DFAT Warning [Do NOT Travel overseas]

[Pushka]

It seems the PM had the figures. And he seemed surprised/disappointed at the numbers.

Sheer and utter frustration at the stupidity and probably next thing they will be contacting Overseas Missions for help then contacting the media when they say not enough is being done to help them.

 

[ethernet]

HOW TO SAVE LIVES
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FROM THE AIRPORTS TO THE CITY.
FREE FACE MASK for all exiting - requires you to input your phone number.
May be advisable to tell people to avoid nicotine

Do we want people to do the bus to train shuffle and contaminate people at the stops? Stop at the shops to get supplies on the way home? I assume a fever camera is set up for arriving internationals.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Oh dear, essential aid work mentioned as an exception. As well as employment. Good news: just got sent a contract extension (from people in finance that must be dreaming). Bad news: AFAIK it is impossible to get back to Africa anyway. Not that I’m desperate to go.

cheers skip

 

[Chicken]

Good news: just got sent a contract extension (from people in finance that must be dreaming).

News : COVOD-19 saves lives!

 

[drron]

Australia can't refuse its own citizens.

But will there be any transport?

 

[amaroo]

But will there be any transport?

Probably not for a great many.

 

[p--and--t]

What about those serving out their time OS in quarantine but wanting then to come home.

He said he was banning people going overseas (with some limited exceptions).

He didn't say anything about banning people from coming home (if there are any flights).

In fact went over the rules again for those returning including going straight from the airport to home. This does not include going to the shops, does not include going to the chemist, does not include dropping in on relatives etc. Straight home and self isolate for 14 days.

Post automatically merged: Mar 24, 2020

Sheer and utter frustration at the stupidity and probably next thing they will be contacting Overseas Missions for help then contacting the media when they say not enough is being done to help them.

I even recall some posts on AFF in the last week about people intending to go to the US in the next 3-4 weeks. Beyond comprehension.

 

[Pushka]

I even recall some posts on AFF in the last week about people intending to go to the US in the next 3-4 weeks. Beyond comprehension.

Check out cruise critic then! Yesterday Someone was asking about a particular cabin on that fricken Ruby Princess for a cruise in a few weeks time. They'd not long ago booked. Someone commented that they hoped it had been cleaned out but should be good to go! I had to point out that Ruby has a minimum of 133 positive cases as of yesterday and that a female passenger had just died and not a snowball chance in hell was that cruise going.

The Americans - a good number of cruisers anyway - have no idea. The Brits and Aussies are the ones left shaking their head. The comments on the Aussie part of that Forum are priceless.

 

[MarcB]

I was intrigued to find out how long the ban on overseas travel was in place for. The notice on Home Affairs site does not specify...so I did some digging.

Department of Home Affairs Website

Home Affairs brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, settlement services and immigration and border-related functions, working together to keep Australia safe.

www.homeaffairs.gov.au

I found the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020 which provides for the ban, and it has a start date, but not an end date. Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020

The Explanatory Memorandum indicates it is for an initial period of 4 weeks, but that is not in the determination. Looking to the legislation and it seems that the default position is that it is in place for the period of the "human biosecurity emergency" unless revoked earlier. That period ends on 18 June 2020 (unless extended). Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Overseas Travel Ban Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020

So seems like unless revoked (unlikely), the ban will carry through until at least mid-June.

 

[Chicken]

So seems like unless revoked (unlikely), the ban will carry through until at least mid-June.

China Singapore Hong Kong started the war on COVID-19 back in January, Hong Kong Singapore are doing very well with their numbers. Yet, they are not seeing an end.

We haven't done much, we are going to end up like UK and Spain as of today. We are 3 months behind Singapore Hong Kong.

We may see an end in July, when pigs start flying.

 

[33kft]

Hong Kong Singapore are doing very well with their numbers. Yet, they are not seeing an end.

Well correct me if I am wrong but without widespread infection, the only end you can see is a vaccine is it not? Until then you need to remain relatively locked down, or others who are infected will infect you.

 

[Chicken]

Well correct me if I am wrong but without widespread infection, the only end you can see is a vaccine is it not? Until then you need to remain relatively locked down, or others who are infected will infect you.

Data shows coronavirus can only be controlled if 8 out of 10 Australians stay home

If we go into lock down, right now, not this weekend, but now, we could get this under control in about 4 months.

At the current rate, we will run out of ICU bed between 05 and 08 April.

So in 2 weeks, we will start leaving old people outside hospitals to die, if you get hit by a car, you will be left outside a hospital to die.

If we go into lock down now, we may be able to relax a little in August, but not free travel and clubbing.

Hence, any talk of June is like saying pigs fly.

 

[33kft]

The above is not the model that the countries you referred to are using though. I was referring to the Singapore / Hong Kong approach of rigorous contact tracing, heavy lockdowns and quarantining close contacts.

The article you reference is about flattening the curve for the purpose of managing medical response and reducing casualties, but still results in large scale infections, hence a faster recovery rate than Singapore / Hong Kong but with much greater casualties and impact to the healthcare system. Complete case management like Singapore's results in low infection rates which means you maintain your vulnerability (and level of response) until a vaccine exists.

I don't think they're directly comparable. Surely Singapore and Hong Kong won't be in a position to open up to travel before Italy will, for example.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

In my opinion, China Singapore and Hong Kong will have to close their borders soon anyway. They are dealing with the second wave, residents/citizens returning from overseas.

I heard that some countries send their arrivals straight to a designated hotel for quarantine. I think that’s a good idea for Australia to implement if any hotel is willing.

 

[MarcB]

Hence, any talk of June is like saying pigs fly.

To be clear, I was not suggesting it would be over by June. Just that 18 June 2020 is the end of the current period for the "human biosecurity emergency" declared by the GG, and therefore the earliest that the travel ban is likely to end.

 

[prozac]

I looked at the empty shelves of soap at the supermarket today and thought to myself, Australians must be filthy coughs that they never thought much about hand washing before.

Then I thought, well now you've all hoarded all the soap what's going to happen to you when all the poor souls who could not buy any soap start infecting you. It only works if everyone washes their hands. Morons.

 

[dajop]

In my opinion, China Singapore and Hong Kong will have to close their borders soon anyway. They are dealing with the second wave, residents/citizens returning from overseas.

I heard that some countries send their arrivals straight to a designated hotel for quarantine. I think that’s a good idea for Australia to implement if any hotel is willing.

Singapore has closed its borders and flights (including transit) to all except returning citizens and residents, like Australia. Returnees from designated countries (including US and UK) are sent straight to hotel where they have their meals and accommodation paid for, for 14 days. Those returning from other countries are issued with a strictly enforced "Stay at Home Notice" for 14 days. Those who don't have friends and family support during SAHN period can arrange for support (groceries etc) from the Peoples Association. There is a huge number of students studying abroad (particularly US and UK) that is bringing thousands - if not hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans back home. Because of this (that many are students) there would be a huge political backlash if the borders were closed. Until yesterday, Singapore's infection numbers were rising at about 50 a day - usually about 30-40 people coming in the the virus and the rest due to local transmission, although yesterday the number of local transmissions jumped.

On the outbound side, there is are consequences for Citizens and Residents who continue to travel from 27th (tomorrow) onwards. This includes full payment of treatment costs for any COVID related treatment for 14 days upon return (although our private cover should cover us for this) and paying for meals and accommodation at hotel during 14 day period. That has caused huge amount of stress in our household, as we would like to travel back to Australia to be much closer to our parents and extended family. We were planning to travel tonight on SQ, but that flight was cancelled yesterday, leaving us with an option this evening via Jakarta and Sydney (no thank you, too much medical risk IMHO) or take the financial risk of flying on non-stop SQ flight to MEL tomorrow.

 

[33kft]

(although our private cover should cover us for this)

Just wondering out loud here, but I wonder if there are any pandemic-related exclusions for domestic private health insurance coverage? Not something I have heard discussed so far but a quick google suggests there may be some concern about this in the US (of course...) so whilst it's unlikely, it may well be worth checking.

I hope it all works out for you @dajop, I am not sure anyone would know the absolute best way to navigate the difficult travel environment at the moment.

 

[dajop]

Just wondering out loud here, but I wonder if there are any pandemic-related exclusions for domestic private health insurance coverage?

Yeh, not that I can tell. We also have some medical funds in our CPF (super equivalent) that can only be used for medical (at least until we live the country permanently). But if we go down that path, we would definitely self isolate for two weeks before returning as well as the two weeks after we return, leaving the flight the main risk.

 

[Chicken]

The above is not the model that the countries you referred to are using though.

I don't think they're directly comparable. Surely Singapore and Hong Kong won't be in a position to open up to travel before Italy will, for example.

They are not comparable, which is the point I was trying to make, that regardless of which statistics you try to look at, they all tell us that this would last a lot longer than 5 or 6 months.

So, it is better to plan our lives further ahead, then trying to play catch up.

To be clear, I was not suggesting it would be over by June. Just that 18 June 2020 is the end of the current period for the "human biosecurity emergency" declared by the GG, and therefore the earliest that the travel ban is likely to end.

I agree you are totally right on that point, but I don't think the ban would end, just because there is an end date at this point in time.