Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[ChrisW.]

I am just trying to understand the new rules.
We have flights booked for tomorrow, SYD-BNE-DRW.
As of now, the NT will let us in as we haven't been to any hotspot in NSW and QLD, right? We are literally just transferring through BNE.

Current restrictions, rules and exposure sites

Information about mask use, mask exemptions and mask mandates at airports.

coronavirus.nt.gov.au

Queensland - there is a requirement to isolate and test for anyone who has entered the Northern Territory from Queensland, since 5 June 2021. Read the requirement to isolate and test details and information on exposure sites below.

Requirement to isolate and test​

Queensland​

I, Charles Hawkhurst Pain, Acting Chief Health Officer, under section 52 of the Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 (the Act), consider it necessary, appropriate or desirable to take action to alleviate the public health emergency in the Territory, declared by instrument entitled "Declaration of Public Health Emergency", dated 18 March 2020 (the public health emergency declaration), by making the following directions, effective immediately:

1. With reference to Part 6 of CHO Directions No.8 of 2021 (my Directions for Territory Border Restrictions), the locations listed at the following link as current exposure venues in Queensland by the Queensland Department of Health, as updated by the Queensland Department of Health from time to time, are COVID-19 public exposure sites. The relevant times and dates specified at the following link as updated by the Queensland Department of Health from time to time are the public exposure periods: Contact tracing — coronavirus (COVID-19)
2. These directions apply to any person who has arrived in the Northern Territory since 5 June 2021 or who will arrive in the Northern Territory who has been to a COVID-19 public exposure site during the public exposure periods.
3. Any person who has arrived or who will arrive in the Northern Territory who has been in Queensland since 5 June 2021 must check the above website at least once per day and comply with these directions if a place they have been to becomes a COVID-19 public exposure site and they were at that place during the public exposure period.
4. With reference to direction 37(a) and (b) of my Directions for Territory Border Restrictions, any person to whom these directions apply who has arrived in the Northern Territory or who will arrive in the Northern Territory who is a ‘close contact’ as defined by the above website, must travel directly to a suitable place of quarantine and remain in that place, except to submit to testing for COVID-19 (or in an emergency). Once tested, the person must remain in the suitable place of quarantine until noon on the 14th day after the last day the person was in the COVID-19 public exposure site, regardless of whether the result of the test is negative.
   
   
   Note: A person who has already had a test may be required to have further tests, at the direction of an authorised officer.
5. With reference to direction 41 of my Directions for Territory Border Restrictions, any person to whom these directions apply who has arrived in the Northern Territory since 5 June or who will arrive in the Northern Territory who is a ‘casual contact’ as defined by the above website, must travel directly to a suitable place of quarantine and remain in that place, except to submit to testing for COVID-19 (or in an emergency). Once tested, the person must remain in the suitable place of quarantine until they receive a negative test result.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I am just trying to understand the new rules.
We have flights booked for tomorrow, SYD-BNE-DRW.
As of now, the NT will let us in as we haven't been to any hotspot in NSW and QLD, right? We are literally just transferring through BNE.

Current restrictions, rules and exposure sites

Information about mask use, mask exemptions and mask mandates at airports.

coronavirus.nt.gov.au

Transits are fine. As long as you do not leave the airport, you are not regarded as being in a hotspot. I think only WA doesn’t allow transits.

 

[Lynda2475]

Also implied she did not have a permit. Looks like she's going to be in trouble with two states! (Well probably three - Victoria for leaving)

Cases like this where there is blatant breaking of restrictions/health orders should not only be fined but also publicly named and shammed as a deterrent.

 

[drron]

I would not mind betting if a job was applied for it was done after arrival in QLD.

Spot on.They did not have an exemption to enter QLD.

Couple did not have travel exemption

The couple who fled Melbourne during the city’s lockdown and drove into Queensland before testing positive to Covid-19 did not have an exemption to enter the Sunshine State, health authorities confirmed.

www.news.com.au

 

[Pushka]

So QLD CHO has said it appeared likely the couple were at the end of their illness so less infectious. Then why didn’t the husband test positive the other day? Additionally the Vic Health are stating she wasn’t likely infectious in Victoria. So....

 

[jb747]

Spot on.They did not have an exemption to enter QLD.

Couple did not have travel exemption

The couple who fled Melbourne during the city’s lockdown and drove into Queensland before testing positive to Covid-19 did not have an exemption to enter the Sunshine State, health authorities confirmed.

www.news.com.au

Not only Qld. They should not have been in NSW, or regional Victoria. Or beyond 5 km from their home.

It’s about time there were serious repercussions for this. Start with crushing their car. Perhaps with them in it.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm not a fan of border closures and travel restrictions, but if they're going to be in place they should be enforced, it's unfair on the law abiding citizens for the dodgy amongst us to do what they want.

And if cases like these aren't cracked down on more will do it.

 

[Pushka]

The issue stems from the mixed messaging from CHO’s who favour a much more compassionate (meaning soft) approach as opposed to the response the Police would want to take. Police are responsible for enforcement so in such circumstances they should be the only ones to comment on such matters and CHO restrict their comments to health implications only.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

So QLD CHO has said it appeared likely the couple were at the end of their illness so less infectious. Then why didn’t the husband test positive the other day? Additionally the Vic Health are stating she wasn’t likely infectious in Victoria. So....

The wife was said to be first symptomatic on 3rd June.

If so, she she is likely based on what typically occurs to have been at her most infectious from 1st June till about the last day or so. But can still be infectious.

Husband would depend on when they believe he became infected.


Though again, only 20% of cases tend to generated any appreciable spread.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

VIC PRESSER

James Merlino: 4 new local cases. Same household. Still not linked. They are based in the northern suburbs.

Vic contact tracing team was not able to to speak to the couple who drove to Qld as yet. Will be able to do so today.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Prof Cheng:

4 cases in a Reservoir household..

Man in his 80's was first and then three other adults found to be positive after close contacts were then also tested.
The first case sought testing swiftly.


The 2 cases that went to Qld:- One of them had checked into the Craigieburn Shopping Centre, where a number of positive cases have been at. (again have not been able to speak with them as yet). Anyone who has shopped at this centre is recommended to get tested (ie not just the actual businesses listed).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Prof Cheng.

Link to Delta source. All 12 HQ residents have been tested again and all are negative still. All staff that have been able to be re-tested have also tested negative ( I would note that one hotel staff member flew out to Dubai, and whether they were tested again was not discussed).

 

[Lynda2475]

Professor Cheng said

""n terms of the case numbers reported yesterday, four reported in the community in Victoria and then the two that were diagnosed in Queensland that have probably acquired infection in Victoria. "

Which is to be expected.

 

[dk4]

Cases like this where there is blatant breaking of restrictions/health orders should not only be fined but also publicly named and shammed as a deterrent.

While I agree some sort of slap on the wrist is appropriate - as they have voluntarily come forward for testing, and then they have assisted the health departments in tracing their movements, you simply don't throw the book at them!

If you did, or worse, as others above have suggested since, you will create an ideal opportunity for the virus to spread in Australia: Some people will always push the envelope, try to get away with things (in fact there is a fairly substantive anti-lockdown movement in Victoria, championed by right-wing extremist media). If you want to make a major example of these individuals for flouting the 5km rule, then all that will happen is: when others flout it, those people won't come forward when they get sick (for fear of punishment), and they won't assist the health departments with contact tracing.... and presto - major outbreak in Australia!

Thankfully all health departments have a fairly good understanding of human behaviour, and perhaps won't take a majorly punitive approach, which would simple serve to dissuade other rule breakers from coming forward voluntarily in the future.

 

[Lynda2475]

I'm not in favour of lockdowns in general, but if there are health orders in place I'm in favour of them being enforced, if there are no consequences for breaking them, then this encourages more people to ignore them, and heath orders become utterly ineffective all round.

There is a difference between people being unlucky to catch covid whilst not breaking any law, then coming forward for a test and the entitled bunch who knowingly break health orders. This couple, the Victorians who flew to NZ (after illegally driving to Sydney) and the Queensland girls who went to Melbourne during wave 2 to shoplift high end hang bags then lied on their border declaration on return etc need to be made examples of, the damage their actions causes to other people livelihoods is unacceptable.

This couple did not come forward for testing because they felt unwell, but because the Husband needed the test result for a job. Just like the main super spreader didn't come forward for testing when he had symptoms, but only when contact tracers identified him 12 days later.

Not charging them for breaking health orders in all 3 states, helps no one. Making a public example might deter others from breaking health orders. Letting them get off scott free only encourages rule breaking due to lack of consequences.

People doing the right thing are suffering whilst rule breakers living the high life, people should be much angrier.

 

[Lynda2475]

WA and NT are fining people who fail to follow the permit process.

From ABC Blog:

Four Victorian travellers fined in the NT over COVID entry forms​

Four travellers in their sixties have been fined more than five thousand dollars each for failing to lodge COVID entry forms when they entered the Northern Territory.

The group from Victoria were allegedly located at Timber Creek yesterday but entered the Territory before their home locations were declared COVID hotspots.

NT Police say the group were also issued infringements for failing to complete WA's entry forms this week.

A control point on the Barkly Highway — at the border with Queensland — has been re-established after two COVID cases were established on the Sunshine Coast.


These serial offender must have money to burn top keep accumulating fines.

 

[justinbrett]

If you want to make a major example of these individuals for flouting the 5km rule, then all that will happen is: when others flout it, those people won't come forward when they get sick (for fear of punishment), and they won't assist the health departments with contact tracing.... and presto - major outbreak in Australia!

I don't agree. I think it's a minority of people who are willing to break the travel rules and still come forward for testing - suggestion is they only did it as the guy's work asked for it. I think if you were deceptive enough to break rules in three different states you'd be laying low and wait for your symptoms to pass.

I don't think you buy much by going soft on these guys - that will only encourage others to break the rules.

NSW is talking pretty tough about this case - they are probably most at risk.

 

[Lynda2475]

And a Tasmanian lying on their border declaration too:

"the man incorrectly indicated that he had only transited through Melbourne in applying to return to Tasmania on Monday, when he had spent the weekend in regional Victoria.

The man would have been required to complete a 14-day quarantine period at home if he had filled out his Tas e-Travel application correctly."

Man ordered to quarantine after returning to Tasmania and failing to disclose Victorian travel

A Tasmanian man who did not disclose that he had spent time in regional Victoria is cautioned by police for failing to complete home quarantine.

www.abc.net.au

 

[OZDUCK]

It seems that, so far at least, the pre-departure testing on people being 'evacuated' from India has now begun to work well. A flight from India arrived in Perth 7 days ago and as W.A has recorded no new cases in 8 days it would seem that the 'negative tests' required on departure were accurate.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

NSW to run a pilot program of 250 / fortnight of international students entering and then quarantining (and possibly continuing to stay) at specially constructed accommodation. Most likely funded by the education providers.

Note that Federal Government has to now review and approve it. But you would expect that it would have already been sounded out with them

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1402825489232797700