Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[RooFlyer]

I thought the deal was Victoria agreed to take Tasmania's repatriation flight.

I’m not sure if it was for ‘repatriation’ flights ( plural) (that is, especially arranged to bring Aussies home) or some extra-scheduled international flights, but whatever number of pax Tasmania agreed at National Cabinet to accept into HQ ( I think about 1300 ... the number is up thread somewhere), Victoria agreed to take, with Tasmania accepting more than that number of fruit pickers destined for Victoria. Each state would pay appropriately for the accommodation the other was providing.

No reason for the fruit pickers not to come, so that’s being done and whenever Victoria accepts international returnees into HQ again, I guess Tasmania’s share will be counted amongst them. Probably more than fewer so counted, as Tasmania makes payment for then

 

[Lynda2475]

Very biased article - some how has forgotten the Northern Beaches outbreak which could only have come via overseas

The article was only wbout HQ cases, whilst the source of NB cluster was not found (and yes of course it came from ovrrseas) genomic testing could not link it to any positive cases in HQ in NSW therefore the theory of airline crew or interstate origin.

 

[RAM]

The article was only wbout HQ cases, whilst the source of NB cluster was not found (and yes of course it came from ovrrseas) genomic testing could not link it to any positive cases in HQ in NSW therefore the theory of airline crew or interstate origin.

Exactly my point - foreign flight crews lived in their 'quarantine hotels' under the auspices of the NSW Govt, so to neglect the Northern Beaches outbreak makes it a very slanted article.

Similarly, the 'luck' that the hotel cleaner & another infected worker both were extremely diligent about wearing their masks when travelling & going shopping and possibly not carrying a high viral load had much more to do with the positive outcome than the State Govt & bureaucrats.

It is nice when 'Murphy's Law' fails. Let alone O'Toole's Law.

 

[Lynda2475]

Exactly my point - foreign flight crews lived in their 'quarantine hotels' under the auspices of the NSW Govt, so to neglect the Northern Beaches outbreak makes it a very slanted article.

Well no, cause at the time of the Northern Beaches cases air crew were not required to stay in supervised HQ, only to self isolate which we know they were breaking. Things are different since, they have to stay at supervised hotels and get tested.

Air crew likely responsible but can't claim it was HQ when they weren't part of the HQ program at that time. At that time Air crew were allowed to stay in any hotel or private accommodation for their turn around, it was honesty system (stupid).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

or interstate origin.

LOL what theory of interstate origin, or rather who's theory? Fantasy more like, and just denial of where the Avalon outbreak started.


NSW may not have been able to find the genomic source of the Avalon cluster, but the genomics and timeline of cases elsewhere in Australia predating and postdating its appearance show that the genomic sequence first appeared in NSW in multiple transmission chains.

Add to that that the genomic sequencing of the Avalon outbreak was extremely close to a quarantine passenger in NSW (it was not the parent, but rather a very close cousin) and you get the most likelihood that it arrived in NSW in aircrew departing from the same city as the passenger.

If not aircrew, then it would most likely have been a HQ leak as not all samples will grow a live virus.

In all scenarios the Avalon Outbreak commenced in NSW.

 

[RAM]

Well no, cause at the time of the Northern Beaches cases air crew were not required to stay in supervised HQ, only to self isolate which we know they were breaking. Things are different since, they have to stay at supervised hotels and get tested.

Air crew likely responsible but can't claim it was HQ when they weren't part of the HQ program at that time. At that time Air crew were allowed to stay in any hotel or private accommodation for their turn around, it was honesty system (stupid).

...under the auspices of the NSW Govt. The State Govt approved this 'quarantine hotel' program & approved the hotels used - they just did nothing about ensuring quarantine actually happened as you point out - 'honour system'.

Only those who 'normally are resident' were permitted to stay in their own homes.

In addtion to some dubious exemptions granted to such as to a 'masseuse' for a very senior NSW bureaucrat living in the northern beaches. True not air crew so State Govt answers were 'honest'.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

...under the auspices of the NSW Govt. The State Govt approved this 'quarantine hotel' program & approved the hotels used - they just did nothing about ensuring quarantine actually happened as you point out - 'honour system'.

Only those who 'normally are resident' were permitted to stay in their own homes.

In addtion to some dubious exemptions granted to such as to a 'masseuse' for a very senior NSW bureaucrat living in the northern beaches. True not air crew so State Govt answers were 'honest'.

I do recall the NSW Health Minister saying around/soon after that time words to the effect that no exemption granted to that point had resulted in a positive case or transmission in the community

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I do recall the NSW Health Minister saying around/soon after that time words to the effect that no exemption granted to that point had resulted in a positive case or transmission in the community

“Potential links to diplomats, aircrew and other people who may have had contact with international travellers have been investigated and no source of the Avalon cluster has been identified at this point,”

NSW Health we assume will have access to the samples from celeb's allowed to quarantine privately. If so NSW will know that they were not the source of the outbreak.

They will not have had access to diplomat samples if the diplomat's just refused to be tested (which presumably they could and did), and aircrew as we know could pretty much come and go without testing, and also were not all actually isolating like they were meant to have been. We also know from the Victorian testing that aircrew had a high % of positive cases than passengers.

How many diplomats arrived from the USA (genomically we know where that is where it came from) at that time would be interesting to know.

Hopefully our USA allies would have been happy to have gotten tested, but who knows.

Having said that aircrew remain the most likely source.

 

[Lynda2475]

Dancing back next week, masks not mandatory after NSW social distancing overhaul

The NSW government announces a massive easing of COVID-19 restrictions that will put social-distancing at near pre-pandemic levels.

www.abc.net.au

Made possible because every quarantine worker in the state has "at least had the first shot" of the Pfizer vaccine. The state has also been moving in to vaccinate the families of the quarantine workers, in addition to frontline health workers.

All that will remain is airport/flight mask wearing (federal rule), recommendation (but no longer mandatory) masks on PT and QR check ins.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Dancing back next week, masks not mandatory after NSW social distancing overhaul

The NSW government announces a massive easing of COVID-19 restrictions that will put social-distancing at near pre-pandemic levels.

www.abc.net.au

Made possible because every quarantine worker in the state has "at least had the first shot" of the Pfizer vaccine. The state has also been moving in to vaccinate the families of the quarantine workers, in addition to frontline health workers.

All that will remain is airport/flight mask wearing (federal rule), recommendation (but no longer mandatory) masks on PT and QR check ins.

Good if true that NSW quarantine workers have at least first jab. But the rest is fluff to me as I know of multiple front line health workers across many States including NSW with no jab yet....probably moving some of them from 1a to 1b

 

[Lynda2475]

But the rest is fluff to me as I know of multiple front line health workers across many States including NSW with no jab yet....probably moving some of them from 1a to 1b

With no Covid circulating in the community, HQ workers and medical staff treating overseas arrivals are the real risk.

Simply being a paramedic or nurse or doctor doesnt in itself have a higher risk of getting covid unless we see covid back in the community again, which is less likely to happen once all those involved with overseas arrivals are fully vaccinated vaccinated.

Also we dont know what volume of frontline workers are refusing the jab, since it isnt mandatory (but should be).

 

[Pushka]

Good if true that NSW quarantine workers have at least first jab. But the rest is fluff to me as I know of multiple front line health workers across many States including NSW with no jab yet....probably moving some of them from 1a to 1b

Sure but NSW has no control over what other states are doing so what Premier isn't saying isn't fluff for her situation. And right now, that's all she can control.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Sure but NSW has no control over what other states are doing so what Premier isn't saying isn't fluff for her situation. And right now, that's all she can control.

The other jurisdictions seem to be going ok when compared/100 ppl

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

‘Moving to vaccinate’ is no different moving to vaccinate 1b.

That’s the specific part I call as fluff.

Frontline includes covid wards, eg hospitalization/ICU.

Funny that one now cares less about hospital frontline workers now the risk is less but you will still probably wear a mask, socially distance to protect one’s vulnerable family.

 

[Lynda2475]

That’s the specific part I call as fluff.

But the "moving to vaccinate " relates to household members of HQ workers, not frontline health workers who were already in 1a and 1b. As far as i have read no other state is doing HQ workers housemates yet (only the HQ workers themselves), so not fluff imo, its going above to the real risk. There is variation between states, they arent just soley following Fed phasing.

Unless working in HQ or a Covid ward (only a thing in cities actually taking overseas arrivals) then working in other health settings is unlikely to see you exposed to Covid unless it escapes HQ again - so HQ workers should absolutely be the priority.

 

[Lynda2475]

The other jurisdictions seem to be going ok when compared/100 ppl

Perhaps although would be good to hear that all HQ workers in all states and territories have received their first dose by now. Jabbing politicians and health workers not directly dealing with international arrivals is of less immediate benefit.

NSW has largest HQ program in terms of arrivals so if they have jabbed all those workers at least once, other states should have done, likewise by now too. Then again if you arent accepting arrivals like Vic perhaps you prioritise differently but that doesnt really help get aussies home o r reducerisk from aircrews and marine freight arrivals.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But the "moving to vaccinate " relates to household members of HQ workers, not frontline health workers who were already in 1a and 1b. As far as i have read no other state is doing HQ workers housemates yet (only the HQ workers themselves),

If you look in Federal Governments published plan that very group is in Phase 1b.

Phase 1b has commenced. Household contacts of quarantine and border workers can book in to be vaccinated now with the AZ vaccine. For Pfizer they have to be invited.

Vic (not that HQ is reactivated yet) made an announcement on vaccinating HQ household contacts a little bit back as well.

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-program-phase-1b_1.pdf

 

[Lynda2475]

NSW started household members under 1a, i posted about it here on week one of pfizer roll out.

Havent seen Vic announce it, but kinda pointless since they arent taking passenger arrivals instead relying on other states to get their residents home. Really no excuse, there are no active cases in Vic, no overwhelmed systems, just political reasons for not doing their part and a failure to fulfil the deal they made with Tas who did deliver the seasonal workers.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Havent seen Vic announce it, but kinda pointless

Odd logic you have.

1/ The vaccine takes a while, and preferably two doses, to protect a person. So rather being "kinda pointless" it is actually the opposite and people are being vaccinated now as they quite rightly should be, rather than waiting till the HQ resumes which would completely illogical.

2/ You also seem to have overlooked that HQ and Border Workers in Vic still have international aircraft arriving every day with crews on board, and thus need protection now.

 

[jakeseven7]

The other jurisdictions seem to be going ok when compared/100 ppl

View attachment 243422

Apols if already answered but why isn't NSW reporting daily dose numbers?