General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[MEL_Traveller]

Here our strategy, we've been told time and again, is suppression, not elimination. Outbreaks are to be expected. We're not trying to eradicate, we're simply suppressing. There's no clear common understanding in the wider population as to what success looks like with a suppression strategy.

Certainly that was the strategy at the beginning. Until we worked out that ventilators weren't the saviour.

 

[Gremlin]

Certainly that was the strategy at the beginning. Until we worked out that ventilators weren't the saviour.

Seems that it's still the strategy. At least federally. The CMO reinforced that point twice during his press conference two days ago.

Brendan Murphy's COVID-19 Press Conference 22 June 2020

 

[Pushka]

Australia has done way better than anyone expected and everyone has eliminated apart from Victoria and NSW ( NSW does still have an odd one pop up). Victoria of course is the big exception. It’s such a nasty virus though, that it only takes a few people doing the wrong thing and it runs away.

I don’t think anyone expected in March that we would be in this position - if Vic could just get it’s act together (and it’s not too late), then maybe elimination is possible.

Except once we return to any kind of normal including travel it's going to be here.

 

[tgh]

One of the many things we have to worry about is evolution of the Corona virus , even a small change could make it much more lethal or hopefully more benign.
This study suggests it is learning on the job …..


A small coronavirus mutation that scientists have been worried about for weeks may make it more infectious, according to a new study.

The study suggests the mutation gives the virus four to five times more spikes, which make it more stable and easier to infect human cells.

“Viruses with this mutation were much more infectious than those without the mutation in the cell culture system we used,” says Scripps Research virologist Hyeryun Choe, Ph.D., senior author of the study.

The mutation, called D614G, affects the spike protein, a structure on the outside of the virus that it uses to enter cells, according to researchers at Florida’s Scripps Research Institute.

They say more research is needed to determine whether the change has altered the pandemic’s course.

Also, the changes may explain why the virus has caused so many infections in the United States and Latin America.

According to researchers, “The SARS-CoV-2 variant that circulated in the earliest regional outbreaks lacked the D614G mutation now dominating in much of the world.”

The researchers say it is still unknown whether this small mutation affects the severity of symptoms of infected people or increases mortality, adding that more research is needed to confirm their findings

Mutated coronavirus shows significant boost in infectivity

www.scripps.edu

 

[Pushka]

I think honestly, we have more than enough to worry about and scientist not introducing theories of how this thing can become more lethal might be a good thing until it happens. They can prepare for it but leave us out of their theories.

 

[Hvr]

I hate stupid people. My ignorant neigbour was sent home from work and required to get a COVID-19 test because she's exhibiting symptoms.

Now she thinks it's a holiday. I sent her the link advising her she is required to isolate and copped a torrent of abuse. Then I copped another torrent for being able to work from home.

Health.vic

At the Department of Health, we're focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can by delivering a world-class health system that focuses on improving patient outcomes and experiences.

www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

What should I do after getting tested?

You should return home immediately after the test. Please do not make any stops on your way. There is a risk that you could have coronavirus (COVID-19) and could spread the virus to other people. You must remain in self-isolation at home until you find out your test result.

She insists she was told she just had to 'socially distance'. Knowing how ignorant she is I doubt it.

Plus we're in a suburban hotspot.

As someone working from home I'm not answering the door without a double check of the security camera first. Never did anyway, this is now an essential requirement.

 

[I love to travel]

Has anyone taken the emotions and frustration out of their thinking and thought about what life would rationally look like in Australia with no vaccine and continued suppression and long term (years) border closures? Would be just readjust our economy to minimize imports remove international tourism and grow domestic production. Almost a throwback to Australias manufacturing era, albeit with much less spending as things will be more expensive. . Will leisure travel overseas become obsolete? If the world doesn't get this under control soon this might happen? Thoughts?

 

[drron]

@tgh the virus has already mutated and become more infectious.A European and UK mutations are both more infectious which partly explains the higher case loads in Europe and the USA-New York getting the European mutation.
We were lucky in that virtually all the original infections were due to the Chinese strain and we instituted lockdown before the more infectious strains arrived.As I have said before the biggest factor in our success was closing the border to all non citizens.

In the Spanish flu epidemic the scond wave was much more deadly than the first and thought to be due to a mutation.The third and 4th waves were less deadly.Australia was hit by the third wave as we had lifted quarantine.To be as infectious as the H1N1 flu strain that caused the Spanish flu when there was no vaccine and no treatment 2.6 billion cases with deaths of 35-100 million would occur.

 

[Pushka]

Has anyone taken the emotions and frustration out of their thinking and thought about what life would rationally look like in Australia with no vaccine and continued suppression and long term (years) border closures? Would be just readjust our economy to minimize imports remove international tourism and grow domestic production. Almost a throwback to Australias manufacturing era, albeit with much less spending as things will be more expensive. . Will leisure travel overseas become obsolete? If the world doesn't get this under control soon this might happen? Thoughts?

Nope. Just managing day to day currently. If I think along those lines then I'm a goner.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Certainly that was the strategy at the beginning. Until we worked out that ventilators weren't the saviour.

Ventilators were never meant to be the saviour. It was just known that if people had severe symptoms then a ventilator was likely. The outcomes for those going onto ventilators was never good.

By keeping cases low, that has kept the number requiring ventilators very low in Oz.

As time has gone on various other techniques such the less invasive respirators were sufficient for some serious cases.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I hate stupid people. My ignorant neigbour was sent home from work and required to get a COVID-19 test because she's exhibiting symptoms.

Now she thinks it's a holiday. I sent her the link advising her she is required to isolate and copped a torrent of abuse. Then I copped another torrent for being able to work from home.

Health.vic

At the Department of Health, we're focused on supporting Victorians to be as healthy as they can by delivering a world-class health system that focuses on improving patient outcomes and experiences.

www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

She insists she was told she just had to 'socially distance'. Knowing how ignorant she is I doubt it.

Plus we're in a suburban hotspot.

As someone working from home I'm not answering the door without a double check of the security camera first. Never did anyway, this is now an essential requirement.

Don’t get mad - just report her.

 

[Flying mermaid]

tgh the virus has already mutated and become more infectious.A European and UK mutations are both more infectious which partly explains the higher case loads in Europe and the USA-New York getting the European mutation.
We were lucky in that virtually all the original infections were due to the Chinese strain and we instituted lockdown before the more infectious strains arrived.As I have said before the biggest factor in our success was closing the border to all non citizens.

In the Spanish flu epidemic the scond wave was much more deadly than the first and thought to be due to a mutation.The third and 4th waves were less deadly.Australia was hit by the third wave as we had lifted quarantine.To be as infectious as the H1N1 flu strain that caused the Spanish flu when there was no vaccine and no treatment 2.6 billion cases with deaths of 35-100 million would occur.

Thanks for that - as though life wasn’t depressing enough

 

[Flying mermaid]

Except once we return to any kind of normal including travel it's going to be here.

I am pinning my hopes on a vaccine. I wouldn’t be expecting overseas travel for a long time without one. Greg Hunt seems to be getting more negative about opening up by the day

 

[Hvr]

Don’t get mad - just report her.

And I'll have the security footage of her leaving.

Contact us 131 444


A State of Emergency was declared in Victoria from 16 March 2020 to combat coronavirus (COVID-19). If you want to report a suspected breach of public health restrictions, such as:

• isolation
• mass gathering
• business breaches

contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or report online.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Ventilators were never meant to be the saviour. It was just known that if people had severe symptoms then a ventilator was likely. The outcomes for those going onto ventilators was never good.

By keeping cases low, that has kept the number requiring ventilators very low in Oz.

As time has gone on various other techniques such the less invasive respirators were sufficient for some serious cases.

I read elsewhere that in Portugal they used steroi_s and early intervention of ventilators. They have had reasonably good results.

 

[flyer89]

It’s funny this old world. At the start of the year I was getting married, honeymooning in Europe and looking forward to my career progressing. Now: unlikely we will be able to leave the state let alone the country, the curtains have come down on my career and a second wave will briskly see off the wedding plans. At some point I’ll laugh about it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

It’s funny this old world. At the start of the year I was getting married, honeymooning in Europe and looking forward to my career progressing. Now: unlikely we will be able to leave the state let alone the country, the curtains have come down on my career and a second wave will briskly see off the wedding plans. At some point I’ll laugh about it.

Yes Dr FM got her dream job in England and had so many friends planning to visit Europe and she had a full schedule of meetups planned. It was going to be the most amazing year, restaurants, shopping, theatres, lots of holidays in Europe. She has now spent 4 months pretty much locked in a little apartment with a flatmate who she doesn’t get along with and working 2 days in 10. All her friends are trapped in Australia, she can’t leave London and the shops, restaurants and theatre are closed

It is starting to open up and she now has a full roster starting from Friday, so light at the end of the tunnel.....

 

[Austman]

contact the Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or report online.

I contacted our local Police when party people were seen on my building's CCTV, examined the next day, arriving and later leaving my building, in Victoria, during the most strict lock down phase (no visitors at all).

But the Police told me it's an "on-the-spot" type of offense, like a speeding ticket. You need to report it as it's happening and the Police need to see it themselves.

So there was nothing they could/would do.

 

[Pushka]

I contacted our local Police when party people were seen on my building's CCTV, examined the next day, arriving and later leaving my building, in Victoria, during the most strict lock down phase (no visitors at all).

But the Police told me it's an "on-the-spot" type of offense, like a speeding ticket. You need to report it as it's happening and the Police need to see it themselves.

So there was nothing they could/would do.

And I'm betting the offenders know that too.

 

[ja1]

It’s funny this old world. At the start of the year I was getting married, honeymooning in Europe and looking forward to my career progressing. Now: unlikely we will be able to leave the state let alone the country, the curtains have come down on my career and a second wave will briskly see off the wedding plans. At some point I’ll laugh about it.

Or if you wanted to reframe it..

At the start of the year I received a life sentence with no possibility of parole, was forced to visit 'the old country and source of much of what is wrong with the world today' and was looking forward to indenture in the workforce for the next 40 years until I paid off my debt..

And now:

You still have the life sentence (?) but you're allowed to spend it in beautiful <insert name of state here> in <apply Trump or Morrison voice> the best country in the world and you have the opportunity to be entrepreneurial and start that business and work for yourself.. with a second wave saving you thousands of dollars in future debt for a ceremony to confirm a union that usually lasts for less time than most Australians keep their bank account/relationship..

Is that more helpful ?