Predictions of when international flights may resume/bans lifted

[coyote25]

I had not realised Pfizer now have final FDA approval, I have heard some people say “If it’s so safe why only an interim approval for use?”. While I don’t think it will move the die hard anti vaxxers it takes another argument out and might reduce concerns for those who hesitate. The higher vaccination rate the faster we can rejoin the world.

US regulators give full approval to Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine

The US has given full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone that could lift public confidence in the shots and spur more organisations to make vaccinations mandatory.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Pom-DownUnder]

time stamp should take you direct to the question:
"has qantas given people false hope to australians by suggesting we could travel overseas by christmas?"

 

[mviy]

I’d prefer the targets to be lower and more reasonable, but with the targets set, let’s hope we reach 80% as soon as possible.

 

[justinbrett]

My fear is that there won't be much time difference between phase B and C (less than a month) - but the whole "slow, gradual opening" might mean we wait 3 months between phases even though we've met the threshold.

I really hope they disband National Cabinet as soon as we get to Phase B.

 

[drron]

We have been preparing a variety of plan Bs and Cs for when we get to go OS.We are planning to fly to SIN mid Feb and fly back mid May.
I am worried that we won't be allowed straight back into QLD without HQ.So the plan is flying back to SYD and then on to any State that will accept us from NSW that QLD lets people in from.Hoping either Tas or SA.Have 2 weeks holiday there then back home.
The joys of being retired.

 

[Pushka]

We have been preparing a variety of plan Bs and Cs for when we get to go OS.We are planning to fly to SIN mid Feb and fly back mid May.
I am worried that we won't be allowed straight back into QLD without HQ.So the plan is flying back to SYD and then on to any State that will accept us from NSW that QLD lets people in from.Hoping either Tas or SA.Have 2 weeks holiday there then back home.
The joys of being retired.

Similar issues for SA residents with very few flights into Adelaide. SQ and QR only. Qantas won't. Unless we can disembark in Darwin. But if state borders are no longer shut then it's moot.

 

[Seat0B]

Similar issues for SA residents with very few flights into Adelaide. SQ and QR only. Qantas won't. Unless we can disembark in Darwin. But if state borders are no longer shut then it's moot.

And also for us here in the ACT. Connections to your final destination are definitely something that will have to be sorted out.

 

[Batterytraveller]

I really hope they disband National Cabinet as soon as we get to Phase B.

Why? I think this has been one of the successes of the last year. It’s been much more functional than COAG ever was and should decide some of the other things that used to be the remit of COAG.

 

[justinbrett]

Why? I think this has been one of the successes of the last year. It’s been much more functional than COAG ever was and should decide some of the other things that used to be the remit of COAG.

National decisions need to go back to the federal cabinet.

"National Cabinet" was about aligning state decisions. I think once we get to Phase B and definitely C, we can go back to CAOG which is just a forum of the state leaders. National Cabinet is not a cabinet, despite the name. Cabinets have solidarity.

 

[JB expat]

Front Page of The Australian - "Premiers: time to lead us out" - "Reopening Australia with thousands of Covid-19 cases ... will not lead to more deaths over six months than waiting for virus numbers to be contained at low numbers, updated modelling by the Doherty Institute is expected to find. The Australian can reveal the modelling, to be discussed at a meeting of national cabinet on Friday, conducted analysis of three scenarios over a 180-day period based on Covid case numbers in the tens, hundreds & thousands when restrictions were lifted and found no material difference in expected fatality rates."

Evidence - Iceland

 

[JB expat]

Also important to remind people that it’s a min 80%. But we don’t stop there. Ideally we‘ll get to > 90%.

And that is why they need those carrots & sticks (vaccine passport mainly - aka "fun pass")

 

[jrfsp]

Evidence - Iceland

they do have a population of 350,000. About the same as 1 sydney LGA.

 

[antycbr]

And that is why they need those carrots & sticks (vaccine passport mainly - aka "fun pass")

Also there's an increasing issue with employment. For example, at my work we are standing down three staff who won't meet the requirement to come to our depot because they live in an LGAOC and refuse to get vaccinated. We can't implement Rapid Antigen Testing without blowing our budget even more (that's even if we could get any RATs and we need someone to administer them).

United DL have announced that unvaccinated employees will have $200 per month deducted from their pay to allow for testing requirements for them.

Lots of measures in place to drive up vaccination to make sure we hit 80%

Delta Air Lines to add $200 monthly health insurance charge for unvaccinated staff

Delta Air Lines on Wednesday said employees will have to pay $200 more every month for their company-sponsored healthcare plan if they choose to not be vaccinated against COVID-19.

www.reuters.com

 

[Must...Fly!]

United have announced that unvaccinated employees will have $200 per month deducted from their pay to allow for testing requirements for them.

That's an interesting one that will presumably end up being challenged in a court, presumably?

 

[antycbr]

That's an interesting one that will presumably end up being challenged in a court, presumably?

Sorry, corrected for DL not UA and provided the link but yes it's an additional health insurance charge (as health insurance is part of employment in the US).

Anyway OT for here but a data point.

 

[JB expat]

Also there's an increasing issue with employment. For example, at my work we are standing down three staff who won't meet the requirement to come to our depot because they live in an LGAOC and refuse to get vaccinated. We can't implement Rapid Antigen Testing without blowing our budget even more (that's even if we could get any RATs and we need someone to administer them).

United DL have announced that unvaccinated employees will have $200 per month deducted from their pay to allow for testing requirements for them.

Lots of measures in place to drive up vaccination to make sure we hit 80%

Delta Air Lines to add $200 monthly health insurance charge for unvaccinated staff

Delta Air Lines on Wednesday said employees will have to pay $200 more every month for their company-sponsored healthcare plan if they choose to not be vaccinated against COVID-19.

www.reuters.com

I attended a session yesterday where the discussion was focused on what an employer's liability could be under safe work laws if they don't mandate vaccines or otherwise take reasonable measures to protect employees from COVID. It's a complicated topic and somewhat depends on risk of activities (which include office set up and air flow), but I found it encouraging to see that employers may come to the conclusion that they have to insist on vaccines as I think this will push more over the line.

 

[JB expat]

they do have a population of 350,000. About the same as 1 sydney LGA.

That doesn't mean that their experience is irrelevant.

 

[jrfsp]

That doesn't mean that their experience is irrelevant.

It definitely demonstrates the effectiveness of the vaccines but we shouldn't expect 0 deaths will be the norm. They also have a very robust contact trace system to isolate positive cases.

The UK is having 100 deaths a day and slowly increasing. Adjusted for population we'd be looking at 40+ .

 

[Must...Fly!]

But COVID deaths on their own are a relatively useless statistic in a society with rampant COVID (where one is very likely to be infected) because there are a lot of people with chronic conditions that may die with COVID but not necessarily of COVID. Equally you do have people with chronic conditions who get COVID and it sadly brings their life to an earlier end.

Strikes me that a long term trend of excess deaths is likely a better metric for a country such as the UK or perhaps Israel? Although, obvious in Australia we are not proposing to do away with all restrictions like the UK for example.

This is an interesting graph and you could probably pick a graph to suit whatever argument you want to make, really for opening borders or keeping them closed. I think it's pretty obvious that any level of virus is going to lead to excess deaths. However in Australia we have COVID already in NSW and VIC, and lockdowns are barely keeping a lid on it. Will overseas travel make that much difference?

 

[mviy]

time stamp should take you direct to the question:
"has qantas given people false hope to australians by suggesting we could travel overseas by christmas?"

Or if you prefer to read rather than watch/listen you can go to the last question in the transcript: Press Conference - Canberra, ACT | Prime Minister of Australia