Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[dajop]

FFS it is NOT "a very mild virus".

If you just look at the effects of the virus it is relatively mild - the mortality rate is significantly lower then many other viruses. I think I’ve read that Ebola ha a mortality rate of 50%, MERS of 30%, mortality of COVID-19 much much lower.

But the other side of the risk equation (as you allude to ) is exposure .... both MERS and Ebola do not spread anywhere near as easily as COVID.

Many people cite the former (consequences) in stating the mildness of the virus but complete ignore the latter (exposure where breathing and talking can spread it)!

The media of course will take both contradictory views (that it’s mild or the end of times) at different times depending on which story is most dramatic or which agenda they’re pushing (ie which policy or which politician they’re supporting or railing against.)

 

[Flying mermaid]

FFS it is NOT "a very mild virus". Are you blind? Parts of Europe going into a 4th wave, the US still a basket case though the situation is improving there, India with no room in hospitals or even oxygen to help treat the sick. 300K cases per day there, with only limited testing available. Brazilians being buried 24/7 in mass graves stacked on top of one another! Not to mention the economic chaos in those countries that did not bring the virus under control last year.

If you think it's so mild, consider if you would be happy to get on a plane and go work in a hospital in India. I'm sure they would appreciate the assistance.

And the comparison with Ebola is as ridiculous as gun lobbyists saying "why don't we ban all knives as well". You need body fluid contact to catch Ebola.

And that’s without getting into “long Covid”, where young, otherwise healthy people are still struggling 6 months later.....

 

[Must...Fly!]

And that’s without getting into “long Covid”, where young, otherwise healthy people are still struggling 6 months later.....

Which is entirely possible to occur with any viral illness. That is not unique to COVID

 

[N860CR]

FFS it is NOT "a very mild virus". Are you blind? Parts of Europe going into a 4th wave, the US still a basket case though the situation is improving there, India with no room in hospitals or even oxygen to help treat the sick. 300K cases per day there, with only limited testing available. Brazilians being buried 24/7 in mass graves stacked on top of one another! Not to mention the economic chaos in those countries that did not bring the virus under control last year.

If you think it's so mild, consider if you would be happy to get on a plane and go work in a hospital in India. I'm sure they would appreciate the assistance.

And the comparison with Ebola is as ridiculous as gun lobbyists saying "why don't we ban all knives as well". You need body fluid contact to catch Ebola

Sorry, but it is. A realistic mortality rate of less than 1%, and generally in those close to end of life stage anyway. The majority of people don’t even know they’ve got it. Can’t get much milder than that.

These constant references to Brazil and the USA are naive, at best. The country’s that have suffered are those who put in place virtually zero controls and allowed it to reach an unmanageable level. I’m assuming you don’t have any health experience at all, but Australia deals with viruses every single year. This isn’t the first one. And we control them generally via measures at our border. Just as we’ve done with this particular virus. In every “escape” from quarantine so far (and I’ve lost count of how many we’ve had), there has been virtually no “spread” (despite it being the scary UK/African/Indian strain). Three day lockdowns do absolutely nothing. If somebody was just infected, they likely won’t be infectious until after the lockdown is over. And if there is a risk, do we really want people flooding into Coles the night before said critical lockdown happens?

What we haven’t done in our modern lifetimes is this political, mass panic that does little than raise people’s internal anger (and push them to vote for incumbent parties who may not actually be very good at their job).

 

[SydneySwan]

Got a couple of mates from Perth who are in the queue at RMH for testing. About 200 there already. They said about 1500 have come over to the ANZAC Day football so far from Perth and they are hoping test results come back today or in the morning so they can still attend the game tomorrow.

Is there a priority queue for AFL fans?

 

[Pushka]

Anyone who has the ability to get vaccinated, should be doing so as soon as they can. Once a large number of vaccinated we can move to home quarantine for vaccinated people and hopefully these lockdowns over 2 cases will stop.

Yes but why the heck can't the Government come out and say that? There is currently absolutely no reason why young people would be lining up to get the vaccine especially with the media sensationalising the blood clot issue.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry, but it is. A realistic mortality rate of less than 1%, and generally in those close to end of life stage anyway.

The mortality rate for older persons... over 80 years... is 11-12%. Not 1%.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes but why the heck can't the Government come out and say that? There is currently absolutely no reason why young people would be lining up to get the vaccine especially with the media sensationalising the blood clot issue.

Totally agree - I said some weeks ago we need a proper advertising campaign, not Murphy’s graphs.

 

[suze2000]

The mortality rate for older persons... over 80 years... is 11-12%. Not 1%.

It's okay they are old and clearly do not matter to @N860CR

 

[Flying mermaid]

Which is entirely possible to occur with any viral illness. That is not unique to COVID

Yes - my daughter had chronic fatigue after a virus, however it all adds to the picture.

 

[Lynda2475]

Just been catching up on yesterday's Abc covid blog (good to see it back becuase whenever it stops we see a community case) and it states the Victorian man returned a -ve covid test on day 12 of HQ and was relased on day 14. Why no day 14 test? I thought after the last HQ issue day of relase testing was supposedto be done. Had this occurred he would have only been out in community for 1 day not 5.

Yes but why the heck can't the Government come out and say that?

Im sure once places administering AZ open up to all over 50s in May you will see greater advertising. But with insufficient Pfizer available right now for under 50s, they cant really push for under 50s (except those working in high risk exposure sites like HQ, Covid Wards, Airports and Ports) to risk AZ against medical advice.

If individuals under 50 want to risk AZ they can sign a waiver and get it, but government shouldnt be asking healthy people to take unecessary risks given virtual non existant community covid risk.

Another 3 AZ clotting reactions reported today thats a rate of 6/million with 1 death (a woman under 50) Vs zero covid deaths for women under 50 nationally.

 

[Pushka]

Just been catching up on yesterday's Abc covid blog (good to see it back becuase whenever it stops we see a community case) and it states the Victorian man returned a -ve covid test on day 12 of HQ and was relased on day 14. Why no day 14 test? I thought after the last HQ issue day of relase testing was supposedto be done. Had this occurred he would have only been out in community for 1 day not 5.



Im sure once places administering AZ open up to all over 50s in May you will see greater advertising. But with insufficient Pfizer available right now for under 50s, they cant really push for under 50s (except those working in high risk exposure sites like HQ, Covid Wards, Airports and Ports) to risk AZ against medical advice.

If individuals under 50 want to risk AZ they can sign a waiver and get it, but government shouldnt be asking healthy people to take unecessary risks given virtual non existant community covid risk.

Another 3 AZ clotting reactions reported today thats a rate of 6/million with 1 death (a woman under 50) Vs zero covid deaths for women under 50 nationally.

Well, understand about supply but how about building up expectations in preparation? Create a pent up demand. Currently there is a vacuum so the media a getting a free run on making up click bait on risks of vaccine etc etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

I think there is huge pent up demand for Pfizer it just isnt going to be available to us in 2b (the largest group) for at least 6months, so advertising to that cohort now would be a waste of $.

Also tax penalty (think higher Medicare levy) would be more of an incentive but cantbe applied until end of next FY given vaccine not available to most tax payers yet.

 

[Seat0B]

I don't think that @Seat0B was really referring to the vaccine situation as the joke. More so our tolerance of risk and behaviour when a case is found in the community. That was my impression from the post.

Thank you @Must...Fly! that was exactly what I meant.

 

[N860CR]

The mortality rate for older persons... over 80 years... is 11-12%. Not 1%.

Not disputing that. But for persons over 80 the risk of mortality from any cause increases. There comes an age where a fall brings a gasp rather than a laugh.

It's okay they are old and clearly do not matter to @N860CR

Sorry, but you’re embarrassing yourself. Don’t just make idiotic statements to suit your bizarre agenda. I can’t imagine you were bombarding your MP with complaints about the state of nursing homes prior to this virus coming into play.

 

[stryker]

Sorry, but you’re embarrassing yourself.

No, I think it's you that's actually doing that.

You do seem to have a rather callous attitude towards senior citizens, but it takes all sorts...

 

[serfty]

[moderator hat]

Please keep it nice.

Some recent posts have been more on members, not the topic and not in a good way.

If this continues, sanctions may be incurred.
​

[/moderator hat]

 

[bcworld]

New community transmission case being reported in WA from one of the exposure sites.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not disputing that. But for persons over 80 the risk of mortality from any cause increases. There comes an age where a fall brings a gasp rather than a laugh.


Sorry, but you’re embarrassing yourself. Don’t just make idiotic statements to suit your bizarre agenda. I can’t imagine you were bombarding your MP with complaints about the state of nursing homes prior to this virus coming into play.

The risk of mortality increases but we also try our hardest to stop that happening... whether that's new medications, or physical modifications to stop things like falls.

The thing is that we did generate interest in aged care prior to the pandemic. Enough to get a royal commission.

 

[Flying mermaid]

No, I think it's you that's actually doing that.

You do seem to have a rather callous attitude towards senior citizens, but it takes all sorts...

No-one can avoid becoming a senior citizen (unless they die first), so easy to foresee a future mellowing