Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[dk4]

Actually that is spot on! Oops.

The apparent issue is the NSW government does not appear to have learnt lessons from the Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak, where immediate inaction then lead to weeks of lock down there.

 

[DC3]

... Which quite frankly IMO makes ByronBay/NorthernRivers/NorthCoast a hot spot for transmission! (Regardless of the origin/destination of the hen's night participants.)

Can a hotspot spot also be described as a hotbed?

Hotbed: an environment promoting the growth of something, especially something unwelcome.

 

[Lynda2475]

This shows the "nurse cluster" primarily represents a community transmission event in NSW!

Well the first community case was Nurse --> Sister in QLD, then they crossed the border together in same car and subsequently spread it to the Stripper and 5 Friends in NSW at the Hens Party. All but one of them were Queenslanders who had all (including the NSW person) returned to Queensland and tested positive there.

The cases are usually recorded against the state where they test positive, but 6 out of the 8 in the cluster would usually be noted as acquired interstate. However as the the source is clearly a Hospital leak in QLD it remains to be seen how it is reported long term.

NSW Government is the one publishing all the exposure sites as check-ins were via Service NSW app.

If we see anymore Byron cases now (excluding any other Queenslanders at the Hen's night) where the testing was done in NSW, Im sure they will be recorded at NSW cases with interstate origin. And if there has been spread outside that event, Im sure Norther Rivers will be declared a no go zone by other states (if not the whole of NSW).

NSW however will only declare Norther Rivers a hotspot if it meets the federal definition, which would require a lot more cases in the next few days.

 

[Lynda2475]

The apparent issue is the NSW government does not appear to have learnt lessons from the Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak, where immediate inaction then lead to weeks of lock down there

Not sure if this is sarcasm or genuine?

So far all the positives who were at the Byron Bay Hen's event are now in Queensland in hospital quarantine so not in the Byron Community. NSW has added extra testing centers in Byron, published the NSW exposure sites and issued health orders to anyone who was at any of the exposure sites on the dates the positives were there to test and isolate (for full 14 days or until a negative result depending on the venue).

I'm not seeing the link/parallel to what happened in NB? NB had a mystery source and two large exposure events (RSL and Bowlo). However it isn't a mystery where the Byron cases came from - we know its the Queensland Nurse, and a Hen's night. The known positives were in Norther Rivers area for a known period of time, appear so far to have been checking in and all known to each other.

There aren't currently community numbers in Byron to justify a lockdown yet, and if numbers rise sharply, I'm sure any declarations or restrictions would be localized to the Norther Rivers LGA, no need to lock all of NSW down due to some cases near the border.

 

[burmans]

Depends on how you define irrational.

Well for politicians doing what is popular with their voters seems an entirely rational approach to me, given getting elected/reelected is their prime motivation (which we all know it is).

 

[justinbrett]

The apparent issue is the NSW government does not appear to have learnt lessons from the Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak, where immediate inaction then lead to weeks of lock down there.

It was a localised lockdown. Sydney is the only major city (>1M) in Australasia that hasn’t had a city wide lockdown since the national lockdown ended.

The sledge hammer approach does a lot of damage, even if it’s quick.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

He may have aplogised for mentioning the band name, but that doesnt prove it wasnt already public information. As soon as the venues and dates was released people kmew who the band was.

Lol. You really cannot follow a discussion. You missed what we were discussing entirely.

I used it as an example of how private information is not meant to be released by public officials unless there is an overiding public benefit to do so.

There was no need in this case and so the Minister apologised for his mistake.

Especially as as that time the NSW Gov was emphasising the need for privacy. It was privacy that Pushka and I were discussing and the example was entirely in the context of what we were discussing.


But as usual with anything to do with NSW you cannot take things in context and refuse to admit that any mistakes can be made in NSW even in this case when the Minister recognised it was wrong.

Also whether the information can be found by other means is irrelevant. Public officials should not release it. That was the point of the discussion. That was why the Minister apologised. That is what you have failed to grasp.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Had the Minister not outed the band, you can bet the media would have done so given their love of pursuing such Covid-19 spreaders. The Minister apologised for the privacy breach and fair enough, but the identity was clearly in the public domain for anyone to find, unlike Pizzaman in SA.

The context I used it as an example of is that public officials should not breach privacy of individuals unless there is a publuc need.

The naming was was done as a mistake and the Minister released it was wrong and that is why he apologised as he did not want other public officials or the media outing people.

If you read my original post to Pushka you will see that was how I used the example.

It is a good example too as the Minister was very open about why it was not appropriate. And very open on why people should not be identified by public officials including himself.


Just because people can find out the names of people by various means does not make it ok to breach their privacy, or to name them.

It can also be quite dangerous to do so.

This is why the state health organisations do not name the positive cases.


Start naming people and watch violence and other undesirable actions start to occur.

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

 

[Seat0B]

Is anyone else just so totally over this whole thing or is it just me? I just feel like pulling the doona over my head. The general level of incompetence, ignorance, non-compliance, unwillingness to take sensible steps etc in the general community and on the part of governments of all stripes just astonishes me. We just can't keep doing this, and yet, we do. Feeling really despondent. If we can't even sort ourselves out domestically, I will never get to see my son overseas. Over. It.

 

[flydoc]

If we see anymore Byron cases now (excluding any other Queenslanders at the Hen's night) where the testing was done in NSW, Im sure they will be recorded at NSW cases with interstate origin. And if there has been spread outside that event, Im sure Norther Rivers will be declared a no go zone by other states (if not the whole of NSW).

NSW however will only declare Norther Rivers a hotspot if it meets the federal definition, which would require a lot more cases in the next few days.

Well the NT government which has previously acted quite proportionately hasn’t waited for further confirmed spread to meet federal hotspot definition criteria. People arriving to the NT from the Byron Shire will now be required to enter mandatory, supervised quarantine, effective immediately (1630 ACST today).

 

[Lynda2475]

You really cannot follow a discussion. You missed what we were discussing entirely.

Pot. Kettle. Black. This thread is riddled with you taking my comments and threaded replies out of context anytime anyone mentions Vic.

FYI - I followed the conversation fine, your assertion is that the name of a band which played a concert open is private information is what is flawed. The information was already in the public domain.

 

[Pushka]

Is anyone else just so totally over this whole thing or is it just me? I just feel like pulling the doona over my head. The general level of incompetence, ignorance, non-compliance, unwillingness to take sensible steps etc in the general community and on the part of governments of all stripes just astonishes me. We just can't keep doing this, and yet, we do. Feeling really despondent. If we can't even sort ourselves out domestically, I will never get to see my son overseas. Over. It.

The difference being that it is the Federal Govt managing immigration. Well, I'm hanging on to that thought. Have to.

 

[Lynda2475]

Well the NT government which has previously acted quite proportionately hasn’t waited for further confirmed spread to meet federal hotspot definition criteria. People arriving to the NT from the Byron Shire will now be required to enter mandatory, supervised quarantine, effective immediately (1630 ACST today).

They also put Toowoomba under the same restriction even though its not got any exposure sites - because some people from Toowoomba were in Brisbane and are now at home isolating, so have been deviating a bit in the last 2 days. from their more recent rational behavior.

On the plus side it is Northern Rivers LGA and not whole of NSW. NT are also usually quick to remove, so I'm sure if no further Byron cases in NSW it will be lifted again more swiftly than any ban WA introduce.

I'm not sure why you quoted my post though as I was talking about what NSW government would do not what other states/territories would do.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Pot. Kettle. Black. This thread is riddled with you taking my comments and threaded replies out of context anytime anyone mentions Vic.

FYI - I followed the conversation fine, your assertion is that the name of a band which played a concert open is private information is what is flawed. The information was already in the public domain.

Lol. I did not make that assertion.

The Minister understood and explained why his action was inappropriate. You clearly do not.




And what part of those band schedules stated...band now appearing featuring drummer with Covid 19?

No none.

The privacy breach was stating that the drummer/band tested positive.

Without that privacy breach they would have just been a band at the venue. They would have just been part of the many at the venue.

 

[dajop]

It was a localised lockdown. Sydney is the only major city (>1M) in Australasia that hasn’t had a city wide lockdown since the national lockdown ended.

The sledge hammer approach does a lot of damage, even if it’s quick.

Sydney’s geography and demographics work well in its favour. I am not really very familiar with the characteristics of the other cities, but there is nowhere in Melbourne you could lock down 250k people by installing checkpoints on just three roads and a ferry wharf.

 

[justinbrett]

They also put Toowoomba under the same restriction even though its not got any exposure sites - because some people from Toowoomba were in Brisbane and are now at home isolating, so have been deviating a bit in the last 2 days. from their more recent rational behavior.

On the plus side it is Northern Rivers LGA and not whole of NSW. NT are also usually quick to remove, so I'm sure if no further Byron cases in NSW it will be lifted again more swiftly than any ban WA introduce.

I'm not sure why you quoted my post though as I was talking about what NSW government would do not what other states/territories would do.

I think they’ve now named a cafe in the Toowoomba shopping centre now

 

[jakeseven7]

Is anyone else just so totally over this whole thing or is it just me? I just feel like pulling the doona over my head. The general level of incompetence, ignorance, non-compliance, unwillingness to take sensible steps etc in the general community and on the part of governments of all stripes just astonishes me. We just can't keep doing this, and yet, we do. Feeling really despondent. If we can't even sort ourselves out domestically, I will never get to see my son overseas. Over. It.

Mate I was over it as soon as VIC successfully extinguished their second wave, I remember feeling so proud, it was international news.

Everything immediately from then on pretty much has been a disaster. You are not alone.

Unfortunately there is no end in sight, but one will come.... I'm just not sure what it looks like.

 

[dk4]

Not sure if this is sarcasm or genuine?

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, with the Ruby Princess.

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, at Cross Roads.

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, in the Northern Beaches

and now, in the Northern Rivers...

NSW Health reacts too little....


IMO the vast majority of upper level management at NSW Health should have lost their employment ages ago!

Zealot like belief they are "gold standard" is insane - IMO you throw everything you have at this virus mutation, hard and fast!

 

[jakeseven7]

Just heard on news Federal government has accused QLD CHO + QLD government of hoarding vaccines and not administering them all.... which could have helped prevent the spread if they'd bothered to vaccinate their front line workers.

This is going to be fun to watch.

EDIT:

Found the news article:

-------------

States ordered to stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccine doses​

Federal health authorities have told states to stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccine doses after two separate clusters were linked back to unvaccinated healthcare workers from a Brisbane hospital.

Health authorities have linked 18 cases to the outbreaks, which were unknowingly spread by a nurse and doctor from the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

From Wednesday, Queensland health workers must have received at least one vaccine dose before treating COVID-positive patients after the latest outbreaks, which triggered Brisbane’s three-day lockdown.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said inoculation of staff in COVID-19 wards was not mandatory from the beginning of the rollout because she thought there was not enough vaccine doses available.

States ordered to stop hoarding COVID-19 vaccine doses

The call came as Queensland health workers were told they must receive at least one vaccine dose before treating COVID-positive patients after the latest outbreaks in Brisbane.

www.theage.com.au

 

[justinbrett]

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, with the Ruby Princess.

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, at Cross Roads.

NSW Health reacted too little, too late, in the Northern Beaches

and now, in the Northern Rivers...

NSW Health reacts too little....


IMO the vast majority of upper level management at NSW Health should have lost their employment ages ago!

Zealot like belief they are "gold standard" is cr@p - IMO you throw everything you have at this virus mutation, hard and fast!

I think you’re on the wrong website, you’re looking for alp.org.au. They’ll want their talking points back.