Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Lynda2475]

following NSW direction of pulling back the influence and power of Dr Chant to direct agendas

I think you are over estimating how much power/influence Dr Chant has had, unlike other Jurisdictions the NSW government has been balancing health advice whilst considering economic and business factors all along. You only need look at the myriad of pressers where Dr Chant avoided directly answering if she 100% agreed with Gladys' decisions of when to lock down and to do LGA vs city/statewide restrictions, it was clear she wasnt always happy with the decisions, but savvy enough to not speak out against the Premier publicly.

From NSW it certainly looks like Sutton, Young and Spurrier have had more ability to over rule the government, rather than advising the government. Probably because there are state of emergencies in play in those states, a lever never pulled in nsw. Clearly WA ignore their CHO altogether since he is rarely seen for months on end., and as for ACT one gets the feeling Barr overrules their CHO but in the other direction going stricter.

Its time governments treated their citizens like adults, let us assess our own risk wrt whether we visit family and friends, and properly fund and resource our health systems, we have given them almost 2 years to be ready, zero excuses for not yet being ready to live with covid by now.

It will be interesting once the covid dust settlee to see statistics re all the other deaths and injury the extended lockdowns and other over zealous restrictions caused by way of delayed diagnosis for cancer because people couldnt get regular health checks, delayed elective surgery, increased domestic violence with people locked in with their abusers, suicides, mental breakdowns, weight gain. And that is before you tackle social issues of stunted career progression, loss of income impacting super, disruption to education, emotional distress of being isolated from family.

I suspect with some more distance history will not look so kindly on certain epidemiologists and CHOs who put covid health ahead of all else with scant regard for human experience. We deserve to live not just be alive.

 

[Lynda2475]

Opening up travel between regional NSW and greater Sydney has a major effect on businesses

Yes a very positive one in allowing them to do more business. But the comment was wrt readiness. Businesses are champing at the bit to reopen, cant see the majority complaining if they can do that a week earlier. If an individual business isnt ready they can delay their reopening, all lifting the restrictions does is give them ability to open, it doesnt force them to.

Personally i would have been happy for things to open the day after 70%, same for 80%. In fact the fully vaccinated deserved privileges well before now, and had they been given we would have seen even faster vaccine uptake by those not wanting to be excluded.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Phew a day off after dealing with the masses. Came away feeling more sorry than anything for the people still not vaccinating, they have fallen down such deep conspiracy laced rabbit holes they may never find a way out… sigh.

Anyhow back on topic, looks like VIC are considering taking steps to following NSW direction of pulling back the influence and power of Dr Chant to direct agendas and doing the same to Prof Sutton.

I’d suggest this is sorely needed in SA and QLD especially as well.

———

VIC government mulls giving ministers more power, reducing CHO powers​

The Andrews government is set to consider scaling back the powers of the state’s unelected Chief Health Officer and giving the Health Minister greater control over public health orders to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost two years into the crisis, as the state prepares to ease restrictions and learn to live with the virus, Labor MPs are now asking when elected officials will get the ultimate power to sign off on public health orders.

CHO could be sidelined as government mulls giving ministers more power

The Andrews government is set to consider scaling back the powers of the state’s Chief Health Officer and giving the Health Minister greater control over public health orders.

www.theage.com.au

So someone in the government finally realised that listening to some bloke tell them parliament can't sit for months on end and remove a key cornerstone of government accountability...might be a bad idea?

Hopefully Dan "I always follow the health advice" Andrews didn't spit out his morning coffee when he read this article...

Not that he's alone in blindly following advice and not changing the approach quickly enough in line with the shifting risk profile.

I still think a lot about people missing out on entirely necessary elective surgeries every day and the pain they must be living through.

 

[Lynda2475]

Cases under 500 today, reduction in hospitalisations and ICU too

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1446989973136179201

 

[justinbrett]

If NSW manages to maintain cases below 500/day (unlikely, but still...) will WA downgrade NSW from extreme risk?

Or does the fact we're opening up mean there'll be a new level- super duper mega extreme risk.

 

[Pushka]

If NSW manages to maintain cases below 500/day (unlikely, but still...) will WA downgrade NSW from extreme risk?

Or does the fact we're opening up mean there'll be a new level- super duper mega extreme risk.

WA will maintain full on restrictions and bundle up SA in those restrictions as well.

 

[jase05]

If NSW manages to maintain cases below 500/day (unlikely, but still...) will WA downgrade NSW from extreme risk?

Or does the fact we're opening up mean there'll be a new level- super duper mega extreme risk.

Considering that McGowan has constantly threatened to close the SA border if we open up to NSW then I’d say no chance

 

[Lynda2475]

If NSW manages to maintain cases below 500/day (unlikely, but still...) will WA downgrade NSW from extreme risk?

Or does the fact we're opening up mean there'll be a new level- super duper mega extreme risk.

Cant see anyone from NSW travelling to WA for leisure purposes until WA scrap the 14 days of quarantine on arrival. We will have many overseas options before WA becomes viable.

 

[Lynda2475]

NSW cases by local health districts (LHDs)

Of the 477 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night:

106 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD)
56 are from Hunter New England LHD
77 are from Western Sydney LHD
58 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
32 are from Sydney LHD
40 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD
20 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD
25 are from Central Coast LHD
11 are from Southern NSW LHD
17 are from Western NSW LHD
20 are from Northern Sydney LHD
Five are from Northern NSW LHD
One is from Far West LHD
Three are in correctional settings
One is from Murrumbidgee LHD
Five are yet to be assigned to an LHD

 

[N860CR]

Cases under 500 today, reduction in hospitalisations and ICU too

Just a couple more weeks and we could have gotten it down to zero. Typical NSW not learning and not going hard enough.


Obviously, I jest.

 

[Lynda2475]

So many faces at this mornings NSW presser, Craig Laundy no longer a politician but clearly still has their ears for some free promotion for his father's group of pubs.

We have to wait til 18th for vax certificates to be fully integrated with Service NSW app, just use digital certificate from medicare app in the mean time.

 

[antycbr]

Just a couple more weeks and we could have gotten it down to zero. Typical NSW not learning and not going hard enough.


Obviously, I jest.

Getting hard to tell these days… almost need to explicitly state sarcasm but this site is a lot better than some others!

 

[jakeseven7]

Other than transport people who are abiding by the rules, and that woman from Mt Gambier who arrived illegally into SA whilst being positive, SA has been zero for months in the community.

However CHO cancelled the November city bay fun run last Thursday with large public outcry given we currently have no community spread for months and borders will still be closed then. And the AFL footy crowd deemed acceptable, don't touch that ball. So the day after, Grant Stevens (PC) overruled and asked them to resubmit. But the organiser, who sounded shattered, has said its now in vain as they cancelled the printing and supplies on the day SA Health cancelled, to reduce their huge losses. Let alone time spent with Health getting Covid safe. They followed all their requests. The saying at the moment is that it should be called the AFL fun run. Judging from the outcry it may just have been the straw that broke the CHO Svengali hold. Marshall Premier seen as weak now. And the fact she shipped out scores of people from Mt Gambier into a bus to med hotels the same week, all of whom are negative, and shut down Mt Gambier region on the basis of one case that came to nought.

So until we hit that magic 80% in December it's tightly shut but come 80% there will be civil disobedience if CHO plans to maintain her zero target.

Yup so SA need to remove the emergency powers and get rid of the CHO and co.
It’s ridiculous now there.

 

[Pushka]

Yup so SA need to remove the emergency powers and get rid of the CHO and co.
It’s ridiculous now there.

Rumoured to be happening in December. They can keep the current mask etc restrictions without having the emergency powers. Stevens is actually in control not CHO. And we do have an election in March.

 

[jakeseven7]

Rumoured to be happening in December. They can keep the current mask etc restrictions without having the emergency powers. Stevens is actually in control not CHO. And we do have an election in March.

Send her on nice long holiday with the banished Dr Chant (and possibly soon to be banished Prof Sutton!)

 

[Must...Fly!]

Send her on nice long holiday with the banished Dr Chant (and possibly soon to be banished Prof Sutton!)

Good....surely the good friends of Dr Pfizer Young can be convinced to stump up for another travelling companion or two

 

[oz_mark]

If NSW manages to maintain cases below 500/day (unlikely, but still...) will WA downgrade NSW from extreme risk?

Or does the fact we're opening up mean there'll be a new level- super duper mega extreme risk.

It will need to get to under 500 under 5 and 14 day rolling averages for it to be reviewed. And even then, it would only step down to High Risk.

 

[oz_mark]

From NSW it certainly looks like Sutton, Young and Spurrier have had more ability to over rule the government, rather than advising the government. Probably because there are state of emergencies in play in those states, a lever never pulled in nsw. Clearly WA ignore their CHO altogether since he is rarely seen for months on end., and as for ACT one gets the feeling Barr overrules their CHO but in the other direction going stricter.

Not sure about being ignored, but there is mounting evidence of 'capture'.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Send her on nice long holiday with the banished Dr Chant (and possibly soon to be banished Prof Sutton!)

I might be a tad biased, in fact definitely am
But I think Dr Kerry Chant is coming out of this as having been the most measured, level headed CHO of any state /territory.

 

[Pushka]

I might be a tad biased, in fact definitely am
But I think Dr Kerry Chant is coming out of this as having been the most measured, level headed CHO of any state /territory.

And I’m not biased