Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[hydrabyss]

With the Berala BWS clusters evidently officials are indicating that transmission seems to have been from often only quite fleeting contact.

NSW has now switched to mandatory maskwearing inside.

What surprises me is staff that are working in the hotel quarantine system aren't required to wear masks when out and about due to the close contact they have with the virus.

 

[Lynda2475]

Had to duck into Woolworths up here in Byron Bay and was disappointed to see it is the only place i went today that isnt complying with Service NSW QR codes - still have some property Woolworths code which requires you too know a unique identifier for the store.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Something is going on in Vic?

Latest venue details, previously Rockpool Melbourne was listed as 1-1:30pm since it was listed. Now it has changed to 8-10pm on the 23rd????

But do we have eminently sensible decision makers??

Given the states are apparently in charge, absolutely not.

I'd hate to have a business on the line or have to be a continent away from children, because then I'd feel really aggrieved.

 

[VPS]

Licence. Medicare card. Asked why I was there. (Symptoms or just a contact)

Interesting - I didn't get asked for licence just Medicare card and didn't ask why I was there

 

[Pushka]

Interesting - I didn't get asked for licence just Medicare card and didn't ask why I was there

Was there an alert happening at the time? This was in the midst of the Pizza guy issue. They wanted my licence to check where I Lived. Which as I mentioned before, wasnt! . So they wrote down my Henley Beach address as well. Who'd have thought I'd have to explain this situation so many times. Ive not been asked for my address from Govt authorities for years. Covid times? Lost count. My licence expires in May. Thank god we will be living there by then.

They also asked (Victoria Park) at the first drive in entry point whether I had received an Urgent alert from SA Health on my phone (eg as returned interstate traveller) because then I would have been directed to a different queue. Faster.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Interesting - I didn't get asked for licence just Medicare card and didn't ask why I was there

Tested this week.

They had a list they were operating off. Government run larger site in Chadstone. Questions included:

• Name
• Licence - then asked if that was where I was currently living
• Birthdate was asked
• Medicare
• Why there -explained symptom (sore throat)
• Ask several other questions which I don't all remember now, and whether I had the Covidsafe Ap installed

Was reminded I had to isolate till negative test result received by SM. If positive they advised I would be called.

Later in the process some questions were asked again including just before the swab.

 

[Pushka]

Tested this week.

They had a list they were operating off. Government run larger site in Chadstone. Questions included:

• Name
• Licence - then asked if that was where I was currently living
• Birthdate was asked
• Medicare
• Why there -explained symptom (sore throat)
• Ask several other questions which I don't all remember now, but was whether I had the Covidsafe Ap installed

Was reminded I had to isolate till negative test result received by SM. If positive they advised I would be called.

Later in the process some questions were asked again including just before the swab.

Sounds very similar to my experience too. Possibly when there is stuff happening they amp up the questions.

 

[trevella]

There were 800 deaths in Victoria because they occurred in aged care facilities without acute care capability and patients weren’t moved into hospital. The same occurred in the NSW nursing home. This is the same reason people die in aged care of minor virus any other year - they are simply not setup to deal with more acute cases and, to be blunt, we don’t want them to be.

 

[drron]

In 2019 there were 837 deaths in Aged Care facilities in Australia in 2019 due to the flu.In 2017 it was 1064.

In Australia in 2020 there were 851 deaths of people aged 70 and over with Covid.That includes all those over 70 not just those in aged care facilities.

 

[trevella]

how did we have 800 deaths in Victoria?

ABS data on deaths by state of usual residence:

Victoria
2018: 38,231
2019: 43,944

Amazing that they managed to hold things together in 2019, really.

 

[nutwood]

Nutwood you have spent too long out of Tasmania.To your points.
1.I don't watch too much TV when here but I see numerous ads from the Tasmanian government re what to do re preventing Covid.There are also some from the Commonwealth.

2.The Commonwealth Government does have a clear definition of a hotspot.All but 1 State agreed to it but wouldn't put it into effect at the National Cabinet.That said the Tasmanian and NT governments do take it into consideration with their border conditions.Gold medal goes to the NT though as when case numbers dropped they eased the restrictions.
Tasmania does use the hotspot definition as of now.You only have to go into compulsory hotel quarantine if you arrive having been in the Northern Beaches in the last 14 days.
They then list the other NSW LGA areas that have had cases as areas of moderate risk.Arrivals having been in those areas do have to quarantine for 14 days but can do it at a private residence.So you can still visit granny as long as she lets you stay with her.

Queensland would come next with this outbreak though the implementation of their exemptions and checking of same appears to be a bit of a shambles.

The other States are basically totally ignoring the hotspots definition.Though at least SA this time has carved out the area around Broken Hill as being OK to travel.

3.it is the States that are putting up the barriers so it is up to them to have compassion when looking at exemptions.As I have related several times Tasmania does a very good job in this area.When I have supplied a medical report backing the granting of exemption it has never been denied and that included 4 cases from Melbourne at the height of their lockdown.They just had to quarantine for 14 days at their relative's house.They were checked regularly to ensure that is where they stayed.

QLD on the other hand has shown absolutely no compassion.

4.Not going to happen.Even less reason to trust people who swear that they are going to stay isolated at home.At least with hotel quarantine there is a chance that the idiots will be caught.

Not sure of the relevance of time in Tasmania when I was commenting on things that could be done Federally.
1. Plenty of advertising but the message is not being sold.
2. Understand the hotspot definition issue but my point was the reaction to this. Northern Beaches could have been shut down hard and fast, instead we have more border closures. The only way State Governments can react is by shutting their borders but after nearly a year we should have systems in place to deal with outbreaks in the location they occur, rather than focusing on the State in which they occur.
3. Refer to 2
4. You obviously didn't read carefully. I was not suggesting abolishing quarantine. It's obviously needed, but the hotel quarantine system has fundamental flaws. We could do better. Hotels were not designed for the purpose.

 

[jase05]

Sounds very similar to my experience too. Possibly when there is stuff happening they amp up the questions.

Yeah, had my day 5 one yesterday.
Had SAPOL knock on our door yesterday morning to double check that we were going to get tested that day (we had already received a couple of emails from SA Health reminding us aswell)
Approximately 30 in line and 15 minute wait tops, filled out a couple of forms with Medicare number etc and got tested. On way out were given our day 12 forms to fill out and sent on our way. Test back before lunch today but we didn’t need to isolate whilst awaiting results anyway

 

[Pushka]

Yeah, had my day 5 one yesterday.
Had SAPOL knock on our door yesterday morning to double check that we were going to get tested that day (we had already received a couple of emails from SA Health reminding us aswell)
Approximately 30 in line and 15 minute wait tops, filled out a couple of forms with Medicare number etc and got tested. On way out were given our day 12 forms to fill out and sent on our way. Test back before lunch today but we didn’t need to isolate whilst awaiting results anyway

I do admire those people in any state but currently Victoria who are lining up for hours only to have to return the next day. So many are just trying to do the right thing.

 

[moa999]

Genomic tracing shows Berala connected to patient transport, not to Avalon. It’s an overseas strain. Massive problem due to brief contact required.

To me I think this explains the sudden change to mask wearing in NSW as I think they are worried the UK strain is loose in Berala/Auburn

Was mentioned by the NSW CHO that the strain was not one they are particularly concerned about.

The initial transmission from the Transport workers colleague to one BWS worker was from a short contact in the store. It's believed that worker subsequently spread it to a second BWS worker.
I don't believe any transmission to customers (yet) but there are obviously a lot of potential people... Thankfully most people are in a liquor store for a short period of time and don't have huge staff contact.

Had to duck into Woolworths up here in Byron Bay and was disappointed to see it is the only place i went today that isnt complying with Service NSW QR codes - still have some property Woolworths code which requires you too know a unique identifier for the store.

Don't believe supermarkets are required to use ServiceNSW app yet, just hospitality venues and hairdressers (and no compulsion to sign in at a supermarket - haven't noticed anyone doing it at mine).
Woolworths has reportedly released data to HealthNSW from their Rewards Card for those using BWS Berala.

 

[jakeseven7]

I do admire those people in any state but currently Victoria who are lining up for hours only to have to return the next day. So many are just trying to do the right thing.

6 hour waits in Brisbane today....

 

[Lynda2475]

I usually shop at Coles and at my local they have had service nsw code since week before xmas, and a covis marshall at the door using a counter to ensure not more than 300 in store and asking people to sign in.

Not mandating sign in at supermarkets is a major gap, they can be crowded and many treat it like a social outing dragging whole family along spending 30 mins or more inside. The BWS example is proving how high turnover retail venues can seed an outbreak (as unlike hospitality who constantly clean tables etc, they dont wipe down surfaces like freezer/fridge doors often. More people go to supermarket than use PT or go to cricket.

 

[Lynda2475]

No health checks departing SYD today, but on arrival at BNK temperature check (they were doing that back in Aug) and you also had to check in using service nsw app and show the marshall before being allowed to go to baggage claim or leave.

I checked in using service nsw app at SYD but no one was policing it at terminal 2, so most were walkihg past.

At hotel check in i was asked to lrovide proof of home address to ensure not from northern beaches (not easy when you dont have a license). Right now though southern northern beaches are free to travel, they need to add coughberland LGA and remove some of northern beaches from their checks.

 

[moa999]

Just ducked down to my local Woolies. Fairly empty.
Old QR codes. Saw no-one scanning them.

Covid Marshall reminding people that masks now compulsory and they could be fined from tomorrow, but not turning them away. 90% of people in store wearing them.

Only one staff member (a long term employee who is a bit larger than most - possibly couldn't find a mask that fitted) not wearing a mask, but they had them on the manned checkouts behind plenty of plastic

 

[MEL_Traveller]

ABS data on deaths by state of usual residence:

Victoria
2018: 38,231
2019: 43,944

Amazing that they managed to hold things together in 2019, really.

My response was to the claim that there are effective treatments for covid, and if 'hospitals had been allowed to do their job', most of those deaths would have been prevented (97-98%).

My aunt and uncle, in their 80s but otherwise fit, both had/have covid. They received no treatments and remained at home. So would be interesting to see if the 97-98% survival rate is actually due to effective treatments, or if that is simply the natural recovery rate.

 

[Princess Fiona]

My response was to the claim that there are effective treatments for covid, and if 'hospitals had been allowed to do their job', most of those deaths would have been prevented (97-98%).

My aunt and uncle, in their 80s but otherwise fit, both had/have covid. They received no treatments and remained at home. So would be interesting to see if the 97-98% survival rate is actually due to effective treatments, or if that is simply the natural recovery rate.

The in hospital mortality rate of COVID-19 is 3 times that of Influenza. At least in France.
The Lancet