General Coronavirus chit chat thread - non-travel specific

[RooFlyer]

@RooFlyer, do you remember what you were listening too and if there is a link we can chase down?

I was waiting for someone to ask that . It was ABC local radio in Sth Tas in the early evening and they were interviewing some App/privacy expert who sounded very convincing! I had a look on their web site last night but there's nothing there.

I guess we'll find out in a few days when they release the app. Its 'open source' so anyone with the skills will be able to go into the guts and see how it works, for better or worse. We'll be hearing at lot!

 

[Drakecula]

Oh, I can just imagine Google and Apple wanting to permanently know who we've been close to, for ever!!

I'm pretty sure Facebook does this. Often I'll go to events where I know people but they aren't Facebook friends, but I guess Facebook has realised both our phones have been near each other for a while, so they will pop up as a 'do you know' suggested friend.

 

[VPS]

Someone else was commenting about delays with Australia Post - I'm waiting on a delivery from Kmart and last tracking note is 9th April - I had a generic email from Kmart apologising for not being able to answer all queries -do you think this is Kmart or Australia Post.

 

[mrsterryn]

*sighs* if no Europe this Dec I might actually have to decorate for Xmas

 

[samh004]

The app can't do anything with that information - it doesn't know how to contact my 'close contacts' because all it knows about them is the ID of their phone. People need to extract the phone ID info from my phone, then match a name etc with the phone IDs, and get in touch with them / send them a text etc.

I think that's the difference between two systems:

1. In what you claim is the Australian version, your phone shares your (anonymised) ID with other phones, and vice versa, as you move about and come within proximity. Then, if you test positive the government downloads those ID's from your phone to manually contact those people, or you are contacted based on someone else having tested positive and had your ID on their phone.
2. The Google/Apple version uses a cloud solution that automates the process. His phone collects other (anonymised) ID's as he comes in close proximity with other phones, and shares his ID too. When he tests positive, a health professional enters a code on his device to confirm he has tested positive and his app asks for permission to upload the last x days of ID's he has come into contact with to the cloud/system. An automated process takes over and alerts those (anonymised) ID's through a daily download that they may have come into contact with someone who tested positive... and presumably should get checked.

Post automatically merged: Apr 21, 2020

Someone else was commenting about delays with Australia Post - I'm waiting on a delivery from Kmart and last tracking note is 9th April - I had a generic email from Kmart apologising for not being able to answer all queries -do you think this is Kmart or Australia Post.

I've had delays too. Few weeks ago a local delivery took 1 week. Another more recent delivery from the exact same distributor took 2 weeks. Sydney - Gold Coast.

 

[Antoallison]

Still waiting on mail delivery of my first ever Fruchocs order placed 2 weeks ago.
I blame AFF, as I had never heard about them before reading the constant chatter here. LOL.

 

[VPS]

Still waiting on mail delivery of my first ever Fruchocs order placed 2 weeks ago.
I blame AFF, as I had never heard about them before reading the constant chatter here. LOL.

And we want your opinion when you receive them please

 

[RooFlyer]

In what you claim is the Australian version,

In what I've heard is to be the official Australian version . There are a number of similar (non Google, non Apple) versions around. Thanks for clarifying the 'enter positive on the app' thing.

 

[Pushka]

*sighs* if no Europe this Dec I might actually have to decorate for Xmas

No. Go to a wonderful restaurant instead and splurge.

 

[samh004]

There are a number of similar (non Google, non Apple) versions around.

I'm sure there are many angles to tackle the problem from, and there are pro's and con's in both.

 

[Flashback]

Google says state-backed hackers increasing coronavirus phishing attacks

Identifies multiple government-backed hacking groups using pandemic as cover.

www.crn.com.au

I guess I shouldn't really complain about this, as organisations have had increased levels of generic and targeted threats, it's at least allowed me to eke out a few (very) small projects for former clients to keep a bit of money ticking over and coming in.

 

[opusman]

interesting study from University of Chicago on the effects of misinformation.

Basically the more you watch Fox News the more likely you are to catch COVID.

https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_202044.pdf

 

[Denali]

interesting study from University of Chicago on the effects of misinformation.

Basically the more you watch Fox News the more likely you are to catch COVID.

https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_202044.pdf

Like Karen? She's since died due to virus and family needed a GoFundMe for medical costs

 

[p--and--t]

interesting study from University of Chicago on the effects of misinformation.

Basically the more you watch Fox News the more likely you are to catch COVID.

https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_202044.pdf

I have to admit I only looked at the few half dozen pages and only skimmed at that, but was very disappointed not to find any mention of the efficacy of UVC on Aussie beaches?

 

[RooFlyer]

No special treatment for Boris (contrary to what some have thought)

New Zealand nurse says no special treatment was given to Boris Johnson in ICU

Nurse Jenny McGee wasn't nervous when tasked with looking after Boris Johnson when he was admitted to intensive care with coronavirus, but it came as a shock when he named and thanked her on national television.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Denali]

Was chatting to my IT today, who told me 2 of his uncles tested positive.

One in Japan, mild symptoms and he's OK.

One in Ireland, needed hospitalisation and ventilator and recovering.

 

[get me outta here]

@JessicaTam kindly shared hers with me and I received them a few days ago. They were so delicious they all disappeared within about 15 hours.
Australia Post is very slow at the moment.

And we want your opinion when you receive them please

 

[p--and--t]

Contagion the movie on 7 right now. How prophetic that movie was.

 

[RooFlyer]

Not a great thing to have done:

Teachers' union to apologise for 'grubby attack' on SA's Chief Public Health Officer

The SA teachers' union says it will apologise to the state's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier over what Premier Steven Marshall described as a "grubby attack" against her online.

www.abc.net.au

The South Australian branch of the teachers' union will apologise for what Premier Steven Marshall described as a "grubby attack" against the state's Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier.

An image of Dr Spurrier's face and her signature had appeared on an SA Health social media message to parents and carers, advising them that it is now safe to send their children back to school, kindergarten and day care.

Yesterday, the SA branch of the Australian Education Union (AEU) published a different version of the post on social media, edited to include dirty hand prints and the words "seriously, Spurrier".

From the Australia's paywalled report:

[AEU president Lara Golding] also revealed that she didn’t even know the post had been written and had not seen it or authorised it herself before it blew up on social media.

...

The admission that she was unaware of the post is an early blow to the authority of Ms Golding, who was regarded as a more level-headed and moderate voice when elected president last December against her more hardline predecessor Howard Spreadbury.

Mr Spreadbury sparked outrage in the lead-up to last Christmas when in a pay and conditions campaign against the State Liberal Government the AEU announced that Nativity plays would no longer be held outside of school hours because teachers were overburdened with extra-curricular commitments.

 

[Pushka]

Not a great thing to have done:

Teachers' union to apologise for 'grubby attack' on SA's Chief Public Health Officer

The SA teachers' union says it will apologise to the state's Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier over what Premier Steven Marshall described as a "grubby attack" against her online.

www.abc.net.au

From the Australia's paywalled report:

It's been an evolving story over the last few days here in SA.

The Union head is newly elected. And she is copping so much flack. It was a very nasty grubby personal attack on Prof Spurrier who has been exceptional. I've commented on Prof Spurrier before in these threads. Even the Opposition Leader called the Union on it and he was formerly head of the very strong in SA, Shoppies (can't recall the full title) Union. Which was very pleasing to see. On the radio interview this morning the husband of a former Federal Labor Minister (Kate Ellis) totally got stuck in to her and suggested that he'd rather take the medical advice of someone with a Medical Degree++ than someone with a scrabble board title after their name!

The Union head has made her nasty comments very public so I'd expect her apology to be likewise public but we all know it won't.