.

Afterall if they dont have any international arrivals, they dont have any covid risk and therefore no urgency to vaccinate anyone in Vic - prioritise vaccines for workers in states that are helping Aussies return home.

Unless someone from NSW brings it in again

 

[dajop]

Dispicable that Andrews is now refusing to nominate a timeframe for resuming international arrivals into MEL, feds should with hold vaccine until Vic agree to pull their weight.

So Victorian lives are worth less than those of other Australians? Blackmail has no place in rolling out vaccines.

 

[Must...Fly!]

So Victorian lives are worth less than those of other Australians? Blackmail has no place in rolling out vaccines.

I agree but I also see the point @Lynda2475 is trying to make.

The premier has repeatedly stated that the biggest threat to the state and the nation is returning travelers. By taking none, it's reasonable to argue that the risk in Victoria (and Tasmania too, actually) is sufficiently lower that a higher proportion of vaccines should go to states taking international flights.

 

[Lynda2475]

Not a matter of attributing different valee to different lives, its a matter of risk. By being insular and denying international arrivals, Vic is removing 5he covid risk and therefore the priority given limited availability needs to be protecting those in states where there is a real risk because they are taking arrivals now.

It is actually Vic Premiere who is trying to force the feds hand by not doing his bit. This behaviour should not be rewarded,.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Dispicable that Andrews is now refusing to nominate a timeframe for resuming international arrivals into MEL, feds should with hold vaccine until Vic agree to pull their weight.

Afterall if they dont have any international arrivals, they dont have any covid risk and therefore no urgency to vaccinate anyone in Vic - prioritise vaccines for workers in states that are helping Aussies return home.

It isn’t just quarantine workers that are being vaccinated in the initial roll out. It’s also some of our most frail and vulnerable residents in aged care.

Whilst you may be angry that Victoria aren’t currently accepting returning Aussies they still have plenty of them in hotel quarantine currently including the health hotel and many workers looking after them.
There is no place for this kind of rhetoric in health care resource allocation.

 

[jakeseven7]

So Victorian lives are worth less than those of other Australians? Blackmail has no place in rolling out vaccines.

Don’t even bother, someone has a political axe to grind....

Anyway it’s deadly obvious why they are pushing back on announcing the flights resuming... it involves a chequebook and AVV

 

[jase05]

Don’t even, someone has a political axe to grind....

Anyway it’s deadly obvious why they are pushing back on announcing the flights resuming... it involves a chequebook and AVV

Will be interesting to see how the AVV setup plays out. Has been some pushback by the airlines on the freight side of things so still plenty to play out.

 

[jakeseven7]

Virus alert (again) in QLD

——

Virus fragments found in two more Queensland sewage catchments​

Queensland health authorities have detected COVID-19 fragments in two further sewage catchments, chief health officer Jeannette Young says.

The detections in Maryborough, about 250 kilometres north of Brisbane, and Rockhampton, about 380 kilometres further north, come amid a number of recent positive test results across the state.

Dr Young urged anyone with any symptoms to get tested immediately, given the recent Melbourne cluster and the uptick in interstate travel, with early identification of the virus “critical”

As it happened: Victoria emerges from lockdown as state records zero local COVID-19 cases; Australian Open welcomes back crowds

Victoria’s hard lockdown may have ended, but thousands of people potentially exposed to the virus as a result of the Holiday Inn outbreak are still self-isolating.

www.theage.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

It isn’t just quarantine workers that are being vaccinated in the initial roll out. It’s also some of our most frail and vulnerable residents in aged care.

Whilst all those you mention are in the same phase of roll out, within that phase quarantine workers have been put top of the list.

The handful of actives in Vic will be resolved in the next two weeks or so since as are in iso and Vic arent taking new arrivals . No arrivals means virtualy no risk to community of new breaches, therefore no real risk to those in Vic aged care or hospitals. Whereas risk is significantly higher for vulnerable people and health workers in NSW, Qld, SA, WA and NT as they are taking arrivals therefore accepting risk.

Its not about denial but delay to apportion help to places with greatest risk first.

Probably also time to set up a second vaccine production facility outside Victoria to produce either an Mrna vaccine or Novavax. Wise to have local supply of more than one option, and some redundancy by separating facilities geographically.

 

[Must...Fly!]

On its own it seems harsh. But given Victoria has now joined the ranks of border closing states, I think it's a reasonable point (in theory).

In practice it's not doable of course

 

[lovetravellingoz]

What kind of rubbish is that at the end from the VIC DH? Who cares about February 12 when the lockdown was announced?

What about Feb 9 and 10 where the failure of the department to contact even half of people exposed within 48 hours brought us to lockdown town?

It was from a daily report published yesterday.

If you want earlier commentary, you just go back to the earlier daily report for the time period you are interested in.. They are all there all the way back to 1st March 2020.

 

[jb747]

The handful of actives in Vic will be resolved in the next two weeks or so since as are in iso and Vic arent taking new arrivals . No arrivals means virtualy no risk to community of new breaches, therefore no real risk to those in Vic aged care or hospitals. Whereas risk is significantly higher for vulnerable people and health workers in NSW, Qld, SA, WA and NT as they are taking arrivals therefore accepting risk.

So, what's the plan? Give it all to NSW? WA, SA and NT don't need it. Nobody cares about the status of TAS. And where is ACT anyway?

 

[Must...Fly!]

It was from a daily report published yesterday.

If you want earlier commentary, you just go back to the earlier daily report for the time period you are interested in.. They are all there all the way back to 1st March 2020.

Sorry wasn't an attack on you, but the bizarre addition from VicDH at the end.

 

[Pushka]

So, what's the plan? Give it all to NSW? WA, SA and NT don't need it. Nobody cares about the status of TAS. And where is ACT anyway?

Fortunately it seems every state is starting Monday. Demographics will hopefully work out which state needs more doses for vulnerable (aged and in residential care).

 

[jakeseven7]

As they predicted some cases, but all are close contacts and all are already in isolation - Phew, so life goes on and no border implications.

High testing continues.