Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[N860CR]

But didn’t we have a federal hotspot model of 10 average cases per day over 3 days or something (can’t remember what it was... probably because it’s been ignored).

How does Morrison then come out and declare Brisbane a hotspot without meeting the federal definition? Or does the definition only count for states that he has confidence in?

 

[jakeseven7]

Virgin Airlines flooded with calls, flags massive cuts to Queensland flight schedules​

Virgin Airlines is operating Queensland services as usual at this stage, but is planning to make changes to its future schedule after Greater Brisbane was declared a national hotspot for COVID-19.

The airline is experiencing a deluge of calls in the wake of the decision, and has asked anyone travelling with the airline in the next three days to avoid calling.

Coronavirus as it happened: Greater Brisbane declared a hotspot, to enter lockdown after UK COVID strain found; WA to close border to Queensland

The Federal Government will apply more stringent requirements to international arrivals, including those coming from the UK where a more infectious strain of the virus is rampant.

www.theage.com.au

 

[TheRealTMA]

PM supports QLD lock-down. Praises the wise decision by the QLD government.

Coles, Woolworths bring in two-pack limits in Brisbane after day of panic buying

Major supermarkets bring in two-item limits for a number of grocery products in high demand as Brisbane shoppers stock up ahead of a three-day lockdown.

www.abc.net.au

What a difference a new year makes.

 

[jakeseven7]

But didn’t we have a federal hotspot model of 10 average cases per day over 3 days or something (can’t remember what it was... probably because it’s been ignored).

How does Morrison then come out and declare Brisbane a hotspot without meeting the federal definition? Or does the definition only count for states that he has confidence in?

Its because its a MUTANT strain haven't you heard

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Its because its a MUTANT strain haven't you heard

Not a teenage mutant strain??? Too soon .... lol

 

[jakeseven7]

What a difference a new year makes.

They can all play nice now the vaccine is on our doorsteps.

Its us plebs who will be footing the bill for all the border closures for 25 years though. Oh well.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Three day lockdown. NP. Was planning to stay in and watch the cricket anyway.

So, actually I’m more worried about rain than CV at the moment.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The National Cabinet's Media Statement with respect to revised international aviation measures has now been formerly issued and posted:

Statement - National Cabinet | Prime Minister of Australia

www.pm.gov.au

Domestic and International aviation measures​

National Cabinet agreed to additional measures to strengthen end-to-end protection of Australians from COVID-19, including new variants.

International passenger caps in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia will be temporarily halved from no later than 15 January 2021 to manage the flow of returning Australians and other travellers who have been potentially exposed to the new variants. Current international passenger caps in Victoria and South Australia and arrangements in the Northern Territory are considered manageable and will remain in place.

Arrangements on international passenger caps will be reviewed by National Cabinet in early February.

National Cabinet also adopted a number of recommendations from the AHPPC in relation to in-flight and in-airport measures.

For international travel:

• Returning Australians and other travellers to Australia must return a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure. Exemptions will only be applied in extenuating circumstances, such as seasonal workers where there is limited access to testing.
• Air crew must take a COVID-19 test every 7 days or on arrival in Australia, continue to quarantine in dedicated quarantine facilities between international flights or for 14 days, and not reposition for an outgoing international flight unless they do so on a crew-only flight.
• All passengers and air crew must wear masks on flights and in airports.
• Airlines will continue to have appropriate infection prevention and control measures on board aircraft, including crew wearing personal protective equipment where appropriate.

For domestic travel:

• All passengers, excluding children 12 and under or those with particular exemptions, and air crew must wear masks on flights and in airports.

These measures will also be applied to government facilitated commercial flights which already have in place strong mitigating measures for passengers and facilities.


The AHPCC has also now issued an official update:

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on safe air travel – enhancing end-to-end mitigations – international​

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on safe air travel – enhancing end-to-end mitigations – international

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on safe air travel – enhancing end-to-end mitigations – international.

www.health.gov.au

Date published: 8 January 2021
Type: News
Intended audience: General public

Passenger pre-departure testing​

Passengers travelling to Australia must be tested for COVID-19 72 hours or less prior to departure, and display evidence of a negative test result. PCR testing is required. Exemptions from this requirement may be available in extenuating circumstances including use of rapid antigen testing in rare cases. Members of a travelling party who have been close contacts (e.g. household contacts) of a traveller who has a positive test result will also not be allowed to travel to Australia until all members of the party are no longer infectious.

In-flight infection control​

Passengers and crew on international flights must wear a face mask while in the airport environment and during the flight. Masks should be changed regularly. Masks are not required for children under 12 years of age and those with other recognised exemptions.

Crew must wear other personal protective equipment where appropriate and dispose of these correctly.

Airlines must ensure appropriate infection prevention and control measures on aircraft according to COVIDSafe plans and national and industry guidelines.

Airport environment​

Travellers to Australia within the international airport environment, including passengers, crew, border workers and other staff, should follow Australian guidance for travellers including wearing a facemask for the duration of the time in the airport*.

*masks are not required for children aged 12 and under and those with other accepted exemptions

International air crew management​

AHPPC recommends that all states and territories require international aircrew arriving into Australia, who are not local residents, to quarantine in a dedicated quarantine facility between international flights or for 14 days, whichever is the least. Crew who are local residents and who enter Australia in their state of residence may be allowed to quarantine at home for 14 days or until their next international flight. AHPPC recognises the importance of testing air crew. Crew flying on international flights should either undergo a COVID-19 test every 7 days in Australia or be tested on arrival in Australia as directed by jurisdictions.

 

[jase05]

looks like Queenslanders have largely not been taking covid seriously.

Masks may only be mandated from 6pm tonight but anyone following health advice would have had them long ago.

Not just Queenslanders.
In SA masks are pretty much non existent everywhere. I was in Rundle Mall today for over an hour and hardly saw a mask inside any stores and most stores were busy. Mrs Jase catches PT to work daily and her train is packed with barely a spare seat most days and she reckons there would be lucky if 3 or 4 people have masks on.

 

[oznflfan]

Its because its a MUTANT strain haven't you heard

100 times deadlier than EBOLA.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I would also note:

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on management of COVID-19 variants​

Date published: 8 January 2021
Type: News
Intended audience: General public

Full release at Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on management of COVID-19 variants

An extract of this is:

Two variants, B.1.1.7 that emerged in the UK and B.1.351 that emerged in South Africa, have been shown to spread more readily between individuals than previous SARS-CoV-2 viruses, that is, they have higher transmissibility. However, there is still much not known about these viruses, including whether they result in cases being infectious for a longer period. To date there is no evidence that either of these variants cause more severe disease or that the current vaccines would not be effective against the new variants.

From 7 January 2021, additional precautions will be put in place to manage persons with any of the more transmissible variants. These include a longer minimum period of isolation and assessment of infectiousness by experts before release from isolation. Stringent quarantine and infection control measures will be maintained to prevent the introduction of these viruses into the Australian community.

Post automatically merged: Jan 8, 2021

And lastly:

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on wearing masks on domestic flights​

A statement from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on wearing masks on domestic flights.

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) statement on wearing masks on domestic flights

A statement from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on wearing masks on domestic flights.

www.health.gov.au

Date published: 8 January 2021
Type: News
Intended audience: General public

Mask wearing should be mandatory on domestic flights for all persons* in Australia as an additional preventative measure to prevent geographical spread of COVID-19.

Mask wearing should be mandatory in indoor areas in domestic airports depending on jurisdictional assessment.

*masks are not required for children aged 12 and under and those with other accepted exemptions.

 

[I love to travel]

But didn’t we have a federal hotspot model of 10 average cases per day over 3 days or something (can’t remember what it was... probably because it’s been ignored).

How does Morrison then come out and declare Brisbane a hotspot without meeting the federal definition? Or does the definition only count for states that he has confidence in?

Because they know something we do not yet know. Pivotal question. When today's numbers were announced what was the cut off time.? How many unofficial results came through by the time of national cabinet which will be reflected in tomorrows numbers?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Mass exodus: Highways gridlocked ahead of Brisbane lockdown​

Major highways out of Brisbane are gridlocked and hotels on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts are being swamped with bookings by people fleeing the city despite a stern warning from police to “just stay home”.

Jeremy Pierce, Shiloh Payne and Thomas Morgan
January 8, 2021 - 4:24PM
The Courier-Mail

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Greater Brisbane will be forced into a strict…


Major highways out of Brisbane are gridlocked this afternoon as people flee the city ahead of lockdown at 6pm tonight - despite authorities ordering anyone who has been in Brisbane since January 2 to isolate for three days.
Tourism operators are being swamped with bookings from Brisbane residents desperate to leave the city with highways heading to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts resembling carparks as hordes of travellers left Brisbane before the start of the three-day lockdown.
Gold Coast Police will launch a major traffic operation to swoop on motorists defying Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young’s directives.

Police patrols will intercept vehicles on the southbound lanes of the M1 heading towards the Gold Coast to ensure the rules are being complied with.

No Cookies | The Courier Mail

Breaking News Headlines for Brisbane and Queensland | Courier Mail

www.couriermail.com.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But didn’t we have a federal hotspot model of 10 average cases per day over 3 days or something (can’t remember what it was... probably because it’s been ignored).

How does Morrison then come out and declare Brisbane a hotspot without meeting the federal definition? Or does the definition only count for states that he has confidence in?

It is due to it being a more transmissible strain.

Management of COVID-19 Variants and Brisbane Case​

Professor Kelly briefed National Cabinet on the emergence of new variants of COVID-19. New variants have a clear higher transmissibility, are rapidly becoming the dominant virus in the UK and are now being seen in more than 30 countries across the world, including Australia where there have been 12 occurrences of the variant.

Additional measures to further mitigate risks of the spread of COVID-19, including new variants, arising from international and domestic air travel were agreed and outlined below.

National Cabinet was briefed on the current situation in NSW, Victoria and Queensland. National Cabinet welcomed the decision taken by the Queensland Government following the confirmation of a positive case of the new variant. In recognition of the increased risk of transmission, National Cabinet agreed to include the Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Logan, Moreton, Redlands and Ipswich as hot spots.

National Cabinet agreed that the national standard for any worker involved in quarantine arrangements (transport, cleaners etc) will be to have daily COVID-19 tests, with jurisdictions to work towards meeting this standard as soon as possible.

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is the key decision-making committee for health emergencies. Australia's Chief Medical Officer chairs this committee, which includes all state and territory Chief Health Officers.

www.health.gov.au

 

[Lynda2475]

The sad thing about today's national cabinet is they did not address the need to give transport drivers, flight crew,security/police and cleaners N95 masks and eye protection, proper PPE for all likely exposures is the most important improvement they could have made. Pre-flight testing may catch some cases but is not a guarantee, we need better physical protection for workers supporting the HQ system.

I have a fresh n95 ready for tomorrow's flight, and a fresh 3 layer cloth mask with new filter ready for tonights cinema visit. Remember cloth masks need to be washed after every use.

 

[DC3]

I have ...... a fresh 3 layer cloth mask with new filter ready for tonights cinema visit ...

Ah. Living life on the edge.

 

[DC3]

Which state will be first of the mark to demand interstate arrivals have been vaccinated?

I vote for Taswegia.

 

[N860CR]

Its because its a MUTANT strain haven't you heard

Yep. People weren’t scared enough and were staring to realize we need to find a way to live with this. Even the MUTANT strain wasn’t scary enough... they had to make it an AFRICAN mutant strain

 

[DC3]

... looks like Queenslanders have largely not been taking covid seriously ...

Not sure what part of Qld that you are in, but in my area social distancing and QR code/paperwork done on entry to cafes/restaurants, etc, and hand sanitising seems to be diligently followed. No hanging around random strangers.

QLD is doing very well at managing all of this, from where I see it.

Edit: Those that I know, have the masks ready to go.

 

[hydrabyss]

One.

Given the federal government & health experts are now concerned, I don't really have so much of a problem. But we have to find a better way than instant lockdowns. It just draws people, no matter what they are told, straight in to crowded indoor environments - like - you know - supermarkets....

Post automatically merged: Jan 8, 2021

At least an action like that seems to abide the constitution.

Though I'd like to know who decided to turn the plane around. States surely have no jurisdiction when it comes to refusing an aircraft.

I thought I heard they passed it on to their husband but can't find any reference in any news articles.