The way out of lockdowns etc in Australia

[Pushka]

Hope this isn't paywalled but it does give an idea as to why SA jumped the gun in this pandemic.

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[MEL_Traveller]

Don't no why you assume they only see their family one day a year.Just listen to the song @Pushka posted.

With all the hyperbole it sounded like people only visited their elderly mothers/grandmothers on this day - and this day only - once a year. And if they couldn't visit on this day, all the mothers and grandmothers dying before the next Mother's day would never see their family again. How about next weekend?

All these so called elderly mothers and grandmothers probably lived during the war and would be far tougher than you'd think.

 

[drron]

With all the hyperbole it sounded like people only visited their elderly mothers/grandmothers on this day - and this day only - once a year. And if they couldn't visit on this day, all the mothers and grandmothers dying before the next Mother's day would never see their family again. How about next weekend?

All these so called elderly mothers and grandmothers probably lived during the war and would be far tougher than you'd think.

I see these people every day in my work.You need to meet a few more ordinary Australians.They can be a lot more sensitive than you think.

 

[Lynda2475]

I feel sorry for those with an elderly Mother or Grandmother who will have missed seeing family on their last Mother's day on this earth.

There was nothing to stop NSW residents from visiting their Mums (provided they also reside in NSW) over the last weekend unless Mum was in a nursing home or hospital Two adult viistors were allowed in the home. It may have meant siblings viisting at different times of the day/night but it certainly was necessary to avoid seeing your Mum for most people.

 

[MathNerd]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

 

[wombatpatties]

In Victoria we a safe and sound and snug as bugs in rugs No joy for us. Although some polls suggest there really isn't a lot of support for anywhere that involves lots of people.

Hear Hear! Onto my 8th week of lockdown to be exact, allowed out once a week for food shopping. Getting a tad twitchy for conversations, car battery mucking up, house so clean, cant do it all over again! Aaarghhh!

 

[dajop]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

I was thinking P-2 and 11/12 first makes a whole lot of sense. But what's the point in sending 3-10 back for only last 3 weeks of term? Might as well see out the whole term?? Or will it provide the much needed relief for parents? [nb: have no skin in the game as have no kids, although have 8 school age nieces and nephews, 4 of whom are attending school to do their remote learning].

 

[OATEK]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

When you compare the efforts made in Australia to provide meaningful online learning for students, to the UK where the teaching unions say that as online is no substitute for face-to-face, they have done very little and we have made a huge effort. I know from my connection to a local High School in Sydney, that staff have not only made a major effort to provide digital teaching and resources, and analogue student packs, but have been closely monitoring participation rates & submission of completed work. My granddaughter was sent home at lockdown in the UK with a list of ideas for the parents to explore if they felt so inclined.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

My view - it was necessary, and from what I can gather, well done, but shouldn't be held on to any longer than necessary. Besides, I suspect it might be needed again, even on a school-by-school basis.

 

[Pushka]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

Anecdotally. Knowing the excitement the two girls next door had with returning to school after the school holidays almost 3 weeks ago, I think returning to school has been the best for them. They were even telling people across the street whom we see every few days going for a swim that they were going to school that day. South Aussie schools never really closed other than holidays. The only cases of Covid were from Teacher to pupil potentially, but I think after iso only 1 student ever tested positive. Teacher had been overseas. Nothing in last three weeks. Where needed, either the class, or the school was shut down for a day for cleaning in relevant areas and others were kept in iso if necessary for the 14 days.

My niece who has lupus and two children at school, took them out before the holidays and home trained them because she felt she was at risk because she is immuno compromised like me, with Lupus. When school returned in April they were back off to school and loving it.

 

[Flashback]

When you compare the efforts made in Australia to provide meaningful online learning for students, to the UK where the teaching unions say that as online is no substitute for face-to-face, they have done very little and we have made a huge effort. I know from my connection to a local High School in Sydney, that staff have not only made a major effort to provide digital teaching and resources, and analogue student packs, but have been closely monitoring participation rates & submission of completed work. My granddaughter was sent home at lockdown in the UK with a list of ideas for the parents to explore if they felt so inclined.

I think it's very much dependent on the school; that's the opposite of the high school that is a stone's throw from where I currently live and that's based on accounts of the current situation from both a teacher who works there (I play hockey with him) as well as students who actually attend (who live a few doors down). Both have indicated it's business as normal and has been working well. So much so in fact that she was complaining to her mother that she has to be up and ready to go every morning by 8am otherwise parents are called...

 

[Gremlin]

Though one comment I have heard holds a little truth-"if State Governments had to pay unemployment benefits the lockdowns would be more lenient.

I agree with this. In fact, we're seeing it in the US right now where UI is paid by the states, not federally. Those that have very lean reserves are opening up, regardless of whether their case numbers are controlled or otherwise.

I am very glad that didn't happen here.

Mind you, in NZ the Government is responsible for both the unemployment bill and the health outcomes and made the call to lock down hard. I think they'll come out of it looking pretty clever.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hope this isn't paywalled but it does give an idea as to why SA jumped the gun in this pandemic.

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View attachment 217650

So that articles indicates that they were up and running for testing on 5th Feb.

I do not know when precisely when testing was first available in all the other states and territories, however looking now at when the first tests returned positive results in Australia:

• On 25 January, the first case of a SARS-CoV-2 infection was reported, that of a Chinese citizen who arrived from Guangzhou on 19 January. The patient was tested and received treatment in Melbourne.[2][16] On the same day, three other patients tested positive in Sydney after returning from Wuhan .

So at least NSW and Victoria must have had tests ready by at least 25 Jan.
Qld reported its first positive case on 29 Jan.

The NY Times reported:
Scientists around the world were waiting at their computers in early January when China released the coronavirus genetic code, the blueprint for creating tests and vaccines. Within days, labs from Hong Kong to Berlin had designed tests and shared their research with others.
Within about two weeks, Australia had its own tests, and even citizens in the most far-flung regions of the country could be tested.

I know that with one Victorian manufacture of tests that sourcing the reagents to manufacture their test became a problems limiting how many tests could be made. And that also that swabs became a problem. Obviously supply of tests (both made locally and bought from overseas) was constrained until recently in Victoria, but over the last fortnight have move to having been below average on tests per capita to the second highest in Australia after SA. The % of positive tests overall is now along with SA the equal second lowest at 0.6% with the NT the lowest at 0.5%.

 

[VPS]

I'm sure all (at least VIC) would have seen Dan's press release yesterday morning, with schools returning in a staged approach.
Fairly sure most teachers (including myself) were really getting into the rhythm of remote learning/remote teaching... and now we'll have to go back to old school ways. No qualms about that, but a lot of work has been put in to make remote learning work (at least from my side and some of my colleagues).

What's your view on this, AFF?

Colleague WFH with husband also WFH and a 5,8, 10 year old has said the teachers have been great and she's had kids in different rooms doing different lessonsl but I think it's been tough so she's looking forward to them going back.

 

[Flashback]

Colleague WFH with husband also WFH and a 5,8, 10 year old has said the teachers have been great and she's had kids in different rooms doing different lessonsl but I think it's been tough so she's looking forward to them going back.

I just got off the phone with Mother FB and she mentioned my nieces are in their 3rd week back at school (Perth).

 

[RooFlyer]

My dentist stopped doing regular check-ups, but kept on with the tooth-ache & other interventionist stuff. I called today, asking when they will be taking check-up appointments, hoping to get an appt for 6-monthly check (months overdue) 'before the rush'.

Very surprised to hear that they are already doing them, but limited days. I have an appointment for next week.

 

[jakeseven7]

My dentist stopped doing regular check-ups, but kept on with the tooth-ache & other interventionist stuff. I called today, asking when they will be taking check-up appointments, hoping to get an appt for 6-monthly check (months overdue) 'before the rush'.

Very surprised to hear that they are already doing them, but limited days. I have an appointment for next week.

Booked in with mine too.

You do not want to delay dentist visits!

 

[CityRail]

On returning to work, University of Sydney has tentatively released a schedule for return to work, which they will aim to reopen some of the facilities from 25 May, more face to face teaching from late June, and to have more, if not most employees back to work by end of July.

Other universities are also planning for a phased return on campus, as I understand UoW is planning for labs, practicals, seminars and workshops back to face-to-face mode. I sincerely hope tutorials will follow as well.

Despite classes may still be delivered online, in particular lectures, I hope it will provide insights that HE sector will return to F2F tutorials, labs and workshops etc. in semester 2, in line with the expectations from the Federal Government.

 

[RooFlyer]

On returning to work, University of Sydney has tentatively released a schedule for return to work

The University of Tasmania also announcing a staged come-back, but it sounds very cautious. Some staff are already in buildings on campus - not necessarily their own, as many buildings remain completely closed. Some limited face-to-face teaching experiences will be allowed (by teacher invitation), but all lectures stay on-line for Second Semester. Anyone who goes on campus must go through a 'health check' checkpoint AND complete an on-line module on hygiene, history etc.

The thing that affects me most (HDR, studies off campus) is that the main Library will only be allowing 10 students at a time, for 1-4 hrs per week, via a booking roster. Its 5 stories high and mostly converted to study spaces, so everyone gets 1/2 a floor each. The staff have been good in posting out books, on request.

UTAS communications have been very confusing over the past 2 months, mainly because they appear to be focusing on being seen to be saying the right things, not so much actually keeping students informed about what's going on.

 

[CityRail]

The University of Tasmania also announcing a staged come-back, but it sounds very cautious.

UTAS communications have been very confusing over the past 2 months, mainly because they appear to be focusing on being seen to be saying the right things, not so much actually keeping students informed about what's going on.

At USyd, Macquarie University and UOW, all buildings are in weekend mode, so that prevents having a lot of students going in. The study spaces remains open but the patronage remained quite low.

Interestingly, UOW is the campus which did not have its library closed during the whole time, so I wonder how they can go around the government's restrictions to keep it open.

On the other hand, I think the staged return is going to be a cautious one, and I am sure lectures will be only available online with assessments done remotely where possible. This is because lectures can be considered to be large gatherings of 100+ people which even if they have exemption, that will be categorised as high risk. Same for final exams where hundreds of people congregated in a venue to do the exam.

However I sincerely hope that tutorials will be come back in Semester 2, 2020, as a university teacher we understand the importance of hands on experience of tutorials to students, and online tutorials aren't really the way to go.