Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[RooFlyer]

Good news in Victoria! CovidSafe App:

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says Victoria has started using the COVIDsafe app again, after the Department of Health secretary, Dr Brendan Murphy, revealed that the state had stopped using it.


Yet:

In addition, Dr Coatsworth said the COVIDSafe App was providing NSW Health with a vital tool in the battle to contain the virus.

“The app is clearly having an important effect. I mean, not only did it identify some unknown contacts, 544 of them, in fact, it actually identified the entire exposure event at one particular club in New South Wales that would not otherwise have been identified,” he said.

It was reported that Victorian tracers were under great pressure at one stage. I wonder of that led to the decision to stop using the app?

 

[Pushka]

Good news in Victoria! CovidSafe App:

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says Victoria has started using the COVIDsafe app again, after the Department of Health secretary, Dr Brendan Murphy, revealed that the state had stopped using it.


Yet:

In addition, Dr Coatsworth said the COVIDSafe App was providing NSW Health with a vital tool in the battle to contain the virus.

“The app is clearly having an important effect. I mean, not only did it identify some unknown contacts, 544 of them, in fact, it actually identified the entire exposure event at one particular club in New South Wales that would not otherwise have been identified,” he said.

It was reported that Victorian tracers were under great pressure at one stage. I wonder of that led to the decision to stop using the app?

I think the tracers have pretty much given up. Once it becomes a monster then its impossible. But the App would certainly have helped.

 

[p--and--t]

It would definitely be less but not low and worse than seasonal flu across all age groups. In those with severe disease it’s double the mortality in many age groups including the youngest.
Screenshot from ICNARC data England and Wales ICU.
View attachment 224075

not in the field and not watching too closely (its depressing) but I see a problems “letting it rip”. It’s definitely not a “flu”

- the death rate is at least double averaged across the whole population
- it seems to be wildly more infectious
- we dont have any proven prophylactics
- we don't have any proof of herd immunity is likely/possible
- we don't have a vaccine
- people with any comorbidities don't seem to be saveable
- it is very insidious and attacks many vital organs not just lungs
- many who get infected end up with long term or lifetime health issues.
- you can be 3 days away from death with it attacking you severely with no symptoms and then boom

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Good news in Victoria! CovidSafe App:

Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says Victoria has started using the COVIDsafe app again, after the Department of Health secretary, Dr Brendan Murphy, revealed that the state had stopped using it.


Yet:

In addition, Dr Coatsworth said the COVIDSafe App was providing NSW Health with a vital tool in the battle to contain the virus.

“The app is clearly having an important effect. I mean, not only did it identify some unknown contacts, 544 of them, in fact, it actually identified the entire exposure event at one particular club in New South Wales that would not otherwise have been identified,” he said.

It was reported that Victorian tracers were under great pressure at one stage. I wonder of that led to the decision to stop using the app?

Was the context the population stopped using it or the State’s contact tracers?

 

[RooFlyer]

Was the context the population stopped using it or the State’s contact tracers?

It was the state authorities that stopped using it - I guess stopped interrogating the phones of infectees. Yes, lots of issues with iPhone versions especially not being effective, but why on earth would you give up a potential short-cut?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I think the tracers have pretty much given up.

That is not accurate.

They obviously have a huge task at present, and are behind where they would prefer to be.

 

[p--and--t]

That is not accurate at all.

It seems fair bit of misinformation around on the subject and ABC7:30 tonight complicit.

I prefer to believe Dr Sutton.

 

[tgh]

Gossipy (very) message tonight and maybe worth naught…., Qld way behind on test results but have some positives….

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It was the state authorities that stopped using it - I guess stopped interrogating the phones of infectees. Yes, lots of issues with iPhone versions especially not being effective, but why on earth would you give up a potential short-cut?

I do not know what the commentary today was.

But two weeks ago it was that the contacts that were identified in Vic by the app, had already been identified by the 1 hour interview (ie see extract below).
The one new case that initially the app had identified in Vic turned out to not be a case.

In NSW it has been reported that identified two contacts in a large gathering setting (Mounties) that has not been available in Victoria for many months.

• Vic Pubs never got beyond at occupancy of 20 per room. The very large pubs (ie think Crossroads) never re-opened at all.
• Looking at About Mounties Club Venue that would seem to be the type of venue in Vic that has not been operating for many months.

Victorian authorities say they have not found a case with the app that was not also found through other methods .


The COVIDSafe app is yet to provide any assistance to Victorian health authorities tasked with contact tracing, as the state grapples to contain outbreaks of the coronavirus.

New figures reveal more than 300 people with coronavirus have the app on their phone and have granted officials permission to sift through their data.

However, Victoria's Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said the information logged by the app provided no information that was not already collected through traditional contact tracing.

"The app has not added a close contact that we haven't found through our very extensive long-form interview that takes an hour or more where we go through every single setting and encounter that people have had," he said.


Professor Sutton argued that was because people were not going out and interacting with others, particularly in Melbourne, which was under lockdown.

"We are in policy settings in Victoria where people are just at home with their immediate family so the close contacts that they have will be those family members and will be workplace close contacts," he said.

COVIDSafe app yet to assist Victoria as Greg Hunt says at least 200 contacts identified

The Federal Government says the COVIDSafe app has identified hundreds of coronavirus case contacts, but Victorian authorities say it has been of limited use to them.

www.abc.net.au

"They are not going to large gatherings, they are not standing next to strangers for 15 minutes or more, so the COVIDSafe App is not going to flag those interactions because I don't think those interactions are largely happening."



The other factor may be too that a lot of the problematic positive cases in Vic in this the second wave have been amongst people not doing the right thing. You would imagine that many such people would therefore not have the Covidsafe App installed and operating.

 

[p--and--t]

You would imagine that many such people would therefore not have the Covidsafe App installed and operating.

The first cases from the second wave were family gatherings. How many people have the phone on, Bluetooth on and the app loaded and running when at home having family dinner with close relatives that you “trust”?

 

[dajop]

I wonder if this Human Rights Charter in Victoria, and whoever has interpreted the law around it, is a major contributing factor to the whole situation. I mean why the proverbial were security guards escorting quarantined travellers for fresh air? If they hadn't been doing that, then there would have been less interaction and less fraternisation and who knows, it might not have mattered so much that the guards were mismanaged.

 

[Princess Fiona]

It seems fair bit of misinformation around on the subject and ABC7:30 tonight complicit.

I prefer to believe Dr Sutton.

That is not accurate.

They obviously have a huge task at present, and are behind where they would prefer to be.

The word on the ground is that contract tracing in Melbourne is overwhelmed.
This isn’t surprising given the daily numbers of new cases.
Stage 4 will hopefully allow them time to not only catch up but get ahead of the game.

 

[Pushka]

That is not accurate.

They obviously have a huge task at present, and are behind where they would prefer to be.

Ok. My license. Being days behind contacting people for tracing is effectively not meaningful. Which, given todays bombshell that covid positive people have been allowed into the general population if exercising may explain why contact tracing is pretty much impossible in Victoria unless its in an occupational setting.

 

[RooFlyer]

But two weeks ago it was that the contacts that were identified in Vic by the app, had already been identified by the 1 hour interview (ie see extract below).
The one new case that initially the app had identified in Vic turned out to not be a case.
....

The other factor may be too that a lot of the problematic positive cases in Vic in this the second wave have been amongst people not doing the right thing. You would imagine that many such people would therefore not have the Covidsafe App installed and operating.

Again, I acknowledge that these are tough times, lots of pressure. But honestly, to stop using a tool that might help you keep afloat when you are drowning ... no excuse for me, sorry. They are using it again - so change of mind? Reminds me of when the Premier knocked back the offered assistance 1,000 ADF personnel. Even if they were just put on school crossing duty, it would have allowed Vic personnel to 'step up' to more important responsibilities. Fortunately lots of ADF on the streets now.

 

[p--and--t]

I wonder if this Human Rights Charter in Victoria, and whoever has interpreted the law around it, is a major contributing factor to the whole situation. I mean why the proverbial were security guards escorting quarantined travellers for fresh air? If they hadn't been doing that, then there would have been less interaction and less fraternisation and who knows, it might not have mattered so much that the guards were mismanaged.

In have no direct knowledge but commenting from a point of ignorance.

Think they would have had a riot on their hands, disobedience and mental heath issues if people weren't allowed out to have a smoke where the hotel banned smoking in the building. Exercise (or fresh air) may have been in the same category of avoidance of negative health / compliance outcomes.

 

[RooFlyer]

The first cases from the second wave were family gatherings. How many people have the phone on, Bluetooth on and the app loaded and running when at home having family dinner with close relatives that you “trust”?

I do! And that was, and still is, the instruction on how to use it; just have it running all the time and let it take care of itself. You don't turn it on and off depending if you 'trust' the people close to you. Sorry, with respect, was that not obvious? (or maybe you are having a leg-pull ?)

 

[Pushka]

Think they would have had a riot on their hands, disobedience and mental heath issues if people weren't allowed out to have a smoke where the hotel banned smoking in the building. Exercise (or fresh air) may have been in the same category of avoidance of negative health / compliance outcomes.

Seems to not have happened in Sydney and other places though. Sounds similar to the percentage who refused to take the covid test.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

...

• Vic Pubs never got beyond at occupancy of 20 per room. The very large pubs (ie think Crossroads) never re-opened at all.
• Looking at About Mounties Club Venue that would seem to be the type of venue in Vic that has not been operating for many months.

You might want to double check if your impression is correct.

Fromthe information I can dig up, pubs and other venues were due to increase on 22 June from 20 to 50

Victoria locks in next stage of eased coronavirus restrictions as nine new cases recorded

Victoria's Premier confirms the state will move ahead with the next stage of lifting coronavirus restrictions on June 22, allowing cinemas and theatres to reopen and boosting customer capacity for hospitality venues.

www.abc.net.au

10 Suburban Hotspots were announced on 30 June, commencing midnight 1 July.

If it is 7 days of increased capacity, it probably doesn’t make a huge difference to where we are now.

also Crossroads Hotel had 14 infections at one dining slot.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I do! And that was, and still is, the instruction on how to use it; just have it running all the time and let it take care of itself. You don't turn it on and off depending if you 'trust' the people close to you. Sorry, with respect, was that not obvious? (or maybe you are having a leg-pull ?)

I think trust might be the wrong word. I personally would regard my household as immediate close contacts, extended family only if I saw them for a meal.

the app is good beyond someone’s knowledge eg table next door.

i think the Qld transmission at the restaurant might raise queries about the suitability of the 4sqm rule (assuming they implemented it correctly).

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

I wonder if this Human Rights Charter in Victoria, and whoever has interpreted the law around it, is a major contributing factor to the whole situation. I mean why the proverbial were security guards escorting quarantined travellers for fresh air? If they hadn't been doing that, then there would have been less interaction and less fraternisation and who knows, it might not have mattered so much that the guards were mismanaged.

Well it seems pretty clear something in Vic was amiss.....I’m still not sure whether it was public health policy setting, enforcement, tracing, something else.