Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

Does the vaccine act that quickly (her shift was 13 days later on 26th)?

Everything Ive read says take 3 weeks to build any useful immunity and not considered fully vaccinated until 21 days after 2nd dose.

 

[dajop]

Everything Ive read says take 3 weeks to build any useful immunity and not considered fully vaccinated until 21 days after 2nd dose.

Yes I'd read similar after the first dose. Here in Singapore, my Vaccination status switched from "In progress' to "Vaccinated", 2 weeks after my second (Pfizer) dose, so presumably the two week figure is backed by some data.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes I'd read similar after the first dose. Here in Singapore, my Vaccination status switched from "In progress' to "Vaccinated", 2 weeks after my second (Pfizer) dose, so presumably the two week figure is backed by some data.

I think that is generally the accepted figure. Master FM was vaccinated in SFO with Pfizer and he said it would be two weeks after his second shot before he would be deemed fully vaccinated.

 

[bcworld]

Pfizer and AZ are both reported to be only about 33% effective for the Indian strain after 1 dose.

 

[OZDUCK]

The Aust Govt. handout for the Pfizer vaccine says that "Protection against COVID-19 starts from about 2–3 weeks after the first dose". Obviously not full efficacy but some by then.

https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/04/covid-19-vaccination-information-on-covid-19-pfizer-comirnaty-vaccine.pdf

 

[Must...Fly!]

Pfizer and AZ are both reported to be only about 33% effective for the Indian strain after 1 dose.

But much more effective after two

Two doses of Covid vaccines provide effective protection against variant found in India: Study

Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca-University of Oxford vaccine provide protection against the Covid variant first found in India, a study found.

www.cnbc.com

 

[drron]

Does the vaccine act that quickly (her shift was 13 days later on 26th)?

Certainly not at peak antibody levels at 13 days after a first dose ov vaccine.I quoted it as I had a real giggle with the original quote.

 

[Lynda2475]

ABC Blog reports, NT tightening test regime:

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner has announced an extra COVID testing requirement for anyone coming into the NT from overseas.

Any traveller who completes 14 days of mandatory quarantine, either at Howard Springs or elsewhere in Australia is now required to get tested again on day 17.

Michael Gunner says he “feels sorry for Victorians” and has made the decision after an overseas arrival travelled to Victoria from SA after undergoing quarantine there.

 

[jakeseven7]

Two women have escaped from Howard or Alice Springs into a waiting getaway car. I mean that’s hilarious

 

[bcworld]

Two women have escaped from Howard Springs into a waiting getaway car. I mean that’s hilarious

According to the reports it is a quarantine facility in ALICE Springs.

 

[suze2000]

I don't understand why the staff in the age care facilities were not wearing PPE when it's still a requirement for staff in hospitals - unless alone in your office or eating or drinking obvs. Surely, SURELY an age care home is as critical as a hospital when it comes to needing to protect vulnerable patients? (I wanna add an exclamation mark there, because I'm amazed, but my brain's telling me that's overkill)

 

[Seat0B]

Victoria records 11 new local COVID cases, authorities say they're 'neck and neck with this virus'

Acting Premier James Merlino warns Victoria's COVID crisis "may well get worse before it gets better" as health authorities reveal almost a dozen new cases of the virus.

www.abc.net.au

Certainly does look like it will get worse before it gets better. Such sad news for all Australians, especially the poor long suffering Victorians, and devastating for families concerned about their loved ones.

 

[dajop]

It's interesting starting to see a lot of blame for Victorian government and still inadequate contact tracing. But the fact that there is >300 alerts must mean that contact tracing is doing a reasonable job. We've not had anywhere near that many locations listed in Singapore (~120 right now) during our current wave - even before tightened restriction, and had many more cases, and compulsory QR code everywhere (very well enforced). So either Victorian contact tracing is doing OK to find 300 locations, or Melburnians just move about a whole stack more (entirely possible).

I'm also getting sick of tirades from loose acquaintances on places like facebook about Dan's failure to keep Victorians safe, when you go back to Dec/Jan they were the same peope railing against excessive government interference in their lives (forcing people to wear masks and use QR code check-ins)... can't have it both ways.

Still think this is a salient warning - if the virus gets into the wrong people (those who are super spreaders of the virus and at the same time move about a lot and don't consider getting tested when ill ) then other states could end up in the same spot, regardless of how exemplary government interventions are.

What I do find gobsmacking is that QR code check-ins are still not a requirement in supermarkets (yet are in Drive-in theatres, WT?)

 

[Flying mermaid]

I don't understand why the staff in the age care facilities were not wearing PPE when it's still a requirement for staff in hospitals - unless alone in your office or eating or drinking obvs. Surely, SURELY an age care home is as critical as a hospital when it comes to needing to protect vulnerable patients? (I wanna add an exclamation mark there, because I'm amazed, but my brain's telling me that's overkill)

Perhaps mental health of the residents. While protection is important when there is an outbreak, having a warm kind person dealing with them not someone all covered up must be important to their well being as well.

 

[Must...Fly!]

But the fact that there is >300 alerts must mean that contact tracing is doing a reasonable job.

Agree. And shows how woefully inadequately prepared the government systems were about 12 months ago when we plunged in to the long stage 4 lockdown of 2020.

Although there are some accusations flying around from close contacts that they were isolating for 3 days after seeing the exposure site on the web before being contacted by anyone from the health department

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I don't understand why the staff in the age care facilities were not wearing PPE when it's still a requirement for staff in hospitals - unless alone in your office or eating or drinking obvs. Surely, SURELY an age care home is as critical as a hospital when it comes to needing to protect vulnerable patients? (I wanna add an exclamation mark there, because I'm amazed, but my brain's telling me that's overkill)

Pre-Lockdown, the two facilities that I make regular visits to both had all staff wearing facemasks at all times when on duty.

 

[tgh]

Our aged care resident was bit off last week , they are very proactive so gp visited, said probably just a cold but best get a covid test.
SLAM.. locked in her room, everyone entering pp'd up to the hilt.
Took a few days for a result, very stressful for an oldie.
It was just a cold , she is fine now...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

A few clarifications and bits of additional information.

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A 95-year-old man could become the fourth person in Victorian aged care to contract COVID-19 in the current outbreak, as officials desperately attempt to stop the spread among the state’s elderly.​

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The man has not been diagnosed but will be retested for COVID-19 “on the advice of the medical authorities”, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Monday.​

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If found positive, the elderly man would be the latest aged care-linked case after a 99-year-old female resident in the Arcare Maidstone facility in Melbourne was found positive on Monday.​

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She has been moved to a hospital.​

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Both the elderly residents have had one dose of a COVID vaccine.​

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On Sunday, a woman who works at the facility, who did not receive the first dose of the vaccine as she was on personal leave when the vaccinations took place on May 12, was found positive.​

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Her son was confirmed positive the following day, as well as another unvaccinated colleague, who also worked at BlueCross Western Gardens in Sunshine three days last week.​

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And

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Hunt, meanwhile, has also revealed discussions will take place to mandate COVID vaccines for aged care workers.​

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He said the question of making vaccines compulsory for aged care staff has been referred to medical experts and state chief health officers.​

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“That has been referred at the request of the prime minister and myself,” he said.​

Drastic measures considered amid fears FOURTH person in Victorian aged care has COVID

‘The fact this outbreak has crept into a number of private residential aged care facilities is obviously of very great concern.’

7news.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

From The Age:

The Royal Freemasons facility in Footscray returned to normal operations after a 24-hour lockdown. (ie No Covid cases)​

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The Royal Freemasons facility - Coppin Centre on Punt Road - is still locked down while a staff test result is processed;​

 

[lovetravellingoz]

An extract from the

Daily Vic DHHS Media release
31 May 2021​

Victoria was notified of five new cases of coronavirus yesterday.​

All are locally acquired cases linked to the current outbreak.​

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A further six cases were announced this morning (having been reported after the late cut off period), which will be in tomorrow’s numbers. This brings the total number of locally acquired cases in the current outbreak to 51.​

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There was one COVID-19 case in hospital in Victoria yesterday.​

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...​

Update: Outbreaks​

77 per cent of currently identified Primary Close Contacts for the current outbreak have received a negative result to date.​

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The BlueCross Western Gardens Aged Care outbreak began when a staff member who works across both facilities tested positive on 30 May.​

89 residents are Primary Close Contacts, as are 46 staff, contractors and visitors.​

66 of 89 residents have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.​

The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre has been re-established for the next three months.​

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There are now more than 320 public exposure sites in Victoria, see Case alerts - public exposure sites.​

More than 100 exposure sites were added in the last day.​

The Department also manages a number of exposure sites which it doesn’t publish online, particularly if these sites represent lower-risk exposures, or if they have comprehensive record keeping and contact tracing measures in place, or if they identify small, private locations.​

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Exposure sites are regularly reviewed based on intelligence and evidence, following case interviews. Based on investigations, the exposure date for the Thai Huy Butcher at the Footscray Market has been revised to May 27 between 1:40pm and 2:30pm.​

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There is a continued focus on small community grocery stores across Melbourne’s suburbs.​

Anyone who has been to a community or market grocery store in the last two weeks is urged to visit the exposure sites website.​

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Contact tracing results from other exposure sites of significance include:​

• Mount Ridley College: 30 Primary Close Contacts are identified, with 23 returning a negative result as of this morning.
• The Grande, Epping: 186 Primary Close Contacts, with 100 returning a negative result as of this morning.
• The Sporting Globe, Mordialloc: 157 Primary Close Contacts, with 111 returning a negative result as of this morning.

100 Australian Defence Staff today joined the Department’s compliance and enforcement efforts, with a further 60 joining tomorrow.​

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There are six education facilities identified as exposure sites across the four outbreaks.​