Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[burmans]

Saying '50, 60, 70%' is her new thing.

When pressed on accepting rising hospitalisations and deaths she suddenly changed to '70, 80%'.

I think 50% is a carrot for which there will be very little reward.

Absolutely, but personally I think there is logic in this. You can't get to 80% without first getting to 50% then 60%, and as we have seen already on this forum some see 80% as not doable. 50/60% by the end of the month are definitely doable and will see some benefit if as suggested the priority is in highly vulnerable workers.

Today she was very clear that clearly 50% doesn't offer the same benefit as 80% but if 80% is regarded as a hard ask then using the promise of opening up is a strong incentive to at least get us well on that journey.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Saying '50, 60, 70%' is her new thing.

When pressed on accepting rising hospitalisations and deaths she suddenly changed to '70, 80%'.

I think 50% is a carrot for which there will be very little reward.

On 29 August 2021, it will probably be something like:

- schools re-open (despite 'none' being eligible to be vaccinated and that it could have waited another 6 weeks until term and school holidays ended)

In the 'non-concerned' LGAs:
- back to work - no need to be 'authorised'

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No, it's not what I am saying. But what I am saying is that a staged lifting of restrictions should not be dismissed as not taking COVID-19 seriously, as was suggested by the this post.

Striving for zero before lifting restrictions when we know for an absolute fact that zero is not a long term goal is economic suicide. And the health goals are questionable too (relative to zero COVID) as we have safe and effective vaccines to protect from the worst outcomes of COVID-19.

We're not disagreeing on the staged lifting of restrictions... just the choice of the restrictions being lifted, and when. You might expect restrictions to lift with things like not requiring masks outside rather than opening gyms? You could even have had gym classes outside (boot camp etc).

 

[drron]

Guess it also means that NSW should stop the heavy lifting for overseas arrivals and the federal government can distribute passengers/ flights equally between all capital cities.

Maybe they should make OS arrival in SYD is only for those resident in NSW or the ACT.
Other States then responsible for the return of their own residents.of course that would mean the end of OS travel for me as just too dangerous for me to risk QLD HQ.
And then just watch whether other states are successful in their covid zero policies.A lot of their success is due to NSW accepting the return of travellers from all other States.

 

[I love to travel]

Covid case in Cairns

 

[burmans]

A virus did not implement a state of emergency, a government did in response to it. The same governments have continually extended said state of emergency in response to the ongoing (assessed) threat. It may seem like an irrelevant point but I think it is very important to acknowledge.

Yeah, I recognise the point about the government having the right to ‘declare’ a state of emergency. But if I see an emergency I can ring up emergency services and state I have an emergency, I don't have to wait for the government to declare it.

Equally when Covid hit there was a state of emergency regardless of whether Government declared it or not. In fact in retrospect Government was a bit late in doing so. So while acknowledging your distinction I’m still tending towards the view of it as irrelevant, it was an emergency and health experts were certainly telling us it was regardless of whether governments had reacted to that advice.

 

[Denali]

We've already been locked down for weeks so Im surprised by how many people were out and about while infectious. Why, how so many?

Certainly much heartbreak in NSW at present.

The colleague of one of my daughters assisted a person in NSW today who indicated that their daughter, nephew and father had all died due to Covid.

Not covid related but my mum in law has been in hospital for 2 weeks and we got the call today that they're moving her to palliative care and we're to apply now for exemptions to see her but only one person (she has 3 son) at a time can visit.

Brings home how isolated many people must be feeling in care or hospitals and not understand why.

 

[Lynda2475]

We've already been locked down for weeks so Im surprised by how many people were out and about while infectious. Why, how so many?

Even in lockdown people are allowed to do a grocery shop or go to the chemist or post office. If they are unknowingly infected in their workplace or household its not unuusual that they may have been to the supermarket so there are exposure sites.

In the community doesnt necessarily mean they have been out socialising, not tht there are any venues open to sociliase at.

That said its frustrating how many households in the 8 LGAs are clearly still gathering in homes when they shouldnt be. Hopefully now with the ADF door knocks the non compliant will be caught out.

Im also sick of people bringing their unmasked kids to the supermarket for an outing, time for the supermarkets to put a security guard on the door and only allow indviduals in (no couples or people with kids) - the rule is one person per household,

 

[jase05]

Case in Cairns

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Covid case in Cairns

Queensland Health investigating after COVID case detected in Cairns

Queensland Health says a person has tested positive to COVID-19 in Far North Queensland, but it is not yet known how it was contracted or whether it is the Alpha or Delta strain.

www.abc.net.au

 

[bcworld]

On 29 August 2021, it will probably be something like:

- schools re-open (despite 'none' being eligible to be vaccinated and that it could have waited another 6 weeks until term and school holidays ended)

Yeah but schools....schools have been such a major part of delta outbreaks (Vic and now Qld). NSW is lucky that as things really kicked off they were on school holidays.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Yeah but schools....schools have been such a major part of delta outbreaks (Vic and now Qld). NSW is lucky that as things really kicked off they were on school holidays.

And an effect that few thought of as a result of school infections, there are several private schools in BNE affected and most medical specialists send their children to private schools so 50-60% of BNE specialists are currently in isolation including all the children heart specialists. (One has been given special permission to leave isolation to operate on a child later today.)

 

[blackcat20]

Even in lockdown people are allowed to do a grocery shop or go to the chemist or post office. If they are unknowingly infected in their workplace or household its not unuusual that they may have been to the supermarket so there are exposure sites.

In the community doesnt necessarily mean they have been out socialising, not tht there are any venues open to sociliase at.

That said its frustrating how many households in the 8 LGAs are clearly still gathering in homes when they shouldnt be. Hopefully now with the ADF door knocks the non compliant will be caught out.

Im also sick of people bringing their unmasked kids to the supermarket for an outing, time for the supermarkets to put a security guard on the door and only allow indviduals in (no couples or people with kids) - the rule is one person per household,

Sometimes parents have to take kids with them. What are single parents supposed to do?

 

[Denali]

FYI for anyone in similar situation, hospital visit exemption received within 6hrs of applying for it. Valid for only 72hrs unless its palliative care, then its valid for 24hrs only. In applying you have to nominate hospital, ward ect.

You can go online and request an extension.

 

[nutwood]

Not covid related but my mum in law has been in hospital for 2 weeks and we got the call today that they're moving her to palliative care and we're to apply now for exemptions to see her but only one person (she has 3 son) at a time can visit.

Brings home how isolated many people must be feeling in care or hospitals and not understand why.

We have no Covid in Tasmania at present but we're still only allowed one person at a time to visit. My father has been in LGH for the last few weeks and we have to sign into the hospital and wear masks. When you reach the ward, there's another sign in and only one visitor at a time allowed in, for a maximum of thirty minutes. If there's a second visitor, they wait in the corridor until the first leaves.
Interestingly, they have no interest in the Tasmanian check in app. To enter the hospital you have ipads on stands, with forms that you fill out each time you enter.

 

[kamchatsky]

Im also sick of people bringing their unmasked kids to the supermarket for an outing, time for the supermarkets to put a security guard on the door and only allow indviduals in (no couples or people with kids) - the rule is one person per household,

Not practical for kids with single parent, or divorced parents.

 

[burmans]

We've already been locked down for weeks so Im surprised by how many people were out and about while infectious. Why, how so many?

They talked about this a fair bit in today's standup. Most of those who have actually passed on the virus are doing essential work, pass on to their colleagues who then take it home.

They also discussed supermarkets. While some essential supermarket workers have passed onto workmates, the rates of infection in large supermarkets and in particular transmission to customers is actually very low despite many being (cautiously) named as potential exposure sites. Smaller (and by extension potentially more congested) markets seemed to be much more of concern.

I think this is why despite the fact that they regard people who are infectious in the community as being of concern, they keep on saying close to zero, rather than zero. It seems clear that some who are infectious in the community are more concerning than others dependent on where and how far they go, their job, how many people they have come in contact with and the context of that contact (fleeting or extended) etc.

 

[Lynda2475]

Sometimes parents have to take kids with them. What are single parents supposed to do?

Online shopping with delivery or leave kids at home for a little while with a sitter - this is allowed.

Most of the time its 2 parents and 2-3 kids so zero excuse. Other times the kids are obviously old enough to stay home alone for a hour alone while the parent does the shopping. Its just blatant rule breaking.

We have much proof kids are spreading this, if you are going to bring your child to a supermarket at least make them wear a mask and keep them by your side, dont let them run up and down the aisle unaccompanied touching everything.

 

[burmans]

Sometimes parents have to take kids with them. What are single parents supposed to do?

Click and collect?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Sometimes parents have to take kids with them. What are single parents supposed to do?

Not practical for kids with single parent, or divorced parents.

If people are worried about kids as part of single/divorced parents, I believe the Sydney rules allow kids to be with parents on shopping/exercise,

eg

Reasonable excuse to leave home​

A reasonable excuse is if you need to

• obtain food or other goods and services
  • in your local government area, within 10km of your home, if reasonably practicable
  • for the personal needs of the household or for other household purposes (including pets)
  • for vulnerable people
  • only one person per household may leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day (you may take a dependent person with you if that person cannot be left at home on their own).

From Greater Sydney restrictions