Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[N860CR]

I have no idea where he has pulled that 10% number from... we work alongside tourism and hospitality operators and Sydney represents much more % than that even with international tourists chucked in normally.

I smell some very selective picking of numbers to try and not panic people....

What is has unfortunately done (not sure if it was intended to or not) is push the Queensland line of “we don’t want youse here” and is going to even further turn off sydney residents from booking travel to Queensland in the future.

 

[DC3]

.... Orofessor Spurrier then went on to lecture us about healthy preparation of the Christmas Lunch. Good god ...

And you are one of her biggest fans, I thought.

Or, am I thinking of someone else.

 

[Pushka]

And you are one of her biggest fans, I thought.

Or, am I thinking of someone else.

Well, she has done a great job in many ways. But so have most of the other CHO's. But I think she's stuck in a bit of a groove right now as evidenced by her comments this morning. And she does get a lot of public adoration here which I find a bit much. St Nicola and the like. I'd like to see some forward planning as to how to manage future outbreaks, which there will be, without resorting to lockdown again.

 

[Lynda2475]

I noticed ABC Sydney broadcast cut away from Dr Spurrier as soon as she started talking about food safety instead of Covid.

 

[antycbr]

This is the price that must be paid for being Australia’s hub/world city, which in normal times has significant benefits.

Also don’t forget, that with quarantine in the arriving port if you excluded so called “residents” of other states, then it would make travel back from several destinations (thinking USA/Canada) extremely difficult for non-NSW residents. The only port currently served for passenger flights out of the US is Sydney.

Given the problems with hotel quarantine, airport transfers/medical transfers and aircrew over the last month, it’s time to completely pause inbound international to Sydney.

They showed footage of the aircrew being escorted by NSW police to the hotel on 9 news. The look on the crews face was priceless but that’s what’s needed. Too many people have had their Christmas holidays broken as a result of the softly softly approach. No one can be trusted. No exceptions. No one.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I just a had look at international flights arriving into Melbourne today.

Looks like six aircraft today.

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

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[Lynda2475]

From SMH:

Air crew quarantine 'hasn't worked completely well': Kelly​

Federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says the different quarantine arrangements for international air crew arriving in Australia to allow flights with people and goods to continue “hasn't worked completely well”.

“Just to be clear, they’ve had very strict arrangements,” Professor Kelly said.

“We did have specific arrangements with the crew and we negotiated that with various companies and unions.”

But he admitted those arrangements, which have allowed some staff to stay in hotels, while others were able to quarantine at homes, had not been perfect.

“Over time, we've realised that that hasn't worked completely well all the time and so we've become stricter on that.”

At any one time, Professor Kelly said NSW could be hosting up to 3000 airline crew. In recent days the state has consolidated the number of hotels crew can stay in, down to two.

 

[Lynda2475]

'Infection control precautions higher in Bunnings': Doctors angry over density scrapping in emergency departments

Doctors are alarmed at a report released by the state's Chief Health Officer that appears to have quietly scrapped density requirements in hospital emergency departments.

www.smh.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

At any one time, Professor Kelly said NSW could be hosting up to 3000 airline crew. In recent days the state has consolidated the number of hotels crew can stay in, down to two.

Well if the 3000 at any one time is indeed a current stat, then the two hotels near the airport better be big hotels.

Either that or start installing bunks.

However Hazzard has indicated a lower figure:
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there were between 2000 and 3000 aircrew staff coming into NSW each week and the state had to “delicately” negotiate with airlines.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

From SMH:

Air crew quarantine 'hasn't worked completely well': Kelly​

Federal Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says the different quarantine arrangements for international air crew arriving in Australia to allow flights with people and goods to continue “hasn't worked completely well”.

“Just to be clear, they’ve had very strict arrangements,” Professor Kelly said.

“We did have specific arrangements with the crew and we negotiated that with various companies and unions.”

But he admitted those arrangements, which have allowed some staff to stay in hotels, while others were able to quarantine at homes, had not been perfect.

“Over time, we've realised that that hasn't worked completely well all the time and so we've become stricter on that.”

At any one time, Professor Kelly said NSW could be hosting up to 3000 airline crew. In recent days the state has consolidated the number of hotels crew can stay in, down to two.

So perhaps dropped the ball and not incorporating apparent improvements that WA have implemented ???

As I said recently- slow on masks for the public, slow on PPE for hospital, etc.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Great news.

So now it’s just back to Sydney / NSW cut off from the rest of Australia... I wonder how long they will be in border prison for...?

My guess Easter.......most have a 28 day rule of some sort so it probably is not before Australia Day, except ACT possibly

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Two cases of mutated COVID-19 strain are in NSW and Victoria respectively​

Earlier Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly flagged the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) would meet to discuss the new COVID variant found in the UK.

They've just released a statement following their meeting, outlining the four cases of this variant in Australia are split evenly between NSW and Victoria.

As previously reported, all four cases are in hotel quarantine.

Four cases with this variant have been documented in Australia, two in NSW and Victoria respectively at this time. All cases have been or are being managed in hotel quarantine and the variant has not spread into the community.

The AHPPC says "it is not clear whether the mutations are responsible for the higher growth rates in cases. It could also be a combination of factors such as a mutation, winter, super spreading events, or found in areas or populations where people live in more crowded settings".

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Not Australia but noteworthy nonetheless

Taiwan reports first locally transmitted COVID-19 case since April​

I hear Taiwan has one new locally acquired case (first time since march). What are the details of this case?

-World watcher

You're living up to your name here, World watcher.

Taiwan has reported its first locally transmitted case of COVID-19 since April 12, a friend of a New Zealand pilot who was confirmed to have been infected earlier this week, and is testing more than 100 contacts of the woman.

Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods and widespread mask wearing, with all new cases for more than the last 250 days being among travellers arriving on the island.

 

[SydneySwan]

Not Australia but noteworthy nonetheless

Taiwan reports first locally transmitted COVID-19 case since April​

I hear Taiwan has one new locally acquired case (first time since march). What are the details of this case?

-World watcher


You're living up to your name here, World watcher.

Taiwan has reported its first locally transmitted case of COVID-19 since April 12, a friend of a New Zealand pilot who was confirmed to have been infected earlier this week, and is testing more than 100 contacts of the woman.

Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention methods and widespread mask wearing, with all new cases for more than the last 250 days being among travellers arriving on the island.

Has WA slammed the door on Taiwan yet?

 

[Flying mermaid]

Two cases of mutated COVID-19 strain are in NSW and Victoria respectively​

Earlier Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly flagged the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) would meet to discuss the new COVID variant found in the UK.

They've just released a statement following their meeting, outlining the four cases of this variant in Australia are split evenly between NSW and Victoria.

As previously reported, all four cases are in hotel quarantine.




The AHPPC says "it is not clear whether the mutations are responsible for the higher growth rates in cases. It could also be a combination of factors such as a mutation, winter, super spreading events, or found in areas or populations where people live in more crowded settings".

Great - looking like Dr FM is trapped in London. She was flying back via Singapore and they have now banned UK travellers. Hope Aus doesn’t, but how she would even get here I have no idea. One of her doctor friends was flying back in 6 days and her flight has been cancelled and she is 32 weeks pregnant - looks like she will be having the Bub in England.

 

[tgh]

I would dearly love to prise #1 son and family out of Covid riddled Sfo and home to safe sensible au…., but they have their life there and being all growed up they make their choices and suffer or enjoy the consequences...

 

[jase05]

Even Singapore has blocked NSW now

SINGAPORE - Short-term travellers holding an air travel pass with travel history to New South Wales (NSW) in Australia within the last 14 days before departure for Singapore will not be allowed to enter the Republic from Thursday (Dec 24).

 

[antycbr]

And finally the patience has worn thin:

“ Mr Barilaro said NSW could consider sending travellers to quarantine in other cities. “We’ll have plenty of notice, we’ll know who’s coming in and we could organise a commercial or charter flight,” Mr Barilaro said. “They don’t want to pay but they want to lecture us … they’re not the ones carrying the heavy burden.”

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Great - looking like Dr FM is trapped in London. She was flying back via Singapore and they have now banned UK travellers. Hope Aus doesn’t, but how she would even get here I have no idea. One of her doctor friends was flying back in 6 days and her flight has been cancelled and she is 32 weeks pregnant - looks like she will be having the Bub in England.

If Dr FM still keen to fly back, there are probably other options - just need to investigate (different entry/transit rules of each relevant country) and have some luck getting a spare seat

 

[SydneySwan]

And finally the patience has worn thin:

“ Mr Barilaro said NSW could consider sending travellers to quarantine in other cities. “We’ll have plenty of notice, we’ll know who’s coming in and we could organise a commercial or charter flight,” Mr Barilaro said. “They don’t want to pay but they want to lecture us … they’re not the ones carrying the heavy burden.”

NoCookies | The Australian

www.theaustralian.com.au

Usually I have little time for Mr Barilaro but he makes a good point.