Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[Melburnian1]

...And for parochialism's sake, note that in time since the NW Tas outbreak, I have been critical of the Tas govt and Premier Gutwein's decisions. And I do have self-interest here. Victoria's performance will affect Tas's ability to open its borders, given all the flights currently go via Melbourne.

It's also inefficient for you Taswegians to have to (say) travel via Sydney to anywhere because often that takes extra time (assuming connecting times to other domestic, or international, flights would be similar.

A HBA-PER trip would be c. 90 minutes to two hours slower via SYD. Not helpful if you're a businessman.

 

[p--and--t]

And unfortunately, then out of money. It's a staggering statistic but allegedly at least 40 per cent of (adult) Australians of working age would not have their finances lasting five weeks if they lost their job. That's reality now for some. When JobKeeper ends, that will become clearer.

Yep, depending on what decisions the gov makes before end September, things are expected change markedly then. But many people who are still (for the time being) rushing back to their gym memberships, fancy breakfasts, and desperate for clubs/pubs to open thinking about enjoying today (some of them possibly on JobKeeper), not worry about tomorrow until it comes. The reality check hasn't hit home for many just yet.

The media vision tonight of the huge queues in WA outside clubs with zero distancing was very telling that not much has been learnt.

 

[Pushka]

The media vision tonight of the huge queues in WA outside clubs with zero distancing was very telling that not much has been learnt

WA has very different social distancing rules to elsewhere. SA is catching up on Monday.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yep, depending on what decisions the gov makes before end September, things are expected change markedly then. But many people who are still (for the time being) rushing back to their gym memberships, fancy breakfasts, and desperate for clubs/pubs to open thinking about enjoying today (some of them possibly on JobKeeper), not worry about tomorrow until it comes. The reality check hasn't hit home for many just yet..

I have also read - and find it hard to believe - that spending on gambling is up 40 to 50 per cent since JobKeeper started.

 

[p--and--t]

I have also read - and find it hard to believe - that spending on gambling is up 40 to 50 per cent since JobKeeper started.

On the "normal distribution or bell curve" in maths half of the population is on the left of middle and half on the right. Many are fairly close the the centre line but many are also in the outer leading edges. What the people on one side find unfathomable from one side is vastly different to what those on the other side find "normal".

During lock-down some have reasoned that they should buckle down, do some home cooking, watch netflix and save their money "just in case". Others have taken to more drinking, gambling, online shopping, expensive home delivery dinners or talking to their therapists.

 

[Hvr]

or talking to their therapists

About their standard deviations?

 

[p--and--t]

About their standard deviations?

I left out the deviates, the less said the better

 

[serfty]

... standard deviations?

In relation to individuals that is almost an oxymoron!

 

[p--and--t]

In relation to individuals that is almost an oxymoron!

I was too polite to mention morons as well.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

On the "normal distribution or bell curve" in maths half of the population is on the left of middle and half on the right. Many are fairly close the the centre line but many are also in the outer leading edges. What the people on one side find unfathomable from one side is vastly different to what those on the other side find "normal".

During lock-down some have reasoned that they should buckle down, do some home cooking, watch netflix and save their money "just in case". Others have taken to more drinking, gambling, online shopping, expensive home delivery dinners or talking to their therapists.

The last one is a bit uncalled for....mental health is a serious issue.

 

[p--and--t]

The last one is a bit uncalled for....mental health is a serious issue.

That was not a slur, it was covering a wide range of reactions to the situation. Those who found it difficult to cope reacted in different ways.

BTW: I find it offensive you jumped to that conclusion.

 

[moa999]

The media vision tonight of the huge queues in WA outside clubs with zero distancing was very telling that not much has been learnt.

WA is 2 months without community transmission - that's eradication.
Much like NZ has had 40k people at rugby games

 

[Melburnian1]

WA is 2 months without community transmission - that's eradication.
Much like NZ has had 40k people at rugby games

Despite no vaccine, don't we have to learn to live with some people afflicted (and five or eight per cent of those sadly dying) from this virus?

NZ in the end hasn't 'eradicated it', as there've been a small number of individuals arriving from overseas who have the virus subsequent to the claims of NZ leaders that the virus was no more.

Despite its more homogeneous population than Australia, NZ has been no more 'successful' on a per capita basis. Its PM has damaged the Kiwi economy far more than Oz's has been hit.

 

[moa999]

NZ in the end hasn't 'eradicated it', as there've been a small number of individuals arriving from overseas who have the virus subsequent to the claims of NZ leaders that the virus was no more.

Like us, they go into hotel quarantine, so are (subject to risk of security, hotel staff etc) not counted as the community is protected

And after the issue with some returnees who were let out after 7 days for compassionate reasons, then tested positive, I don't think they will be having many exceptions.

As for the economy, NZ is far more tourism exposed than us.

 

[james4321]

Despite no vaccine, don't we have to learn to live with some people afflicted (and five or eight per cent of those sadly dying) from this virus?

NZ in the end hasn't 'eradicated it', as there've been a small number of individuals arriving from overseas who have the virus subsequent to the claims of NZ leaders that the virus was no more.

Despite its more homogeneous population than Australia, NZ has been no more 'successful' on a per capita basis. Its PM has damaged the Kiwi economy far more than Oz's has been hit.

In fairness to the NZ leaders I dont think it is accurate to say that they "claimed ... the virus was no more" Their statements related to NZ only. The only new infections there are from returning travellers bringing it back from overseas, where as is painfully obvious the virus appears to be heading out of control in a number of countries. And we are not doing so well here particularly in VIC and NSW, so understandable that the smart states that have it under a high level of control (not eradication - control) want to keep it that way.

 

[get me outta here]

It also coincided with being able to take money out of superannuation, losing jobs, being stuck at home, etc etc. If one finds it incredible that these sort of things happen, one may be out of touch with a proportion of the population who are not as sensible as we may like.

I have also read - and find it hard to believe - that spending on gambling is up 40 to 50 per cent since JobKeeper started.

 

[jase05]

And unfortunately, then out of money. It's a staggering statistic but allegedly at least 40 per cent of (adult) Australians of working age would not have their finances lasting five weeks if they lost their job. That's reality now for some. When JobKeeper ends, that will become clearer.

Yep, got a good mate who runs a repo business over here in Adelaide and he works just the Northern Area and was speaking to him yesterday and he had reclaimed 35 cars and 6 houses in the last two weeks. When JobKeeper ends he reckons he will need to put on extra staff

 

[jase05]

Dan and his CHO have called a Sunday presser, this can’t be good for Victorians. Possibility of lockdowns?

 

[tgh]

The optimists fail to identify the infective reality ; as soon as the isolation restrictions are eased the infection spread recommences.
Even from a very small starting point the virus infects exponentially , flattening the curve or even near eradication does not negate this reality.
It takes just one asymptomatic spreader who is moving in crowds and shedding live virus to restart a new round of infection.
It takes some time for the symptomatic cases to be noticed because folks don't want to know, they just want it to go away
By the time symptomatic cases are in treatment the underlying community spread is difficult to stop.
Yes we are on red alert and there is a rush to test , quarantine and treat .. all good but the infection is still there.. waiting, testing for any opportunity to propagate.

I recently saw a persuasive argument suggesting that this pandemic is/will be the third worst in recorded history.
The world numbers to date seem to support this , perhaps as a conservative view because the covid proliferation throughout the world has been explosive.
Ten million tested cases with, say, a minimum factor of 4 (I have seen 10 suggested ), a conservative 40 million infections in six months with a continuing escalation in daily cases.

In this salubrious environment the au government has spent the rent on short term community support ; there appears to be no plan B for a five + year economic and social depression driven by a very successful new disease.
Calm heads are warning of a second wave market correction citing the sucker rally to end all sucker rallies.

How will you survive in my very dark prognostication of an Apocalyptic world ?
Will you scoff at my negativity , believe in endless government largesse, or that the virus will just.. go away.. or some other hopeful estimation ?

This piece is either a prescient warning.. or doomsday rubbish , I sincerely hope that it is rubbish .. but if it is not.. at least I may have sown some seeds of survival..

More optimistic rebuttals welcomed…...

 

[Melburnian1]

It also coincided with being able to take money out of superannuation, losing jobs, being stuck at home, etc etc. If one finds it incredible that these sort of things happen, one may be out of touch with a proportion of the population who are not as sensible as we may like.

I'm certainly not 'out of touch' with individuals 'like that' - I have some opposite me in the street - but the alleged increase gambling spend is still a staggering (and sombre) statistic.