Australian state border restrictions

[jrfsp]

I could have been at the airport now unable to take the flight to TAS. Glad I decided to cancel, but these restrictions are over the top locking millions of people who don’t have the virus out from travelling.

Indeed, although it seems the delta strain has changed the risk appetite of borders for the worse.

It looks like contact tracing cant keep up with the delta strain and lockdowns are the only option, for those state premiers the risk seems to great

 

[MooTime]

Any adult that wants one can go and get AZ now. So in 3 months at most there will have been plenty of time for everyone who wants to to have been fully vaccinated. We do need to start giving freedoms back to the fully vaccinated.

They should look to offer 60+ people that haven’t yet had their first dose whatever they want. If we can get the fully vaccinated over 70 numbers up quickly protecting the most vulnerable it will become harder and harder to justify the level of restrictions we have now.

I'd hope once the 1 Million Pfizer doses here & ready, they'll open the age groups etc little wider, I mean thay'd have to wouldn't they.

 

[mviy]

I heard that after at least one of the previous lockdowns ended VIC sacked a lot of the contact tracers and with the lockdown earlier this year had to scramble to build up the contact tracing workforce again. I think a part of the problem is a reluctance to pay to have a big enough workforce on standby in-between outbreaks to be ready for when those outbreaks arise to have a big enough workforce to deal with it.

 

[jakeseven7]

I heard that after at least one of the previous lockdowns ended VIC sacked a lot of the contact tracers and with the lockdown earlier this year had to scramble to build up the contact tracing workforce again. I think a part of the problem is a reluctance to pay to have a big enough workforce on standby in-between outbreaks to be ready for when those outbreaks arise to have a big enough workforce to deal with it.

That’s not true, they did second a lot though who were returned to previous duties - that happens in every state though.

 

[Eastwick20]

But it provides an incentive to get vaccinated when they can.

The number of vaccinated is going up all the time, so more and more should be able to move about. If you look at the number there are quite a lot of of younger people already vaccinated due to their jobs or living with a front line worker.

We do more unnecessary damage by waiting for everyone.

Well I don't disagree with you there , I really wish federal and state governments were more proactive with advertising and pushing down people's throat's what restrictions you will continue to have if you choose not to get vaccinated once everyone has had the opportunity to do so

I suspect they don't want to annoy that certain part of the voting public though....quite yet

 

[hydrabyss]

But it provides an incentive to get vaccinated when they can.

The number of vaccinated is going up all the time, so more and more should be able to move about. If you look at the number there are quite a lot of of younger people already vaccinated due to their jobs or living with a front line worker.

We do more unnecessary damage by waiting for everyone.

I was not aware that being vaccinated stopped you getting the virus and possibly spreading it where you go. If you are vaccinated and go to an area where many are not would you not then possibly pass it on to others unknowingly. I can't see until whatever percentage the premiers and their health officials say is reached that this type of travel will happen.

 

[oz_mark]

I'd hope once the 1 Million Pfizer doses here & ready, they'll open the age groups etc little wider, I mean thay'd have to wouldn't they.

There's a slow shift to the 'once everyone has had the opportunity' message. But some states are going to find that shift harder than others.

 

[dajop]

I suspect evidence of spread at the MCG was more than enough to pull the trigger on the lockdown and for other states. TBH, until vaccinations are in enough arms, it's a balance between short sharp longdowns and the risk of something longer. Which is better (apart from no lockdown ever again), for the economy and for mental health ...

Which is preferable? Several short precautionary lockdowns, some of which would ultimately be unnecessary, but one of those actually saved a much longer lockdown. Or forgo the precautionary one, and just stick with one 6-8 week lockdown?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Any adult that wants one can go and get AZ now. So in 3 months at most there will have been plenty of time for everyone who wants to to have been fully vaccinated. We do need to start giving freedoms back to the fully vaccinated.

They should look to offer 60+ people that haven’t yet had their first dose whatever they want. If we can get the fully vaccinated over 70 numbers up quickly protecting the most vulnerable it will become harder and harder to justify the level of restrictions we have now.

The vulnerable has expanded if you look at hospitalisation and ICU cohorts in the Sydney outbreak, which is across age groups.

The other aspect is what happens if the vaccine fails against a particular variant - it might cause untold psychological damage if our State leaders took the plunge only for it to backfire. Then it might result in one step forward, two steps back.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Today my flight from SYD to CFS on 7 August was cancelled and QF recommended a flight approximately 6 hours later.

I clicked on the link for alternative flights and chose a different itinerary: SYD-MEL-CFS. Why fly direct when you can connect; right?

Oh wait....maybe not such a good idea.....

 

[RooFlyer]

If you care coming from any current red zones, think twice. Tas might go retrospective. But unless whole city or state is locked down, should be ok.

Following Vic's declaration of a whole-of-state lockdown, Tas has followed and declared all Vic high risk from midnight tonight. Anyone who has been in Victoria (what they don't announce- except for transits) since 8 July prohibited (from midnight) to enter without an exemption.

Yes but Tas sometimes struggle to find people when it’s retrospective… it’s terribly sad when that happens

I've seen those sorts of comments before. If I understand the wink correctly, I'm not sure its something that should be skited about, especially, again if I understand correctly from previous posts, your line of work. (apologies and the second bit withdrawn if you aren't in a health-related worker/admin field.)

I could have been at the airport now unable to take the flight to TAS. Glad I decided to cancel, but these restrictions are over the top locking millions of people who don’t have the virus out from travelling.

You would have been OK. The prohibition only takes effect from midnight. Entry prior to that is merely 'monitor for symptoms' unless you had been to a high risk premises. But I don't blame you for cancelling! My bolding:

From the Tas web site:

Victoria will be declared a high-risk (Level 2) area from 12:01am tomorrow, Friday 16 July.

Anyone intending to travel to Tasmania after 12:01am Friday 16 July, who has been in Victoria on or since 8 July, will not be able to enter Tasmania unless approved as an Essential Traveller. Quarantine and other requirements are in place for Essential Travellers.

Tasmanian residents, who have a suitable residence to undertake 14 days quarantine, can apply to enter Tasmania as an Essential Traveller. If you don’t have a suitable residence you will be required to quarantine in Government-designated quarantine – fees may apply.

Anyone who arrives before the declaration takes effect will be allowed to enter Tasmania unless they have spent time in identified high-risk premises.

Anyone currently in Tasmania who has been in Victoria on or since 8 July is asked to monitor themselves for cold or flu symptoms and if they develop any symptoms, even if mild, to call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange a COVID-19 test.

 

[mviy]

Good to know. Would have been nice to go. Just terrible timing. With all the uncertainty I decided to cancel.

 

[roogirl]

I suspect evidence of spread at the MCG was more than enough to pull the trigger on the lockdown and for other states. TBH, until vaccinations are in enough arms, it's a balance between short sharp longdowns and the risk of something longer. Which is better (apart from no lockdown ever again), for the economy and for mental health ...

Which is preferable? Several short precautionary lockdowns, some of which would ultimately be unnecessary, but one of those actually saved a much longer lockdown. Or forgo the precautionary one, and just stick with one 6-8 week lockdown?

Agreed. I mean, really if you were serious about managing through this interregnum unvaccinated period you’d just cancel the football and prop up the AFL - cheaper than locking down like this. But bread & circuses etc.

(As an aside, the remarkably consistent thing about all these leaks is that everyone always goes to the footy and to a shopping centre. Thinking about buying some stock in Westfield as it is clearly in robust health.)

Post automatically merged: Jul 15, 2021

The vulnerable has expanded if you look at hospitalisation and ICU cohorts in the Sydney outbreak, which is across age groups.

The other aspect is what happens if the vaccine fails against a particular variant - it might cause untold psychological damage if our State leaders took the plunge only for it to backfire. Then it might result in one step forward, two steps back.

We’ve been through this in the U.K - the “what about the next variant” reasoning loop? Ultimately what happens psychologically is that people (rightly) reject the logic, because the natural conclusion is that you stay restricted forever just in case something which has not yet happened happens in the future…which seems counterproductive.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

We’ve been through this in the U.K - the “what about the next variant” reasoning loop? Ultimately what happens psychologically is that people (rightly) reject the logic, because the natural conclusion is that you stay restricted forever just in case something which has not yet happened happens in the future…which seems counterproductive.

Well this is the Australian state border restrictions thread, and the major decision makers about State borders are the six State Premiers and two Territories' Chief Ministers (with advice from their respective CHOs). A view is that some of our State/Territory leaders and health advisors are fragile when it comes to COVID.

 

[nutwood]

Once again, Tasmanian black and white thinking kicks in. Victoria was low risk, now the entire State is high risk? I won't argue that there are causes for concern in specific areas but surely much of the State warrants medium risk, at the absolute worst?
Meanwhile, our removalist team appear to have travelled home through western NSW, with various unexplained detours, but regional NSW remains low risk?

 

[N860CR]

I'm not sure if punishing them by watching us lucky few being able to move freely
when they cant for a lack of supply that is out of their control is wise yet at least

It’s not so much punishing them, more giving industry an opportunity to start a consistent ramp up. In four or so weeks time we may have 20% of the population fully vaccinated? (pulled that number square out of my behind before anyone fact checks). If we can have 1 in 5 people traveling interstate, shopping at non-essential retail, going to restaurants, staying in hotels etc then we’ll maybe have a few more businesses open, more flights operating, more people working and more business confidence.

In many ways, I’d see that as an easier way to manage my business capacity than a “freedom day”.

I agree it’s unfair. But this whole thing has been unfair on younger people from day 1. I think most would tolerate any path back towards normality, even if it doesn’t involve them at this stage.

 

[dajop]

(As an aside, the remarkably consistent thing about all these leaks is that everyone always goes to the footy and to a shopping centre.

Lockdowns or not, "High St" type shops would do well to capitalise on this ... as it would seem the chance of shopping centres at some point becoming Tier 1 or Tier 2 sites is relatively high. So if an individual doesn't want to risk being stuck at a Tier 1 and being in isolation for 14 days.... stick to standalone shops. Also, I've got a gut feel Aldi seems to have shorter dwell times than Coles or Woolies so better to shop there too....

 

[jakeseven7]

Lockdowns or not, "High St" type shops would do well to capitalise on this ... as it would seem the chance of shopping centres at some point becoming Tier 1 or Tier 2 sites is relatively high. So if an individual doesn't want to risk being stuck at a Tier 1 and being in isolation for 14 days.... stick to standalone shops. Also, I've got a gut feel Aldi seems to have shorter dwell times than Coles or Woolies so better to shop there too....

Have you stood in an Aldi check out line ever? Hardly a short dwell time, even with the cashiers hurling your items out the door as hard as they can with surly faces on them

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10219105182810420

 

[Port Power]

But it provides an incentive to get vaccinated when they can.

The number of vaccinated is going up all the time, so more and more should be able to move about. If you look at the number there are quite a lot of of younger people already vaccinated due to their jobs or living with a front line worker.

We do more unnecessary damage by waiting for everyone.

But under 40s can no longer book for vaccination with Pfizer! There is no “incentive” for them. This age group would love to be vaccinated, but they have to wait for the age group above. Yes, we have to wait for 80% or so of the population, but it’s not the fault of this age group. They are getting vaccinated “when they can”. Most are not in a job-related early cohort. Stop dumping on them.

 

[mviy]

But under 40s can no longer book for vaccination!

That is incorrect. I'm under 40 went and saw my GP and got my booking for the AZ jab and have had my first dose of AZ. I'll be fully vaccinated by the end of September and may be able to choose to bring that forward if an outbreak got out of control in Victoria or by some miracle travel overseas is allowed.