General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[Pushka]

No community transmission in SA since late March. How much longer do we wait?

 

[DC3]

.... I choose to ignore this nasty little swipe.

Remember, the Ignore button is your friend.

 

[RooFlyer]

Classic Roo flyer in attack mode here
It may be boring but I seldom feel the need to denigrate others or to play divisive games to prop up my views.. so I choose to ignore this nasty little swipe.

I'm truly sorry you found it that way (I mean, it was a factious comment wasn't it? You don't really think a second wave of infection will be "sweet"?) . But honestly, tell us your solution / plan. What about the serious consequences of continued lock downs and restrictions? Its all very well to talk about "sweet little second waves" but more engaging to share your alternative and consider its pros and cons. At what point would you introduce public travel between states again?

 

[tgh]

Off out and about , will respond later…

 

[moa999]

How can clean little nothing countries like NZ and many smaller countries that rely on tourism and trade maintain their disease status AND their standard of living ?
...increasing social pressure on Government to throw open the doors and embrace mass infection.

I agree it's a massive concern for NZ (and I suspect soon Australia) as we reach effective domestic eradication.
(And i think that's defined as no domestic community transmission - overseas returnees going into quarantine don't count)

But while there might be pressure from the tourism and education industries in particular to open the doors, think most everyone else (mindful of the work everyone has done in near eradicating the virus) is going to be extremely reticent to open the doors to visitors from countries where the virus is still spreading

(Particularly while we don't have a vaccine and immunity isn't proven)

 

[drron]

Meanwhile we will just await the second wave of suicides.
Australia's highest ever rate of suicides was in the 4 years following 1930.Keep on destroying parts of the economy and watch the rate climb.

 

[tgh]

Meanwhile we will just await the second wave of suicides
Has there been a first wave ?
Documentary evidence ?

Keep on destroying parts of the economy
Who is destroying the Economy ?

 

[Pushka]

Meanwhile we will just await the second wave of suicides
Has there been a first wave ?
Documentary evidence ?

Keep on destroying parts of the economy
Who is destroying the Economy ?

The mental health issues of Covid are very well known in the Health Departments Federally and States. That is why just this morning Hunt announced signficant funding for a Covid Mental Health Programme. As has our State Government.

And unfortunately many parts of the economy have been destroyed. To think otherwise is really burying ones head in the sand.

And my two points are not mutually exclusive.

 

[tgh]

With no time to continue the repartee I will hit and run...

What's your stage or conditions for lifting restrictions, say to interstate travel?

I am not in possession of sufficient facts , but on balance agree the borders could be open.


Zero cases nationwide, like NZ? If so, whats the plan if that simply doesn't happen, due to international case imports? Do we keep the massive Govt spend up ad-infinitum? if so, who pays for that?

It seems inevitable that there will be a continuing low rate of infection that may or may not grow into a second wave.
It also seems a fair call that the current infection rate is low enough to permit further loosening of restrictions.
I don't have sufficient data to form an opinion about an appropriate level of loosening or a time line.

 

[blackcat20]

It's happened: An Australian distillery has accidentally sold hand sanitiser as gin

Check your liquor cabinet.

www.delicious.com.au

Don't drink this "gin" if you bought some

 

[Gremlin]

How can clean little nothing countries like NZ and many smaller countries that rely on tourism and trade maintain their disease status AND their standard of living ?

I mentioned this earlier, but NZ have done economic modelling on the impact of various restrictions required to manage the disease and the economic consequences. The economic impact of maintaining social distancing is greater than the economic impact of reduced international tourism. If they have to choose one or the other then it's a no brainer for them to keep borders closed and keep domestic activity as "normal" as possible.

RBNZ COVID Economic Impact

FWIW, I'd love to see something similar here in Australia. About the closest we've got is the RBA May Statement on Monetary Policy which says that "the outlook for the domestic economy depends on how long social distancing remains in place" following a forecast 10% decline in GDP in the first half of the year.

The World Bank today forecast worldwide GDP to decline by 5.2% this year, with advanced economies shrinking on average 7% and developing economies shrinking on average by 2.5%. They forecast 93% of the world's countries to be in recession some time this year - that's more than during the Great Depression. Furthermore, they also tie economic performance in 2021 to containment of the virus - basically they don't see any upside to this scenario, but there is plenty of scope for downside if "outbreaks persist". In contrast, NZ's GDP is turning around much faster than the rest of the world and their modelling shows they will be economically stronger for keeping the borders closed.

Don't get me wrong, NZ is already in recession. There is no scenario where NZ doesn't face recession in 2020. There's no scenario where Australia isn't in recession this year either. That ship sailed the moment there was a pandemic. But NZ are in the situation where they can be on track for a "standard, run-of-the-mill recession" when most of the rest of the world face something much worse. I hope Australia gets the memo.

 

[Bundy Bear]

It's happened: An Australian distillery has accidentally sold hand sanitiser as gin

Check your liquor cabinet.

www.delicious.com.au

Don't drink this "gin" if you bought some

Ouch

credit card receipts might help.
and whether they added a persons name to the tax invoice.

 

[Hvr]

A question for our medically trained members.

With the huge and seemingly overwhelming focus on COVID-19 are there other medical matters that are being neglected with severe consequences yet to be realised?

As @drron mentioned above the numbers of suicides is increasing. I've heard reports that the numbers of identified cancers etc has decreased, arguably because people have heeded the self-isolation warnings and/or been too afraid to visit their medical professional.

What other medical matters that will have serious consequences are being ignored or diminished in importance?

And how do we take a holistic view of COVID-19 whilst not neglecting other important issues that at the moment we're basically 'kicking the can down the road'?

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

A question for our medically trained members.

With the huge and seemingly overwhelming focus on COVID-19 are there other medical matters that are being neglected with severe consequences yet to be realised?

As @drron mentioned above the numbers of suicides is increasing. I've heard reports that the numbers of identified cancers etc has decreased, arguably because people have heeded the self-isolation warnings and/or been too afraid to visit their medical professional.

What other medical matters that will have serious consequences are being ignored or diminished in importance?

And how do we take a holistic view of COVID-19 whilst not neglecting other important issues that at the moment we're basically 'kicking the can down the road'?

Surgical waiting lists !

 

[Pushka]

A question for our medically trained members.

With the huge and seemingly overwhelming focus on COVID-19 are there other medical matters that are being neglected with severe consequences yet to be realised?

As @drron mentioned above the numbers of suicides is increasing. I've heard reports that the numbers of identified cancers etc has decreased, arguably because people have heeded the self-isolation warnings and/or been too afraid to visit their medical professional.

What other medical matters that will have serious consequences are being ignored or diminished in importance?

And how do we take a holistic view of COVID-19 whilst not neglecting other important issues that at the moment we're basically 'kicking the can down the road'?

I think that in the next few months that this story will be revealed as people finally visit their GP with symptoms from several weeks back. I know we've put off doing those dratted tests we have to do as we age.

 

[Princess Fiona]

A question for our medically trained members.

With the huge and seemingly overwhelming focus on COVID-19 are there other medical matters that are being neglected with severe consequences yet to be realised?

As @drron mentioned above the numbers of suicides is increasing. I've heard reports that the numbers of identified cancers etc has decreased, arguably because people have heeded the self-isolation warnings and/or been too afraid to visit their medical professional.

What other medical matters that will have serious consequences are being ignored or diminished in importance?

And how do we take a holistic view of COVID-19 whilst not neglecting other important issues that at the moment we're basically 'kicking the can down the road'?

Everything at my ED is nearing normal levels. The rest of the hospital have gone back to ignoring our rubber walls again
Outpatient clinics are open and ICU full.
At least in my part of NSW we are definitely taking a holistic view of Covid-19 now.
The work that was done in March and April to gear up the hospital means we are ready to take on whatever outbreaks occur.

 

[Pushka]

I'm guessing this is one of the Covid Superannuation early release scams?

 

[flydoc]

With the huge and seemingly overwhelming focus on COVID-19 are there other medical matters that are being neglected with severe consequences yet to be realised?

Also student training in multiple health professions has taken a temporary hit with 1st semester clinical placements affected.

At least all this has given one group in our society the hope of another shot at life rather than just day to day survival:

The pandemic program that's unexpectedly solving the homelessness crisis

Steve Coard has been living on the streets for most of his 50 years and says getting somewhere to stay during the coronavirus pandemic was a "mind-blowing" experience. Now, housing advocates want to continue the program of giving rough sleepers a roof over their heads.

www.abc.net.au

 

[drron]

Certainly in northern Tasmania there have been disastrous health consequences of the lockdown.
First was the postponement of elective surgery.Two were cancelling gall bladder surgery scheduled after a bout of acute cholecystitis.Both developed pancreatitis as a consequence.one was mild and was able to have the gallstone removed endoscopically so survived in reasonable shape.The other had a catastrophic pancreatitis and succumbed.both of these were accepted by ED and admitting medical staff as unrelated events.i always make a point of reading old notes so finding out the link to postponed surgery.

Another had his carotid artery endarterectomy cancelled as it was called elective.He had a stroke which that proceedure is done to reduce the chances of that happening.Again fortunately a reasonable outcome.

Being a General Medicine ward we have seen a few older patients admitted with dementia who basically had lost their support-friends and neighbours scared to go out.Three admitted this long weekend.one turning up at a service station totally confused.
Another whose daughter finally was able to visit her parents as she lives in Hobart.Has taken her mothere back with her but the father now with us due to many falls and subdural haematomas.
And we have had 3 or 4 with chronic mental illness who just didn't know how to get their meds during the lockdown.The psychiatric unit is always full so ended up on the medical wards.

And yes there is going to be a higher death rate from cancer in this area as cancer services hit hard.A radiotherapy and chemotherapy unit at NWRH off line for nearly 2 months and a chemotherapy unit off line for over 2 months at the Mersey hospital.The LGH units are normally very busy but had to reduce services due to the need for social distancing.Then there is going to be many cases with delayed diagnosis as many services such as endoscopies and breast screen closed down.And the North and North west Tasmania have a higher than average incidence of cancers.

So you may see why I am expressing strong opinions on lockdowns.It is not just economic damage that is caused.

Outpatient clinics are just reopening.that means there are a lot of people who are not yet on waiting lists.they are sure to blow out.

 

[flydoc]

Developments in SA: 2000 fans to be permitted at the local AFL derby this weekend. Interestingly Port fans will outnumber Crows fans by 3:1.

Also the application for another protest has been refused by the police commissioner.

Crowds allowed for Adelaide AFL match but not second Black Lives Matter protest

SA Police will not provide an exemption for crowds to attend a second Black Lives Matter protest in Adelaide, despite relaxing coronavirus restrictions for a crowd of more than 2,000 people to attend the AFL on Saturday night.

www.abc.net.au