Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[drron]

In that case you can decline also to have the PBS subsidy for your medication. The government is paying millions of dollars an hour to try and control this and we need to do our part.

It is 94 days since the last community transmission was recorded in SA.That means if you are asymptomatic a positive test is more likely to be a false positive unless you have had significant contact with a known case.
In SA 0.2% of people tested have been positive.So test 500 asymptomatic cases to get 1 positive.If test has a 99% accuracy therefore likely to be 5 false positives.

COVID-19 reporting

This page provides update on national COVID-19 spread, vaccination and treatment metrics.

www.health.gov.au

11,853,849 Coronavirus cases in Australia - COVID Live

Live tracking of coronavirus cases, active, tests, deaths, ICU, hospitalisations and vaccinations in Australia

covidlive.com.au

I'm with Pushka.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The masks I have bought have a pocket in which you can place a filter for added protection. Any thoughts on filters? If we did use the masks they would be for very short periods - an hour at the most when out shopping. We are pretty much not going anywhere, but there is essential shopping that needs to be done - like Haighs chocolates

I don’t think there’s really any decent evidence for filters in public mask wearing.
Love Haighs frogs

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Control arm in that trial was standard procedure which included wearing a mask.
Is there an equivalent trial where the control arm is no mask?
That would be more convincing of evidence of harm.

Plus what we are talking about here is a public health measure to reduce transmission (mainly aimed at minimising spread of the virus moreso than directly protecting each individual, rather than a measure for healthcare workers (ie mainly protecting in environments with high viral load) where different standards apply and where also true aerosol transmission may be a risk.

Also the recommended cloth mask patterns are three layers, and not two layers. ie https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/sites/d...07/Design and preparation of cloth mask_0.pdf


A lot of recent research backs up mask wearing including cloth masks as a public health measure, and even if not the preferred 3 layer version.

 

[VPS]

I don’t think there’s really any decent evidence for filters in public mask wearing.
Love Haighs frogs

ah but which ones - dark or milk - plain or peppermint. I'm a dark peppermint person

 

[Pushka]

In that case you can decline also to have the PBS subsidy for your medication. The government is paying millions of dollars an hour to try and control this and we need to do our part.

Oh dear. I will be tested if I show symptoms and if the virus re enters SA and there is community transmission. But that is not currently an issue. And if I was showing symptoms I certainly wouldnt be going into a pharmac_. It's the mandate that I take exception to. If I had just returned from Vic NSW then I'm fine with that. I'm also fine with mandated masks or covers. If there was a general stall set up then I might think about taking advantage of that if I felt inclined to do so. But that is completely different. But I dont agree with selective testing off the street.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Just glad to be in WA....just saying.....

We just took the dogs for a walk and while doing so Mr FM and I were discussing which state we would like to be in at the moment -WA was the winner

Post automatically merged: Jul 19, 2020

I don’t think there’s really any decent evidence for filters in public mask wearing.
Love Haighs frogs

Wasn’t sure whether to put informative or agree thanks for the input.

 

[Gremlin]

NSW is now urging people to avoid "non-essential travel and gatherings" including "venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings in the home". Not yet mandatory, just a "request". The lockdown you have when you don't have a lockdown.

 

[SydneySwan]

NSW state government today announced that from tomorrow daily international arrivals limit at Sydney airport are being further reduced from 450 per day to 350 per day which reduces Australia's capacity from 4000 to 3300 per week with Sydney still taking the lion's share - 2450.

I understand that this is a further ramping up of NSW anger at carrying most of the costs of processing returning residents and citizens - around A70million so far. Other states have not reimbursed the costs for their citizens and neither has the federal government so NSW is ramping up the pressure on the PM.

I expect we will now see more stories of Australians stranded overseas, etc., especially from those in India but I understand that the largest number of these are resident in Victoria so don't expect that to cut any ice with the NSW government.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW is now urging people to avoid "non-essential travel and gatherings" including "venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings in the home". Not yet mandatory, just a "request". The lockdown you have when you don't have a lockdown.

The problem with a request system is there is no incentive/permission to carry it out apart from moral obligation....it’s no different to the request not to travel prior to the travel ban being enforced.

SO if say someone paid a deposit...where is the incentive to cancel and not lose a deposit/prepayment

 

[Pushka]

NSW state government today announced that from tomorrow daily international arrivals limit at Sydney airport are being further reduced from 450 per day to 350 per day which reduces Australia's capacity from 4000 to 3300 per week with Sydney still taking the lion's share - 2450.

I understand that this is a further ramping up of NSW anger at carrying most of the costs of processing returning residents and citizens - around A70million so far. Other states have not reimbursed the costs for their citizens and neither has the federal government so NSW is ramping up the pressure on the PM.

I expect we will now see more stories of Australians stranded overseas, etc., especially from those in India but I understand that the largest number of these are resident in Victoria so don't expect that to cut any ice with the NSW government.

Arent people paying for their own quarantine hotel though? And didnt the Feds offer to pay? Just seems that the returning travellers arent their problem issue right now.

 

[p--and--t]

NSW is now urging people to avoid "non-essential travel and gatherings" including "venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings in the home". Not yet mandatory, just a "request". The lockdown you have when you don't have a lockdown.

Pointless when you have have a large cohort of those who both consider boozing in a crowded club and going to the gym to socialise as “essential” to their lifestyle

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Heard on the radio today that SA is going to start testing people randomly in Chemists. Detail is still being unwound but if I was approached I would refuse on principle. I am happy to voluntarily go to a testing site if I felt there was a disturbing symptom but this is a step too far for me.

I am not sure if it the same trial, but this is a new pharmac_ Trial in SA aimed at making testing more available to to those that may need it (as opposed to testing people randomly):

Coronavirus testing will be available at up to five South Australian pharmacies during a two-week trial.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade says the pilot program will capitalise on the trust pharmacists have within the community to improve access to COVID-19 testing.

"People often present to a pharmac_ with mild cold or flu-like symptoms to seek advice from their pharmacist or to obtain treatment for symptom relief, and these are the very people we want to get a COVID-19 test," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"We want to build on our network of more than 60 COVID-19 testing locations in South Australia to make it as easy as possible to get a test."

https://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/story/6839571/pharmac_-covid-19-testing-trial-in-sa/?cs=9397

 

[33kft]

I expect we will now see more stories of Australians stranded overseas, etc., especially from those in India but I understand that the largest number of these are resident in Victoria so don't expect that to cut any ice with the NSW government.

Where are the stats on which state the majority of foreign arrivals are destined to? I am surprised this would be a known quantity

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Just seems that the returning travellers arent their problem issue right now.

Not in case numbers, but large numbers of travellers still still divert resources and NSW may wish to use more of those resources on other priorities just now.

 

[SydneySwan]

Arent people paying for their own quarantine hotel though? And didnt the Feds offer to pay? Just seems that the returning travellers arent their problem issue right now.

The fee paid by returning travellers for quarantine ís only designed to cover their hotel accomodation and meals and then it doesn't cover it completely. It does not cover any of the costs for security (police / army, etc.), hotel transfers, etc. Apparently the security costs are very significant.

 

[p--and--t]

Arent people paying for their own quarantine hotel though? And didnt the Feds offer to pay? Just seems that the returning travellers arent their problem issue right now.

If the fees are set at cost recovery or more, and their procedures tight, the reduction in incoming numbers seems nothing more than media theatre going forward.

However, giving Gladys the benefit of the doubt, maybe they are having difficulty strongarming hotels to supply the required number of rooms or the fees charged are actually less than overall costs.

 

[SydneySwan]

Where are the stats on which state the majority of foreign arrivals are destined to? I am surprised this would be a known quantity

I haven't seen any lists but I understand DFAT would know because people register with them to get info or bookings on any flights, especially repatriation flights.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Where are the stats on which state the majority of foreign arrivals are destined to? I am surprised this would be a known quantity

I have not seen those stats, but NSW and Vic both have the largest proportion of Indian migrants (the largest two states in population size and so not really a surprise that we both also have more Indian migrants).

There are stats on raw numbers of travellers who have been in hotel quarantine.

What has changed in recent times is that:

• Covid 19 cases were initially low in India, but are now rampant and so many people who have Australian Residency who were in India who were initially content to stay have over the last month or so been surging back to Australia.
• Victoria had been taking a large number of returning travellers, and slightly above pro-rata. But this due to current outbreak is now zero for the time being.

 

[Pushka]

I am not sure if it the same trial, but this is a new pharmac_ Trial in SA aimed at making testing more available to to those that may need it (as opposed to resting people randomly):

Coronavirus testing will be available at up to five South Australian pharmacies during a two-week trial.
Health and Wellbeing Minister Stephen Wade says the pilot program will capitalise on the trust pharmacists have within the community to improve access to COVID-19 testing.

"People often present to a pharmac_ with mild cold or flu-like symptoms to seek advice from their pharmacist or to obtain treatment for symptom relief, and these are the very people we want to get a COVID-19 test," he said in a statement on Sunday.

"We want to build on our network of more than 60 COVID-19 testing locations in South Australia to make it as easy as possible to get a test."

https://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/story/6839571/pharmac_-covid-19-testing-trial-in-sa/?cs=9397

I think that might be the one. I cant imagine anyone even being able to present at the pharamcy as the ones I've been to have explicit signs basically saying "dont come here, go get tested". I think in terms of possible infection control this may not be a great idea.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If the fees are set at cost recovery or more, and their procedures tight, the reduction in incoming numbers seems nothing more than media theatre going forward.

However, giving Gladys the benefit of the doubt, maybe they are having difficulty strongarming hotels to supply the required number of rooms or the fees charged are actually less than overall costs.

I doubt the hotel room supply is the issue, but rather that NSW may wish to use the limited supply of police, nurses, public health officials who have to supervise, test, monitor the travellers etc etc, on other aspects of controlling the pandemic at present.