Australian state border restrictions

[RooFlyer]

The story I mentioned earlier today. Imagine this happening within 14 days of Christmas. I’d be explosive.

Paywalled for me. Can you post a few snippets, please?

 

[VPS]

Paywalled for me. Can you post a few snippets, please?

The 34-year-old returned home from Melbourne on Sunday November 28, and tested negative in his first PCR test at Adelaide Airport.

Upon developing further symptoms, he went to Victoria Park Testing Station on Wednesday, and received a call from SA Health on Thursday afternoon confirming his positive case.

“After I got that phone call from SA Health to say I was positive, within 45 minutes I had an unmarked police car out the front of my house,” Mr Zubrinich said.

The man from Adelaide’s northeast owns a plumbing business and said he was frustrated with how authorities have responded to opening the borders.

“Honestly its infuriating for me,” he said.

“It’s a prison, it’s just disguised as a hotel room … I’m just stuck in this 10m by 4m cell which is a hotel room even though I haven’t broken any laws and I've been double vaxxed.”

Mr Zubrinich had to leave his wife to look after their two young sons, aged four and one.

“I’m physically fine, probably struggling mentally a bit, but mostly that's because I can’t be there for my wife and kids,” he said.

Two members of his staff are in quarantine for seven days after coming in contact with Mr Zubrinich, which means he has to turn down jobs.

 

[antycbr]

Upon developing further symptoms, he went to Victoria Park Testing Station on Wednesday, and received a call from SA Health on Thursday afternoon confirming his positive case.

The second test was his biggest mistake. If he had just stayed at home for a couple of days he wouldn't have been subjected to Covid-prison.

 

[exceladdict]

The second test was his biggest mistake. If he had just stayed at home for a couple of days he wouldn't have been subjected to Covid-prison.

Yes but we should be encouraging people to get tests if they have symptoms!

 

[VPS]

This is an interesting read about SA powers

Time for close examination of pandemic emergency powers

MPs need to subject the extraordinary powers wielded by non-elected officials to independent scrutiny, argues Sarah Moulds.

indaily.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Why couldn't he quarantine at home like other local cases?

 

[antycbr]

Yes but we should be encouraging people to get tests if they have symptoms!

Yes, by not quasi-criminalising people who interact with the medical system.

 

[N860CR]

The second test was his biggest mistake. If he had just stayed at home for a couple of days he wouldn't have been subjected to Covid-prison.

Yep. And the fact that we’re all thinking that just shows so wrong this is.

I had to come to SA today at short notice so begrudgingly got a test yesterday afternoon. No way would I voluntarily do it.

As expected, back to full Pyongyang border control at Adelaide.

 

[exceladdict]

I think it's probably 50/50 mid or late January

I think them refusing to budge on the cricket is a pretty good indication it will be later in January.

 

[oznflfan]

I think them refusing to budge on the cricket is a pretty good indication it will be later in January.

Middle to end of Feb, PCR test 72 hrs before before, 1 Rapid on arrival, PCR on days 3 + 7 my guess.

 

[justinbrett]

According to the website can only get a test on weekends, public holidays or after hours if you are symptomatic and only by appointment. I dont plan on being symptomatic, and I cant make day 5 a non public holiday.

Their website clearly states it is a "COVID 19 clinic - only for people who have symptoms including fever and acute respiratory illness (e.g. sore throat, cough, shortness of breath or loss of smell or loss of taste)"

What a joke not to have testing locations in tourist areas, restrict clinics to only symptomatic people and not to have any open on public holidays if you introduce a mandatory test rule. Lunacy.

Even in Brisbane there's not many places open on a Sunday.

And the number of people needing tests in the tourist areas is going to completely overwhelm the local infrastructure. This is a state that is barely doing 10K tests a day.

 

[Lynda2475]

And the number of people needing tests in the tourist areas is going to completely overwhelm the local infrastructure. This is a state that is barely doing 10K tests a day.

Exactly and the website you are directed to book via for Mossman doesn't enable you select Mossman as a location, defaults to Brisbane Showground and says other sites don't need a booking, a contradiction.

I tried to call the clinic to see if they were going to extend hours or take bookings over the phone, goes straight to message bank but its full so cant leave a message. Delightful.

Qld health need to open and staff pop-up clinics if they are going to have these silly rules.

Noting the official website doesn't actually mention the day 5 test at all, so seems to be a last minute add on at the presser.

Travelling to Queensland - coronavirus (COVID-19)

Restrictions on travel into and out of Queensland

www.qld.gov.au

 

[exceladdict]

Middle to end of Feb, PCR test 72 hrs before before, 1 Rapid on arrival, PCR on days 3 + 7 my guess.

Could be; I think something to do with start of school term was mentioned in a presser a while ago. The testing requirements may relax a bit by then, one of the final mover benefits will be observing what works and hopefully avoiding frustrating last-minute policy changes.

 

[N860CR]

It’s not sustainable for any extended period.

The days of QPS manning immigration booths are over. With flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide arriving in Brisbane every 15-30 minutes there is simply no capacity to continue this pass system and extreme monitoring. Qld themselves have stated they are only targeting 5% of flights for spot checks.

Given the whole house of cards can fall as a result of a single person, 95% of flights leaves them at extreme risk. Realistically, that’s what the Covid Zero states want. Get it in and get on with it. They just can’t straight out admit that.

 

[Pushka]

Paywalled for me. Can you post a few snippets, please?

Double vaxxed and imprisoned’: Fury at families being ‘ripped apart’ despite being vaccinated​

A fully vaccinated SA resident says families can’t be “ripped apart” every time the state records a positive case – especially when we’ve chosen to let Covid in.

………….,

Matthew Zubrinich says he is “double vaccinated but imprisoned” after an ambulance with an unmarked police car ushered him to Tom’s Court Medi Hotel on Thursday evening after he returned a positive result to Covid-19.

He’s urging authorities to change their response to how they handle positive cases in the community after calling on everyone to get vaccinated so they can have more freedoms while also choosing to let Covid into SA.

Why couldn't he quarantine at home like other local cases?

No one is yet being allowed at home if positive.

I heard him on the radio this morning. He is no rabid idiot but a very polite but furious and also very distraught having to leave his wife at home with two small toddlers.

 

[nutwood]

My concern is that Tasmania is looking at this circus and re-thinking their 15th December promise.
The silly thing is that it's only a circus because SA are dithering. They are trying to maintain the pretence of open borders whilst clinging vainly to Covid Zero. In the attempt to achieve two incompatible outcomes, they are twisting and turning, all the while digging themselves in deeper.
Someone really needs to explain the law of holes to them!

 

[jakeseven7]

My concern is that Tasmania is looking at this circus and re-thinking their 15th December promise.
The silly thing is that it's only a circus because SA are dithering. They are trying to maintain the pretence of open borders whilst clinging vainly to Covid Zero. In the attempt to achieve two incompatible outcomes, they are twisting and turning, all the while digging themselves in deeper.
Someone really needs to explain the law of holes to them!

Tassie came out today and said no change calm down everyone! Amazing…

 

[justinbrett]

Exactly and the website you are directed to book via for Mossman doesn't enable you select Mossman as a location, defaults to Brisbane Showground and says other sites don't need a booking, a contradiction.

I tried to call the clinic to see if they were going to extend hours or take bookings over the phone, goes straight to message bank but its full so cant leave a message. Delightful.

Qld health need to open and staff pop-up clinics if they are going to have these silly rules.

Noting the official website doesn't actually mention the day 5 test at all, so seems to be a last minute add on at the presser.

Travelling to Queensland - coronavirus (COVID-19)

Restrictions on travel into and out of Queensland

www.qld.gov.au

Past form suggests the new rules will go out the night before...

 

[jakeseven7]

Perth loses test due to border restrictions.
Good riddance. Sorry to all in WA who have lost jobs but you get who you vote for I suppose

——-

Breaking: Very difficult to accept’: Western Australia shattered to lose fifth Ashes Test due to border issues​

Western Australia is being forced to come to terms with the fact it won’t be hosting an Ashes Test this summer.

A replacement venue has not yet been confirmed, but Hobart’s Bellerive Oval, Manuka Oval in Canberra and the MCG have all been floated as options.

In a statement, WACA CEO Christina Matthews said she was “extremely disappointed” for West Australian cricket fans that they would not be able to watch Test cricket live this summer. “We just cannot believe it” she said in an interview, “It’s a devastating blow for sport and tourism in this state”.

Plot thickens in race for Perth Ashes Test

NSW opposition sports spokeswoman Julia Finn says Dominic Perrottet’s government must push for the SCG to host the fifth Ashes Test, which Cricket Australia confirmed on Monday would be moved from Perth due to concerns over border restrictions.

www.news.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

Past form suggests the new rules will go out the night before..

But the page I linked to is for the new rules, the top of page specifies:

From 1am AEST Monday 13 December 2021, Queensland’s border restrictions will ease further, following Queensland achieving 80% of the eligible population fully vaccinated.

Arriving into Queensland from a hotspot​

Restrictions at 80% fully vaccinated​

If you have been in a declared hotspot in the past 14 days you may travel to Queensland provided you:

• are fully vaccinated
• have a negative COVID-19 test taken within the 72 hours prior to arrival into Queensland.

You may arrive by air or road.

There is no quarantine required if you meet these criteria.

If you do not meet these criteria, you will need to meet the relevant requirements for entry and will be required to undertake a period of quarantine in a government-nominated facility.

No mention of day 5 test, except by Anna at the presser.