Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[lovetravellingoz]

A quick google indicates that NSW has had various non Ruby or Newmarch House Covid 19 deaths:



16th August

A man in his 80s has become the 54th person in NSW to die after testing positive to COVID-19, health authorities have confirmed.

NSW Health provided no details about where the man who died contracted the virus.

So presumably not aged care, as that would then have involved other residents and so some public communication would have been most likely have been made.

13 August 2020
NSW Health sadly reports the death of a woman in her 80’s who had COVID-19. Her infection was linked to the Our Lady of Lebanon cluster. There have now been 53 deaths in NSW from confirmed COVID-19. NSW Health passes its condolences to her family, friends and the Our Lady of Lebanon community.

April
85 year old man. The man’s death was associated with a small outbreak at Opal Aged Care facility in Bankstown that involved three staff and three patients, Chant said.


I did not bother to research all of them. Just what a quick google revealed.

 

[NM]

No QLD had a PNG fellow pass a few days ago.

As that one was diagnosed in PNG and transported to Qld for treatment, he is recorded as a PNG death and not a Qld/Australia death. Can only be counted once and it seems the agreed process is to count it in the location where initially diagnosed.

 

[jonboixxx]

The 80's yo chap who sadly died yesterday in Qld (second in a week), returned from the Phillipines via PNG on March 20, tested positive on March 25 whereupon he was admitted to Prince Charles.

 

[suze2000]

Yes but that person was afforded special treatment, as were diagnosed in PNG and flown in whilst positive (should not have happened, known positives should not be imported). So Qld weren't counting that in their stats.

My understanding is that QLD hospitals are full of people from PNG who've been transferred here for better treatment than they can get there. There are two in Bundaberg Base Hospital for a start.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

My understanding is that QLD hospitals are full of people from PNG who've been transferred here for better treatment than they can get there. There are two in Bundaberg Base Hospital for a start.

We need to continue to be supportive of the countries in our region, as we long have been.

 

[Lynda2475]

We have been supportive by sending vaccines, ppe supplies and medical staff to PNG, no beef with that. But i dont agree with bringing positive cases to Australia (unless they are Australian citizens we sent to help) because that is knowingly importing unecessary risk and unfair to aussies all over the wotld who have een unable to return home due to a positive covid test or inability to get a test.

It also sends a very poor message to your average PNG person that their politicians and other privileged individuals lives are more valuable, they get evacuated to Australia whilst average citizen has to queue at field hospitals.

 

[justinbrett]

I don’t listen to many of them anymore but I don’t mind their stories that spotlight lack of action and hopefully get something happening.

It seems a bit weird to me that during a global pandemic, many of these expert epidemiologists spend most of their time giving interviews to 24 hour news channels.... wouldn't their expertise be better served being seconded to the relevant health departments? Or are we that plush with epidemiologists?

IMO, the real risk for Australia has been the politicisation of the vaccine - constant negativity, which will likely result in many people never taking it. We all know the main issue is with supply (and us signing up to AZ - who would have known?) but as the US & UK approach the finish line we are going to ramp up pretty quickly. Don't forget we have the added advantage that 16.5 million (2/3) live in the five largest cities, making distribution comparatively easier than more decentralised countries like the US.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If you are referring to Malcolm Kela Smith, he was not infectious during his time in the the Queensland hospital’s system

"He wasn't infectious at that time, which is why he was treated at Redcliffe ICU," Dr Young said.

 

[tgh]

a very poor message to your average PNG person that their politicians and other privileged individuals lives are more valuable

They already know this .. along with most of the world.. it's only wealthy countries that enjoy the luxury of a pretence of equality

 

[lovetravellingoz]

a very poor message to your average PNG person that their politicians and other privileged individuals lives are more valuable

They already know this .. along with most of the world.. it's only wealthy countries that enjoy the luxury of a pretence of equality

Be this as it may there are people from overseas countries treated in our hospital's from all walks of life and quite a number who are very poor.

In my daughter's ward there is a young South American man who is terminal and had been slowly dying for a year. He has no money and his family cannot afford to evacuate him back to his home country. His mother is here as she flew in to be with him, but she struggles to exist. The hospital provides free care and the staff help out the mother. This type of case is not at all rare in our hospitals.

The PNG hospital's are under great duress at present. So in my view it is a good thing that Qld Health is taking a number of their more complicated cases off them at present as this will assist them to help more people in PNG. Compassion is a good thing.

PS. I probably should not say at present, as it would be my guess that Qld Health would always do this, just as our hospitals throughout Australia do, on an ongoing basis.

 

[jonboixxx]

PS. I probably should not say at present, is it would be my guess that Qld Health would always do this, just as our hospitals throughout Australia do on an ongoing basis.

Also, I believe he was in Australia for 20+ years (UK citizen) and served in the ADF. With China sniffing around, I think it would be politically naive to not help out PNG where we can while they are suffering at the moment.

 

[justinbrett]

Also, I believe he was in Australia for 20+ years (UK citizen) and served in the ADF. With China sniffing around, I think it would be politically naive to not help out PNG where we can while they are suffering at the moment.

Not to mention they were an Australian territory less than 50 years ago

 

[Pushka]

Yesterday SA had 8 infections detected with five from one family who only arrived on Monday. So positive result by Day 3 tested on day 1 or 2. From India. How likely is it that they all had a negative test in order to fly then all five of them are positive within a day of arrival. Can we trust the authenticity of the pre departure tests now?

 

[kamchatsky]

Also, I believe he was in Australia for 20+ years (UK citizen) and served in the ADF. With China sniffing around, I think it would be politically naive to not help out PNG where we can while they are suffering at the moment.

Totally agreed with this. This is part of maintaining relations with PNG to ensure that PNG is not leaning to China, especially China is planning to develop Daru an "industrial fishing park"

China’s bold plan on Australia’s doorstep

China’s about to build a major fishing port on Australia’s doorstep. But there’s no fish there to catch. So what’s it actually for?

www.news.com.au

Yesterday SA had 8 infections detected with five from one family who only arrived on Monday. So positive result by Day 3 tested on day 1 or 2. From India. How likely is it that they all had a negative test in order to fly then all five of them are positive within a day of arrival. Can we trust the authenticity of the pre departure tests now?

NZ already banned flights from India, we may need to do the same, even though it would impact a lot of overseas Australians.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yesterday SA had 8 infections detected with five from one family who only arrived on Monday. So positive result by Day 3 tested on day 1 or 2. From India. How likely is it that they all had a negative test in order to fly then all five of them are positive within a day of arrival. Can we trust the authenticity of the pre departure tests now?

In certain countries everything is for sale - English language tests, degrees - why should a test be any different.

 

[Toula92122]

NZ already banned flights from India, we may need to do the same, even though it would impact a lot of overseas Australians.

Instead of banning the flights and leaving more vulnerable Australians stranded, why not just do an attitude switch and assume that everyone on the flights coming from India are likely to be infectious and take extra precaution? If front line workers are vaccinated and hospitals are not overwhelmed and cases are not leaking from the quarantine system what is the issue of allowing them entry? Unless of course they are not citizens?

 

[suze2000]

We need to continue to be supportive of the countries in our region, as we long have been.

Agreed. It's @Lynda2475 who disagrees with this.

Now more than ever with China muscling up. (we really should stop selling iron ore to them, it's going to be used to make weaponry and tanks etc)

 

[justinbrett]

NZ already banned flights from India, we may need to do the same, even though it would impact a lot of overseas Australians.

It is a temporary pause, the PM even said it wouldn't be legal to have an ongoing ban.

 

[suze2000]

Instead of banning the flights and leaving more vulnerable Australians stranded, why not just do an attitude switch and assume that everyone on the flights coming from India are likely to be infectious and take extra precaution?

This isn't going away any time soon. We NEED to set up stand-alone quarantine facilities like the camp at Howard Springs. Delays just increase the risk of more cases escaping hotel quarantine.

 

[Lynda2475]

Be this as it may there are people from overseas countries treated in our hospital's from all walks of life and quite a number who are very poor.

The charity we extend outside a pandemic is a completely different circumstance. When our borders are open bringing in overseas patients for treatment doesn't put Aussies at risk nor does that assistance introduce a double standard whereby Aussies overseas are denied entry.

The example of the South American lad you posted is also different as he was already in country and doesn't have covid. If they let his mum visit for compassionate reasons she would have done the 14 day HQ so also not a covid risk.

Note that some counties (Cuba for example) require tourists to show proof of travel insurance that includes evacuation/repatriation before being allowed to work/holiday there. I've often thought this would be great thing to see expanded, I firmly believe if you cant afford insurance you cant afford to travel.

I fully understand we are navigating a difficult balancing act politically with PNG to stop undue Chinese influence, but I dont support bringing any covid positive foreigners onshore for treatment, whilst Aus Government is limiting the ability of Aussies stuck in Covid hotspots (some in countries with worse case numbers than PNG) to return home. If we can accept risk of importing known positives for treatment, why cant we let more aussies (most of whom will prove negative) to HQ at once?

Im sick to death of celebrities', sportsball players and now overseas politicians being put ahead of Aussies when it comes to ease of entry to Australia.