Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[jakeseven7]

Interesting criticism of QLD's shut down being an ineffective strategy.

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Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young defends Brisbane COVID-19 lockdown​

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has defended the three-day lockdown across Greater Brisbane, as the state records three new cases of COVID-19.

Dr Young said the lockdown was needed to immediately and quickly manage the potential spread of the highly contagious UK variant.

However, Australian National University infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon told ABC News Brisbane's short lockdown would not advantage health authorities.

"The average incubation period is five days, and mostly it can go out to 12 or even 14 days.

"If you're going to do a lockdown to stop spread, you usually have to do it for at least 10, probably 14 days and maybe 28 days, and I don't think that would have been justified."

Chief Health Officer defends Brisbane lockdown as three new COVID-19 cases recorded

Jeannette Young dismisses criticism from a medical expert who has suggested short COVID-19 lockdowns are not effective, saying the "circuit-breaker" has been "enormously successful".

www.abc.net.au

 

[DC3]

... Then I could be wildly wrong and everyone appearing at the NSW Border will be fined immediately with no appropriate reminder signs or other communication on the need for a Border Permit.

Restrictions have been well publicised. Perhaps, if an AFFer has time to give it a test run, they could report back.

Edited

 

[jakeseven7]

NT refines Greater Sydney hotspots, some areas of Sydney still unable to travel​

The NT Government has refined the size of the Greater Sydney hotspot to now include the NSW Local Government areas of Blacktown, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Paramatta, coughberland Council, Inner West council, Burwood and Strathfield.

The declaration means areas of Sydney's northern beaches are now no longer designated as hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory.

The changes will come into effect from 11:00am ACST .

Anyone who arrives from a designated hotspot area is required to enter mandatory supervised quarantine at a personal cost of $2,500.

Gladys Berejiklian says COVID-19 'still bumbling along in the community'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state's latest cases indicate the coronavirus is still "bumbling along in the community", urging people to come forward and get tested.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Lynda2475]

The declaration means areas of Sydney's northern beaches are now no longer designated as hotspots for the purposes of travel to the Northern Territory.

I applaud that NT are refining the hotspots, just seems strange to remove Northern Beaches when 3 mystery cases there in the last week, yet keep LGAs which have had expsoure sites but no resident cases i.e. zero cases in Canada Bay but it is a hotspot. There are 4 cases in Sydney LGA which is not a hotpsot, and 9 (1 of which is a mystery) in Woolahra also not a hotspot.

Sydney, Woolahra, Waverly, North Sydney, Ryde, Liverpool and Campbletown LGAs all have more cases than Inner West (3) and Strathfield (1) LGAs and are not NT hotspots. Very inconsistent.

 

[jakeseven7]

Everyone has joked alot about WA cherry picking whatever 'medical advice' they like but it appears the media is now picking up on the fact that the medical advice behind their decisions on curbing the virus spread is quite..... hidden. Physcially and literally....!

This was also on Perth local tv news last night in piece about why the VIC and QLD borders are still shut, but I couldn't find a link to share, not sure if the news stations over here have the interweb yet

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WA's Chief Health Officer hasn't spoken at a media conference in more than 100 days​

​

Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson insists he isn't "being muzzled" after it was revealed he hasn't spoken at a government press conference in more than 100 days despite Premier Mark McGowan regularly referring to his health advice when it comes to the state's border decisions.

Dr Robertson's absence comes amid Mr McGowan regularly fielding questions from journalists about WA’s testing regime and border policies and often responding: “it would depend on the health advice”. The health advice is never released, is graded confidential and therefore not publically accessible.

In contrast, Dr Robertson’s counterparts and their deputies across other Australian states and territories are available to answer questions at almost all press conferences relating to COVID-19.

Speaking in a rare public appearance on ABC Radio Perth today, Dr Robertson insisted he was not being kept away from speaking to the media.

"I’m not being muzzled or hidden away by anybody," he said.

As it happened: ACT border partially reopens to Greater Sydney as NSW records five new local COVID-19 cases; Victoria implements travel permit system

New traffic light travel rules will leave many Victorians stuck in Sydney and Brisbane. And Sydneysiders are no closer to knowing when they can travel interstate as border bickering between premiers worsens.

www.theage.com.au

 

[drron]

How? There are penalties in multiple jurisdictions with respect to permits.

How they are enforced is a different matter.

So far those that arrived when the system was not working were waived through (as long as eligible to travel) and no fine.

And I very much doubt that those that look to drive into Vic would be fined $5000 immediately, but instead would be reminded on arrival (signs, person asking etc) at the border with appropriate reminders to get the permit online (quick process). If someone then tried to cross yes I am sure that they have a penalty notice issued.

Those that look to fly in would presumably have a tougher stance. But given the speed of the process an arriving person could as soon as the wheels touch down go online on their phones and complete the process as long as they were not from a Red Zone.

I would also assume that the airlines would remind passengers before they land, and probably before they take off (and especially from a Red Zone airport) to complete the Border Permit application.


Then I could be wildly wrong and everyone appearing at the NSW Border will be fined immediately with no appropriate reminder signs or other communication on the need for a Border Permit.

Though no one needs a border permit to enter NSW now.Your case was from the time of the Victorian second wave a time totally unrelated in severity to now.

 

[oz_mark]

Interesting how he popped up when questions started being asked!

 

[antycbr]

I applaud that NT are refining the hotspots, just seems strange to remove Northern Beaches when 3 mystery cases there in the last week, yet keep LGAs which have had expsoure sites but no resident cases i.e. zero cases in Canada Bay but it is a hotspot. There are 4 cases in Sydney LGA which is not a hotpsot, and 9 (1 of which is a mystery) in Woolahra also not a hotspot.

Sydney, Woolahra, Waverly, North Sydney, Ryde LGAs all gave more cases than Inner West and Strathfield LGAs and are not NT hotspots. Very inconsistent.

This proves that Council Amalgamations were a bad idea. Imagine if we had one "City of Greater Sydney" like Brisbane.

In fact we should de-amalgamate back to individual suburbs... the City of Newtown awaits.

 

[Lynda2475]

Even with the council amalgamations meaning larger areas are classified as hotspots than needed, it doesnt explain why 3 cases (no mysteries) in Innerwest LGA (and we know that means Croydon) is serious enough to have it declared a hotspot, whilst 9 cases (1 of which is a mystery) in Woolahra means you arent a hotspot.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Though no one needs a border permit to enter NSW now. Your case was from the time of the Victorian second wave a time totally unrelated in severity to now.

I was just pointing out that Victoria having Border Permits and Fines relating to them is not unique since the pandemic started.

So past instances are entirely relevant. As is that say Qld still requires a Border Permit for people living in Regional NSW to enter Qld.


Whether there should be a Border Permit System or not is a different discussion.

 

[DC3]

Though no one needs a border permit to enter NSW now.Your case was from the time of the Victorian second wave a time totally unrelated in severity to now.

Yes, sticking to the facts. No Chicken Little stuff that creeps in on AFF.

 

[drron]

I was just pointing out that Victoria having Border Permits and Fines relating to them is not unique since the pandemic started.

So past instances are entirely relevant. As is that say Qld still requires a Border Permit for people living in Regional NSW to enter Qld.


Whether there should be a Border Permit System or not is a different discussion.

Of course when NSW implemented border permits with Victoria Victoria had rapidly increasing numbers of daily cases getting to hundreds per day.
The situation today in NSW is not remotely like Victoria then.A month on and the Northern beaches cluster has hit just over 150 in a month.most of Regional NSW has not had a case for months.
So sorry but the past instances are nowhere near relevant to the situation now.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Even with the council amalgamations meaning larger areas are classified as hotspots than needed, it doesnt explain why 3 cases (no mysteries) in Innerwest LGA (and we know that means Croydon) is serious enough to have it declared a hotspot, whilst 9 cases (1 of which is a mystery) in Woolahra means you arent a hotspot.

Perhaps the Woollahra case was one of the mystery cases - guess two weeks ago - in the CBD cluster.

Croydon was a bit more recent.

So a possible factor is age of the mystery case.

 

[antycbr]

Even with the council amalgamations meaning larger areas are classified as hotspots than needed, it doesnt explain why 3 cases (no mysteries) in Innerwest LGA (and we know that means Croydon) is serious enough to have it declared a hotspot, whilst 9 cases (1 of which is a mystery) in Woolahra means you arent a hotspot.

But Woollahra cases are place of residence not place of transmission I think...

People have questioned the NT's logic before but given that is the only place you can go if you live in most of Sydney I'll take their logic any day, thanks!

 

[Lynda2475]

are place of residence not place of transmission I think.

Even on that logic some of the hotspots dont make sense, if you look at the Close Contact venues none are in Inner West, Canada Bay, Stratehfield or Burwood LGAs.

If you include casual contact venues then yes those LGA's excuding Canada Bay do feature but so does the Northern Beaches (and heavily).

Dont get me wrong Im hapy NT are reviewing and updaing regualrly, but omitting Northern Beaches when they have had 3 mystery cases in last week doesnt feel right.

If I lived in Canada Bay which has had zero cases in last 4 weeks, is not listed on close contacts, casual contats or monitor for symptoms lists on NSW health Id be super mad, given places with actual cases that do feature on the exposure site lists are allowed in.

 

[jakeseven7]

Interesting how he popped up when questions started being asked!

I don't think the irony was lost on the interviewer either..... missing for 100 days then pops up randomly to deny he is missing (well for 100 days until now he has!) and that he hasn't been muzzled....

 

[antycbr]

Even on that logic some of the hotspots dont make sense, if you look at the Close Contact venues none are in Inner West, Canada Bay, Stratehfield or Burwood LGAs.

If you include casual contact venues then yes those LGA's excuding Canada Bay do feature but so does the Northern Beaches (and heavily).

Dont get me wrong Im hapy NT are reviewing and updaing regualrly, but omitting Northern Beaches when they have had 3 mystery cases in last week doesnt feel right.

If I lived in Canada Bay which has had zero cases in last 4 weeks, is not listed on close contacts, casual contats or monitor for symptoms lists on NSW health Id be super mad, given places with actual cases that do feature on the exposure site lists are allowed in.

Apparently the ACT has it's own list coming out of 11 LGAs.

Postcodes, LGAs, perhaps we should revert to Counties and Parishes?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

To 8pm 10/1 - 148,815 (544/1000 test rate)

PS Surprisingly to me 2 unlinked cases in Northern Beaches LGA. 10 overall in NSW in the last 4 weeks

To 8pm 9/1 - 146,605 (536/1000 rate)
To 8pm 10/1 - 148,815 (544/1000 test rate)
To 8pm 11/1 - 149,301 (546/1000 test rate)

PS 97 cases (down from 101 yesterday - I think - so perhaps 6 case rolled off and 2 new cases) and 3 mystery cases

Total mystery cases in last 4 weeks (rolling) is 12.

 

[Lynda2475]

so perhaps 6 case rolled off

To be expected, first cases for NB were 11th Dec, so thats over 4 weeks ago now.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Good to see the ACT/NT taking a pragmatic approach to hotspots within the Greater SYD region.