General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[jeza]

Sounds like Victoria may be halting the easing of & may even tighten some restrictions.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Andrews is talking now. Apparently they have had families not doing the right thing and they are getting family to family transmission and also not isolating. Also had cases of people going to work after testing positive so setting up a hardship fund to help with cases where they don’t have sick leave.

for the next 3 weeks they are reimposing some household restrictions and also not going to 50 for restaurants etc.

Today was bad again - 25 cases and only 1 hotel quarantine one.

 

[JohnM]

Im not sure. The fact that WA now has the highest unemployment rate must have come as a shock.

Yes, and the Opposition is milking that. However, the border closure seems well-supported in a seemingly broadly terrified community.

My guess is that they'll keep the border closed but relax rules even further on pubs, sport, things like that, as a salve. I think something needs to be done to appease people.

Currently it's 2 sq m and mandatory to be seated in pubs. If they relax that and allow such things as live music, for example, I think that would go a long way to appeasement.

I've given up caring too much but I am p*ssed off for people like some on AFF who were planning to visit WA for the wildflower season in spring (peaking mid August-mid September). Opening by then is looking like a fading proposition.

At least intrastate travel restrictions are relaxed. I'm shooting through to Exmouth on Monday for a couple of weeks - getting in before the school holidays start on 3 July.

 

[jeza]

Rumour an AFL player may have tested positive to COVID. Very much unconfirmed but possibly from Essendon, Connor McKenna.

Does anyone know how you can find data on where Jobkeeper has been taken up on a State by State basis? I saw a little bit of info on Sydney but that's it.

 

[get me outta here]

“Victoria will bring back tougher coronavirus restrictions, limiting gatherings in homes to five people from Monday, in a bid to address a recent increase in case numbers.

Premier Daniel Andrews said today's case numbers were the highest they had been in two months, with 25 new cases identified overnight.

"Since April … half of all of our new cases have come from family-to-family transmission," Mr Andrews said.

"I'm frustrated by it. I'm disappointed by it.

"Unless we can break this cycle … then we are going to see more and more of these cases."

Victoria tightens coronavirus restrictions as family gatherings blamed for spike in cases

Victoria records 25 new coronavirus cases as Premier Daniel Andrews brings back tougher restrictions to address the state's worrying increase in cases.

www.abc.net.au

 

[JohnM]

Well, that's just killed it for WA reopening its border anytime soon...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Well, that's just killed it for WA reopening its border anytime soon...

Maybe we could cordon off Victoria and the rest of Australia could open up......

 

[Gremlin]

There was something in Andrews' presser about potentially limiting movements for those from the specific suburbs/Local Govt Areas. That would make sense to me, but don't know how you'd go about policing it...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Sewage study indicates COVID-19 was present in Italy in December 2019
A new study released Friday by the Italian National Institute of Health suggests that COVID-19 was present in northern Italy two months before the first case was detected. Wastewater samples taken from Milan and Turin in December revealed traces of the virus, according to the report. Other places around the world have begun to look to wastewater samples to better understand COVID-19 and how it is spreading.

https://twitter.com/i/events/1274065245799985152

 

[jakeseven7]

There was something in Andrews' presser about potentially limiting movements for those from the specific suburbs/Local Govt Areas. That would make sense to me, but don't know how you'd go about policing it...

That has been presented as a part of the national road map since they released it, it wasn’t new news And a warning shot for the naughty families and suburbs which they read out and everyone knows why it’s happening there.

Policing it - roadblocks and door to door checks seeing who is there (or is not!)

Post automatically merged: Jun 20, 2020

Sewage study indicates COVID-19 was present in Italy in December 2019
A new study released Friday by the Italian National Institute of Health suggests that COVID-19 was present in northern Italy two months before the first case was detected. Wastewater samples taken from Milan and Turin in December revealed traces of the virus, according to the report. Other places around the world have begun to look to wastewater samples to better understand COVID-19 and how it is spreading.

https://twitter.com/i/events/1274065245799985152

Which again indicates high likelihood of undetected/asymptomaric spread, probably almost everywhere.

 

[I love to travel]

I think the AFL player is interesting. Given the bubble they live in you have to wonder how he got. Is this another example of the 14 day incubation period being too short?

 

[MelMel]

Possibly he was asymptomatic whilst in quarantine (after returning from Ireland) and is still testing positive? He is still asymptomatic apparently.

 

[Gremlin]

Which again indicates high likelihood of undetected/asymptomaric spread, probably almost everywhere.

Not really. Italy recorded a very unusual winter for “pneumonia cases with an abnormal presentation” and an unusually high number of respiratory deaths. In hindsight, they probably weren’t all pneumonia.

 

[jakeseven7]

Not really. Italy recorded a very unusual winter for “pneumonia cases with an abnormal presentation” and an unusually high number of respiratory deaths. In hindsight, they probably weren’t all pneumonia.

Yes really, but unfortunately because testing the entire population isn’t feasible and testing at the moment is focussed really only for those with symptoms - it will continue undetected until it’s hits someone who a) gets symptoms and b) gets tested.

Keep in mind a large spread of asymptomatic isn’t all bad news - it also shows that the virus isn’t that lethal or serious to everybody, so much so antibody tests are showing many people never even knew they had it. What can you do...

Some interesting and large scale studies from UK showing diabetes is a major marker for serious / lethal infections.

 

[drron]

There was something in Andrews' presser about potentially limiting movements for those from the specific suburbs/Local Govt Areas. That would make sense to me, but don't know how you'd go about policing it...

North West Tassie was cordoned off when the NWRH and NWPH were closed.But even though road blocks on the highways people got out.Some just lied at the road blocks.
But a much higher chance of fines when caught.
So increased police patrols and a lot of stops to see why you are out and about and a low trigger to issue fines would certainly see reasonable compliance.

 

[VPS]

Yes, and the Opposition is milking that. However, the border closure seems well-supported in a seemingly broadly terrified community.

My guess is that they'll keep the border closed but relax rules even further on pubs, sport, things like that, as a salve. I think something needs to be done to appease people.

Currently it's 2 sq m and mandatory to be seated in pubs. If they relax that and allow such things as live music, for example, I think that would go a long way to appeasement.

I've given up caring too much but I am p*ssed off for people like some on AFF who where planning to visit WA for the wildflower season in spring (peaking mid August-mid September). Opening by then is looking like a fading proposition.

At least intrastate travel restrictions are relaxed. I'm shooting through to Exmouth on Monday for a couple of weeks - getting in before the school holidays start on 3 July.

Indeed - not happy Jan. I also may not be getting much work for a couple of months after June 30th so a perfect time to take some time off. Looks like I'll be a SA road trip somewhere.

 

[suze2000]

The Victorian Premier having just (Saturday 20 June 2020, afternoon) decided to reverse planned easings of COVID-19 restrictions is not good news for Oz's second largest state.

Even before this announcement, I made the decision then sadly rang my mum and told her I wasn't going to book flights to see her until this surge is brought under control. If I knew where the quarantine hotels were, and had enough money, I might consider a two-week stint on arrival in BNE but if it's some coughpy place with tiny rooms and no view, I'm not willing to do it.

 

[JessicaTam]

Maybe we could cordon off Victoria and the rest of Australia could open up......

I think it should be considered to help get the rest of the country moving again. I reckon NSW are having to rethink their open border policy with Vic.

And yes, I live in Vic so I would be impacted.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I think it should be considered to help get the rest of the country moving again. I reckon NSW are having to rethink their open border policy with Vic.

And yes, I live in Vic so I would be impacted.

I doubt NSW will close their borders.

It was interesting to read that Italy has evidence of COVID-19 in their sewage sample from December (18th I think) but none from October or November......so likely it was circulating around the globe for a month before any formal identification.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think it should be considered to help get the rest of the country moving again. I reckon NSW are having to rethink their open border policy with Vic.

And yes, I live in Vic so I would be impacted.

But what does 'getting the country moving again' mean? Tourism? People can holiday in their own state. Are we going to flock to a holiday in Queensland just because the borders open? Given 9 out of 10 people say they really don't want to fly at the moment, I'm not sure the benefits will be realised.

opening the borders isn't going to ease the one person per 4sq metre rule. So hospitality isn't going to see a dramatic improvement in numbers.