Australian Reports of the Virus Spread

[dajop]

I’m so angry at this, it risks everything us victorians have done over the last six months.

Just wait I have no doubt who the media will blame for this. There’s one person who every little bit of bad behaviour gets blamed on.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

The Tasmanian Premier yesterday said HBA can be international ready in 8 weeks.

They really want to be part of the Trans Tasman bubble, so perhaps this carrot will lead them to cough up the $ to make that happen and take returnees as well as be a part of the bubble.

Haha, so Tas have to wait 8 weeks even if they agree to all the conditions for quarantine-free arrivals from NZ - that’s like end November.

 

[Pushka]

Victoria's hotel quarantine program has been 'reset' — but is it enough to stop a third wave?

It emerged this week that nine people employed in Melbourne's hotel quarantine program have tested positive to coronavirus since late July and two went to work while infectious.
Those workers were all employed in hotel quarantine after the Victorian Government closed the state's borders to international travellers and announced a "reset" of the troubled program, which has been blamed for much of the state's coronavirus second wave.
Over the past three months, hotel quarantine has continued to operate for Victorians with COVID-19 who needed to self-isolate but could not do so safely at home, and a small number of returned international travellers accepted on compassionate grounds.
The revelation that during that time nine employees contracted coronavirus has left many people wondering whether authorities have learnt the lessons of past failures, and whether they are doing enough to ensure hotel quarantine does not cause more deadly outbreaks in future.

courtesy ABC Covid live blog

And this is I why I am not convinced lessons have been learnt. An “I don’t think so” from Sutton also suggests tracing is still not as good as it needs to be.

In a another vein, I can’t see Victoria achieving zero deaths consistently because of the way that cause of death is recorded as COVID even if that isn’t the root cause.

 

[straitman]

And this is I why I am not convinced lessons have been learnt. An “I don’t think so” from Sutton also suggests tracing is still not as good as it needs to be.

In a another vein, I can’t see Victoria achieving zero deaths consistently because of the way that cause of death is recorded as COVID even if that isn’t the root cause.

Many places record them like that.

Maybe it suits their agendas to do so.

 

[jakeseven7]

Haha, so Tas have to wait 8 weeks even if they agree to all the conditions for quarantine-free arrivals from NZ - that’s like end November.

Somehow I suspect that 8 weeks could be shortened considerably

 

[Pushka]

Many places record them like that.

Maybe it suits their agendas to do so.

Sure. But I’m only referring to Victoria currently.

 

[jakeseven7]

And this is I why I am not convinced lessons have been learnt. An “I don’t think so” from Sutton also suggests tracing is still not as good as it needs to be.

In a another vein, I can’t see Victoria achieving zero deaths consistently because of the way that cause of death is recorded as COVID even if that isn’t the root cause.

One of the deputy CHO’s went through in detail all the genomic testing and why some cases could be traced and why they couldn’t - its has nothing to do with ‘lessons learned’ or not it’s because sometimes genomic tracing is not viable for multiple reasons, fragments not sufficient, viral load too low etc etc can’t remember them all. If you drag up ABC news radio on the listen app from yesterday you will probably find it.

So it doesn’t suggest that at all.

Is it a bad PR line? - yup, but thankfully these cases and are months old now in the midst of the second wave and there was another long plan detailed yesterday already covered on operations moving forward. It will probably be the strictest regime in the world!

 

[lovetravellingoz]

And this is I why I am not convinced lessons have been learnt. An “I don’t think so” from Sutton also suggests tracing is still not as good as it needs to be.

Did Sutton actually say that? The article's author wrote: Did these nine people contract coronavirus inside hotel quarantine? The Department of Health and Human Services doesn't think so.

What I did read (and hear when I listened to Sutton speak yesterday) was:

Professor Sutton said the infections were "absolutely a reflection of the very substantial community transmission" in Melbourne at the time.​

​

He said genomic sequencing conducted for six of the infected workers pointed to links to known clusters or community transmission.​

​

The other three workers did not have genomic testing done, but Professor Sutton said there was evidence they all contracted the virus in the community.​

​

"One of the three for whom there's no sequencing was a household member of two others, so almost certainly acquired their infection through transmission in the household," he said.​

​

"The second of the three without sequencing was epidemiologically linked to an aged care facility, and a third … had contact with a known case who acquired their infection elsewhere."​

​

He said there were "no cases … with a probable acquisition" inside the hotels.​

​

The interviews (contact tracing) showed all the likely links.

The genomic testing was viable in 6 out of the 9 people and all show it was not linked to the hotel to others. Genomic testing cannot always be used to gain a result, this is normal throughout the world and and certainly throughout Australia.

So what was actually lacking about the contact tracing in this case?

​

 

[Pushka]

Did Sutton actually say that? The article's author wrote: The Department of Health and Human Services doesn't think so.

Well. The fact that there are spokespeople saying things that potentially Sutton may or not approve for public comment is likewise concerning then. In a tight run ship the only spokesperson should be those reflecting what the CE wants them to say.

 

[RooFlyer]

Haha, so Tas have to wait 8 weeks even if they agree to all the conditions for quarantine-free arrivals from NZ - that’s like end November.

The Tasmanian Premier yesterday said HBA can be international ready in 8 weeks.

They really want to be part of the Trans Tasman bubble, so perhaps this carrot will lead them to cough up the $ to make that happen and take returnees as well as be a part of the bubble.

I think 8 weeks was to make the areas ready for international arrivals - the carpentry and security etc.

I'm not so sure about the Tas govt being willing to pay for the Federal Police and Border Force - which are Federal responsibilities. That would set a bad precedent for them; they want the Feds on the hook for a permanent presence. The Tas Govt hasn't exactly been chasing interstate arrivals - witness their very conservative (slow) approach to opening the state borders - so for them to go the extra mile now to get the possibility of NZ arrivals would seem inconsistent (not that that's impossible!). And then there is the question of traffic. How many NZers will want to come to Tas, a place more like their home than anywhere else in Australia? Is the cost of Federal Police, Border Force etc, no matter who pays, worth it for maybe 1 half-full flight a week? Would the airlines put the flight on? I'm sure they would rather concentrate their resources into the bigger markets.

As much as I'd like it all to happen, I'm doubtful of all of this.

 

[jakeseven7]

I think 8 weeks was to make the areas ready for international arrivals - the carpentry and security etc.

I'm not so sure about the Tas govt being willing to pay for the Federal Police and Border Force - which are Federal responsibilities. That would set a bad precedent for them; they want the Feds on the hook for a permanent presence. The Tas Govt hasn't exactly been chasing interstate arrivals - witness their very conservative (slow) approach to opening the state borders - so for them to go the extra mile now to get the possibility of NZ arrivals would seem inconsistent (not that that's impossible!). And then there is the question of traffic. How many NZers will want to come to Tas, a place more like their home than anywhere else in Australia? Is the cost of Federal Police, Border Force etc, no matter who pays, worth it for maybe 1 half-full flight a week? Would the airlines put the flight on? I'm sure they would rather concentrate their resources into the bigger markets.

As much as I'd like it all to happen, I'm doubtful of all of this.

I don’t think Tassie cares they so desperately want an international airport by hook or crook they will get one

 

[straitman]

Well. The fact that there are spokespeople saying things that potentially Sutton may or not approve for public comment is likewise concerning then. In a tight run ship the only spokesperson should be those reflecting what the CE wants them to say.

I agree completely. Project Management 101!

 

[jb747]

I don’t think Tassie cares they so desperately want an international airport by hook or crook they will get one

Like Busselton? I think they might need to start their own airline too.

 

[RooFlyer]

I don’t think Tassie cares they so desperately want an international airport by hook or crook they will get one

Direct flights from Tonga would be much more useful - we'll need the fruit pickers for the cherry and other harvest soon.

Like Busselton? I think they might need to start their own airline too.

Airlines of Tasmania - Wikipedia If REX can do it ...

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

Direct flights from Tonga would be much more useful - we'll need the fruit pickers for the cherry and other harvest soon.

Wouldn’t Tongans need the appropriate work visa?

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

For the eighth consecutive day, NSW has not reported a single recent case of locally transmitted #COVID19.

One case of a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine was diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,043.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wouldn’t Tongans need the appropriate work visa?

Sure, but its a scheme that's been running for years - many Pacific Islanders, not just Tongans. Works well for eveyone - they work hard, earn decent money, take it home etc. With the current JobSeeker boost, its going to be more difficult than usual to attract locals.

Edit: I should add, the employers like getting back many of the same workers year after year. There are skills involved, so experience is wanted.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

NSW mystery case watch......

weirdly a new case appeared today

- 2 in the last 14 days
- 2 in the period 15-28 days
- 28 older than 28 days but since Crossroads.

hopefully just the Victorian case or some typo or a case that was linked is now unlinked???

NSW mystery case watch

- 1 in the last 7 days (the 2 month old case)
- 1 in the period 8-14 days
- 0 in the period 15-28 days
- 30 older than 28 days but since Crossroads.

 

[RooFlyer]

Credit where its due: A good decision!

TASMANIAN Premier Peter Gutwein was invited to this year’s AFL grand final, but he will not attend the league’s showpiece fixture.

Mr Gutwein received an invite from the league late on Wednesday afternoon to attend the game on October 24 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

But a state government spokeswoman said the Premier has declined the invitation and would instead stay in Tasmania and “focus on the business of government”.

Interestingly, Oct 24 is the date he chose to re-open the borders (incl. QLD).

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Well. The fact that there are spokespeople saying things that potentially Sutton may or not approve for public comment is likewise concerning then. In a tight run ship the only spokesperson should be those reflecting what the CE wants them to say.

If it a fact you must have an actual DHHS spokesperson quote that you can share.

As I have not read/heard such a quote can you please quote verbatim the DHHS comments as stated/written by them that you are referring to which are not in line with what Sutton has also said? The ones I have seen do reflect what Sutton has said.


What you may be referring to may well be the opinions of the Journos rather than what the DHHS or Sutton have said or released.,

It is clear that some journalists have kept trying to imply something which is not so, and that has been the thrust of a number of articles and TV news reports.. ie That the staff were infected by from "quarantine" guests. And this morning's Third Wave article that you may have reacted to they have since reworded the headline to a more accurate one

When this story first broke the DHHS spokesperson comment that I read were quoted as below:

A spokeswoman from the Department of Justice and Community Safety on Tuesday confirmed nine people working at the Brady Hotel and Grand Chancellor Hotel in the CBD have contracted the virus since July 27. ​

​

Of the nine, one works for the Department of Health and Human Services while another is a Victoria Police member.​

​

"Neither has been assessed as having acquired COVID-19 at a health hotel," the spokeswoman said.​

Another two staff members who contracted the virus were from Alfred Health, while the remaining five worked for catering and cleaning company Spotless.​

The spokeswoman said the Alfred Health and Spotless cases were most likely due to community transmission "outside of the health hotels".​

The more recent quotes have just supplied greater detail on this, including specifics on genomic test results.

With respect to contract tracing none of the quotes that I have read have suggested anything about the contact tracing that was not adequately performed.