Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Pushka]

It seems that, so far at least, the pre-departure testing on people being 'evacuated' from India has now begun to work well. A flight from India arrived in Perth 7 days ago and as W.A has recorded no new cases in 8 days it would seem that the 'negative tests' required on departure were accurate.

SA seems to be about the same for the one Repat flight so far. Picking up a lot of historical infections though.

 

[openseat]

Cases like this where there is blatant breaking of restrictions/health orders should not only be fined but also publicly named and shammed as a deterrent.

I think naming and shaming - while very tempting - would drive people further underground. You want people to come forward after they realise they have made a mistake. That is why I don't agree with the QLD CHO using the tone rather like Dolores Umbridge.

 

[Pushka]

I think naming and shaming - while very tempting - would drive people further underground. You want people to come forward after they realise they have made a mistake. That is why I don't agree with the QLD CHO using the tone rather like Dolores Umbridge.

These people only came forward because the husband needed a negative Covid test. Otherwise they wouldn't have done it.

 

[jakeseven7]

For the few that got caught travelling interstate how many have gone unnoticed and unchecked.

Heaps and heaps and heaps

 

[clifford]

Start with crushing their car. Perhaps with them in it.

No, just name them and the mob will do the rest... (just joking).

 

[Pushka]

Heaps and heaps and heaps

It isn't a foolproof system. But it's the best we can do and trust that the majority of people are recognising the issues. Just unfortunate that of the (according to you) many flouting the rules, they may also turn out to be positive cases impacting significantly on the majority.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

So the fallout from the Victorian couple continues ............

"Kim Fetherstone, who owns the Vandenberg Hotel, in the small Central West town of Forbes, lost out on at least $7,000 worth of business on State of Origin night after closing her doors when she learned the couple had spent four hours while potentially infectious at her venue. Her entire staff has been ordered to be tested and Ms Fetherstone has no plans to reopen until each one of them returns a negative result, so as not to potentially put her vulnerable community at risk. The infected couple escaped Victoria's 'circuit breaker' Covid lockdown on June 1 and went on a 1,900km road trip through several vulnerable regional communities before arriving on Queensland's Sunshine Coast."

 

[openseat]

These people only came forward because the husband needed a negative Covid test. Otherwise they wouldn't have done it.

Regardless of how they came forward, enforced compliance crowds out voluntary motivation.

 

[Pushka]

Regardless of how they came forward, enforced compliance crowds out voluntary motivation.

Except, there was no voluntary motivation here.

 

[Austman]

And now authorities in VIC and QLD are cautiously stating that the couple may have had legitimate reasons to travel from VIC to QLD.

Including that they were moving house and one of them was starting a new job.

Those are both, apparently, allowed reasons.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said while Melbourne was subject to lockdown restrictions at the time, initial investigations indicated the pair may have been travelling out of Victoria legitimately.
...
What I’ve been broadly advised is that there’s a possibility in fact [the woman] was moving house and legitimately was able to go to Queensland,” Mr Patton told ABC Radio Melbourne.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said she understood the Victorian man had a new job in Queensland, which was a legitimate reason to travel, but she would wait for more information before casting judgment.

Even with a legimate reason to travel, would they have been required to quarantine?

 

[dajop]

it’s amusing that there is national outrage over a couple who’ve travelled to Qld, and it’s all their fault.

Yet a few individuals did so within Victoria and in the eyes of many (including some of the media) it was someone else’s fault ….

 

[Lynda2475]

Those are both, apparently, allowed reasons.

For interstate moves during periods of restriction, its only allowed if you apply for and are granted a permit and follow the associated guidelines. A permit is needed for the state you are moving to and any state you transit through (unless its an airport transit and you dont leave the terminal).

If given an exemption to transit NSW during a restricted period, you have to drive straight through (can stop for petrol), but not go out to the movies etc as these two did. They clearly holidayed on route.

 

[Austman]

For interstate moves during periods of restricted, its only allowed if you apply for and are granted a permit and follow the associated guidelines.

Then it's interesting that the word "legitimately"is being used, by persons who should know what's currently required.

 

[Pushka]

And now authorities in VIC and QLD are cautiously stating that the couple may have had legitimate reasons to travel from VIC to QLD.

Including that they were moving house and one of them was starting a new job.

Those are both, apparently, allowed reasons.



Even with a legimate reason to travel, would they have been required to quarantine?

Except this morning Queensland CHO said that no exemption had been granted to them. And yes, they'd need to quarantine

 

[Lynda2475]

You can have a legitimate reason for travel to that other state, BUT this doesn't mean that you travelled in a legitimate way.

Being in an eligible category for an exemption, doesn't mean you get to bypass the exemption process and the rules that go along with it.

 

[Hillbilly64]

And now authorities in VIC and QLD are cautiously stating that the couple may have had legitimate reasons to travel from VIC to QLD.

Including that they were moving house and one of them was starting a new job.

Those are both, apparently, allowed reasons.



Even with a legimate reason to travel, would they have been required to quarantine?

Yes. Even with an exemption they would have been required to do hotel quarantine for 2 weeks. And even with a legitimate reason they still required ab exemption which they didn't have.

 

[Austman]

Except this morning Queensland CHO said that no exemption had been granted to them. And yes, they'd need to quarantine

The report says officials from Queensland, NSW and Victoria met on Thursday as part of the investigation into the Victorian couple’s movements and whether or not they had a legitimate reason to travel.

So it seems still to be a bit of an unknown...

For QLD:
“They didn’t come through the exemption process so it’s now up to police to investigate whether they came through any other process,” Ms Young said.

There's other processes?

For VIC:
Acting Premier James Merlino said on Thursday morning that if the couple had travelled out of the state to move house, it would not warrant a breach under Victoria’s current coronavirus restrictions.

It seems they were likely allowed to leave Victoria at least!

 

[Lynda2475]

Will be interestign to see what was on their NSW declaration (if they lodged one). You can bet $ they weren't honest about plans to play tourist and spend several nights holidaying on their way to Qld.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Extract from the DHHS Dally Media Report for 10th June.

Update: Outbreaks​

The four new cases are from the same household in Reservoir.

They are not yet linked to the current outbreak and investigations into the likely source of their infections are ongoing.

The first case is a man aged in his 80s who was tested on 8 June and recorded a positive result yesterday.

Three other members of his household, a woman in her 70s, a man in his 50s and a man in his 20s, also tested positive late yesterday.

Victorian health authorities urgently tested a number of high-risk primary close contacts of these cases outside of this household. All have returned negative results.

There are a number of new exposure sites linked to these new cases that have been published on the Victoria coronavirus website.

Anyone who has been to the following Tier 2 exposure sites at the listed dates and times need to get tested today and isolate until they get a negative result:

• Marco Fine Food & Groceries - Reservoir Central, Shop 8, 830 Plenty Rd, 8 June, between 12pm - 12:30pm.
• BP Thomastown, 72 Keon Parade on 7 June, between 6pm - 6:30pm
• Coles Bundoora Square, on Settlement Rd & Plenty Rd, on 7 June, between 12pm and 1pm
• Bunnings Thomastown, 11 Dalton Rd on 8 June, between 6pm - 6:30pm

When including some overlapping cases, there are 32 active cases linked to the City of Whittlesea outbreak, 32 to the Port Melbourne outbreak, 10 to the Arcare Maidstone aged care facility and 15 to the West Melbourne outbreak.

As of yesterday, there are over 1000 primary close contacts linked to the City of Whittlesea outbreak, over 1500 linked to the Port Melbourne workplace outbreak, over 1000 linked to Arcare Maidstone, 117 linked to BlueCross aged care Sunshine and over 1400 linked to the West Melbourne outbreak still isolating.

A total of 3596 primary close contacts have been cleared since 5 June.

Sixty-seven per cent of primary close contacts linked to the City of Whittlesea and Port Melbourne workplace outbreaks have now been cleared.

The number of exposure sites in Victoria as of midday today was 139. The full list of exposure sites can be seen at: Exposure sites.

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.

Exposure sites are regularly reviewed based on intelligence and evidence, following case interviews.

Update: Two Victorian cases diagnosed in Queensland​

Victorian health authorities continue to work closely with their Queensland and NSW counterparts regarding COVID-19 exposure in those states.

Queensland Health has reported two cases of COVID-19 in a Victorian couple who drove from Victoria to Queensland.

The couple, from Melton, left home early on 1 June.

The first case developed symptoms of COVID-19 on 3 June and may have been infectious when they left their home in Victoria.

Victorian contact tracers are working to pinpoint the source of this infection.

Investigations have revealed one of the cases checked in near the Craigieburn Central shopping centre on 23 May.

There have been 9 positive COVID-19 cases who have visited this shopping centre during the current outbreak.

Investigations into the source of these cases continues.

Following completion of the interview process by Queensland Health and NSW Health, the Victorian Department of Health commenced case interviews with the individuals late this afternoon.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Also another exposure site has just been added. Going on the location most likely links to the 4 cases announced today.