Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Flying mermaid]

Canberra’s mask mandate to end on Friday - first time we have ever had one. I think I will probably still wear one at the shops until Sydney is at an end.

 

[drron]

And to get to the number that "need" to be in hospital you have to deduct some (if not all) of the Qld component, since they send all positives to hospital even if asymptomatic.

Also the 3 aged care residents in NSW who are all asymptomatic but admitted to hospital as a precaution.So our numbers are lower than reported for hospitalisations.

 

[MooTime]

Canberra’s mask mandate to end on Friday - first time we have ever had one. I think I will probably still wear one at the shops until Sydney is at an end.

not a bad idea, I still wear one in major shopping centers & at busy times in supermarkets.

How's the QR scanning in ACT from what you see?

 

[justinbrett]

Canberra’s mask mandate to end on Friday - first time we have ever had one. I think I will probably still wear one at the shops until Sydney is at an end.

Interesting considering regional NSW has to stick with it. It's probably more likely to spread to Canberra than most of regional NSW (especially now it's based in Western Sydney).

I guess it's a one in-all in approach (for masks, not the lockdown)

 

[RooFlyer]

Disagree, having 15+ unmasked people to your home for an illegal party then lying about who was there is completely different than picking up a no contact take-away coffee from a window whilst masked during your daily solo exercise walk (especially since you order and pay for it online, then pick up cup from a window, no face to face contact with a person).

Your reply misses the point of the post of mine you quoted, completely. You first contended that people 'need' to get out for a 'real coffee' and food (mode of getting there not stated, so including driving, I assume). There is no such 'need' for 'real coffee'. Its a preference, sure, but not a 'need', any more than the NRL mob 'needed' to have a party, even if it was in the fresh air!.

If you take away the ability for people to go for a walk to get exercise and fresh air (especially when they are living in LGAs with zero cases) there will be a revolt, and ultimately less compliance.

Another non sequiter on what's being discussed. Where was it argued (at least by me) that people shouldn't be able to go for a walk and fresh air? 'Getting out' includes driving. You complain often about people saying or implying things you didn't write - may I suggest you look to some of your own responses before hitting 'post reply'.

Israel said that about half the people contracting Covid now were vaccinated but that hospitalisation was down 90% in that group and that was the important statistic. I think at some point this is what we have to live with. We will catch Covid but won’t get seriously ill . That’s the hope anyway.

Not only the hope, but always the message I think (although there was some evidence emerging that it did stop transmission somewhat).

 

[Flying mermaid]

not a bad idea, I still wear one in major shopping centers & at busy times in supermarkets.

How's the QR scanning in ACT from what you see?

It’s variable. Some places are good at checking - any “tourist” places check everyone and people seem good about doing it. Not sure about restaurants - we’ve only been to 2 this year. . It’s only just been introduced at places like Coles and I didn’t see that many people using it last week. Haven’t been shopping yet this week.

As soon as there is any outbreak in Australia you see a few masks being used again, but I do think Canberrans are getting a bit slack because it’s been a year since we had a community case.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Interesting considering regional NSW has to stick with it. It's probably more likely to spread to Canberra than most of regional NSW (especially now it's based in Western Sydney).

I guess it's a one in-all in approach (for masks, not the lockdown)

I suspect it’s because school holidays will be over. While there is generally a fair bit of movement between Canberra and Sydney, schools holiday accentuate it, with many families going down to the coast. In theory no one is supposed to come from Sydney to here, although it’s impossible to police. They were doing spot checks and did manage to find 50 people from Sydney staying at a hotel and they booted them out,

 

[justinbrett]

I suspect it’s because school holidays will be over. While there is generally a fair bit of movement between Canberra and Sydney, schools holiday accentuate it, with many families going down to the coast. In theory no one is supposed to come from Sydney to here, although it’s impossible to police. They were doing spot checks and did manage to find 50 people from Sydney staying at a hotel and they booted them out,

But the same argument could be said about Newcastle, and we're really the same distance from the hotspot.

But I have a NSW licence and you have an ACT one - I guess if Canberra was in NSW you'd be sticking with masks too.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Ive been saying that the amount of people out and about blows my mind. People I know out shopping and taking kids go karting, my local Costco FB group seems to be in a competition doing daily shops. I just dont get it.

It’s the rebellious streak most people have. See what they can get away with.

 

[kpc]

I'll put it out there....could NSW, in partic. Sydney, be the first state /city in Oz that cannot eliminate the virus , forcing us to "live" with the virus (hinted at by the NSW Health minister when asked a Q by a journalist at today's press conference)?...and what would the reaction be of the other states? Close their borders to Sydney and NSW indefinitely? or til the end of the year when the majority should be vaccinated?

 

[justinbrett]

I'll put it out there....could NSW, in partic. Sydney, be the first state /city in Oz that cannot eliminate the virus , forcing us to "live" with the virus (hinted at by the NSW Health minister when asked a Q by a journalist at today's press conference)?...and what would the reaction be of the other states? Close their borders to Sydney and NSW indefinitely? or til the end of the year when the majority should be vaccinated?

This is what Sky News have been talking about this afternoon.

Open the international borders and we can rejoin the world. Bring it on I say (once we get the vaccinations up higher).

 

[Lynda2475]

There is no such thing are permanent elimination, covid zero is a scam, there are only temporary periods without community cases, as the virus will keep being reintroduced. We absolutely do need to learn to live with Covid and NSW Govt has been pretty honest about that from the start, focus on suppression and not overwhelming health services.

 

[Flying mermaid]

But the same argument could be said about Newcastle, and we're really the same distance from the hotspot.

But I have a NSW licence and you have an ACT one - I guess if Canberra was in NSW you'd be sticking with masks too.

Probably true. However we never had spread from NSW - even from Crossroads which is about as close to Canberra as you can get. Or from the South Coast when they had cases down there.

I do feel our luck has to run out at some point.

NSW can’t cherry pick towns - whereas our Chief Minister and CHO can do what they feel is OK.

 

[justinbrett]

whereas our Chief Minister and CHO can do what they feel is OK.

Which was my point entirely. Newcastle is under NSW rule, so we follow the pack.

We've also had hardly any spread from Sydney, I think one or two cases but none spread beyond immediate households.

 

[dajop]

This is what Sky News have been talking about this afternoon.

Open the international borders and we can rejoin the world. Bring it on I say (once we get the vaccinations up higher).

Even the Victorian Premier has been saying that (i.e. once everyone has the chance to be vaccinated). I guess the sticking point between different parties will be what is meant by "get the vaccinations higher".

But it won't be carte blanche, it will be by and large western countries first. India, Indonesia and the like will be a long way off.

 

[jakeseven7]

I'll put it out there....could NSW, in partic. Sydney, be the first state /city in Oz that cannot eliminate the virus , forcing us to "live" with the virus (hinted at by the NSW Health minister when asked a Q by a journalist at today's press conference)?...and what would the reaction be of the other states? Close their borders to Sydney and NSW indefinitely? or til the end of the year when the majority should be vaccinated?

Hmmmm I think they will but maybe it will drag on for weeks as they slowly grind it down…

In principle I don’t really care if they take this approach but all the other states locking NSW out as a result is a complete disaster..

I’m spent all morning moving yet another event out of Sydney down to Melbourne. It’s a giant mess.

 

[bcworld]

Service Vic app records 117M check ins over 4 weeks:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1412630470999773184

 

[oz_mark]

Hmmmm I think they will but maybe it will drag on for weeks as they slowly grind it down…

In principle I don’t really care if they take this approach but all the other states locking NSW out as a result is a complete disaster..

I’m spent all morning moving yet another event out of Sydney down to Melbourne. It’s a giant mess.

You'd think by now that people organising interstate events would know the risks they are taking. Certainly in WA, the plug has been pulled on quite a few.

 

[oz_mark]

I'll put it out there....could NSW, in partic. Sydney, be the first state /city in Oz that cannot eliminate the virus , forcing us to "live" with the virus (hinted at by the NSW Health minister when asked a Q by a journalist at today's press conference)?...and what would the reaction be of the other states? Close their borders to Sydney and NSW indefinitely? or til the end of the year when the majority should be vaccinated?

Or it just takes a while to blast the tail away.

 

[Lynda2475]

'Getting out' includes driving.

Does it? A huge assumption on your part.

I mentioned getting food (real coffee) and exercising, activities easily completed within walking distance from home. I used "go out" (as in outside) never mentioned "getting out", or that anyone should be driving anywhere.

There is no such 'need' for 'real coffee'. Its a preference, sure, but not a 'need'

In your opinion. Personally I need real coffee to work effectively. No coffee no work.

Buying take out coffee/food is permitted whereas hosting a party is not. So whilst you consider them the same (equally risky), the NSW Gov & NSW Health disagrees with your assessment. Cafes were not directed to close, but to move to pick-up and delivery only (so going out to pick up said coffee/food is fine). Households however, were directed to not have guests except in a care giving capacity (implies 1 person, not your footy mates).

The CHO today was quite clear the bulk of recent transmissions originated in workplaces and are spreading within homes because people are having guests at their homes in South West Sydney in breach of health directives (absolutely no mention of any spread via takeaway coffee purchases).

The Premier then asked the people in 3 specific South West Sydney LGAs to limit their movements further and stay home if they can. No change of advice for anyone else, going out to exercising and get food/beverages is legit provided you wear a mask and keep your distance from those outside your household.