topic Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time in Community Spirit

Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 08:31:46 GMT

While I do not have a specific list , i have noticed the strange timing of COVID outbreaks , so often leading up to various holiday times - even the original Chinese outbreak , during a time of their traditional national mass travel

This one no different - start of school holidays - maximum commercial and social stress , again....

Is a good thing that Australia is a land of patient and stoic people - adaptable to privations if for a worthy ideal, and we have not caved in to those influences of fatalistic appeasement

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 09:54:45 GMT

My observation is that a certain % of any given population will not care enough to do that which is responsible or wise , and leading up to vacation times even less - so for any given anti-covid rules consideration must be given to those who do care enough and those for whatever reason do not .

This may mean more inconvenience if eradication is the national objective

The current outbreak is case in point

As for us now and the delta variant - we have the Indian experience to also draw upon

As for the original Chinese outbreak - so early in the pandemic , who could suspect the danger, and so their vacation time just made a bad situation far worse

ps - in the UK the delta variant is seriously infecting those under 50 years of age 902/1320 admissions

Covid infection rates rise steeply in Scotland, ONS data reveals (msn.com)

for those middle aged - may not be hang over... get tested !

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

not_for_sale — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 11:19:06 GMT

We will have to wait and see if the Delta variant spreads across the country. If it does then Berejiklian will be heavily attacked for acting too late with the lockdowns. The Delta variant is very dangerous and Australians will react if she is viewed to be responsible because she chose to be different to the Labor States in her response to the NSW outbreak.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

eol-products — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 11:55:54 GMT

If NSW locked down too late then shouldn't the other states lock down now as well instead of waiting to see what happens if they already have returned travellers with the Delta variant who may have been infectious for a few days.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

not_for_sale — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:08:47 GMT

Why? In Queensland the recent cases have been the Alpha variant, and some restrictions have already been imposed. But if one Delta case is identified in the State, then I think immediate action should be taken. The slow response in NSW has not only endangered that State , but all other States in the country.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

eol-products — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 22:27:07 GMT

I am only talking about the Delta variant as the other varieties appeared to be manageable with only some risk. But this Delta variant may be beyond what contact tracers can do. Plus you have the human element which as we all notice a large number of people don't want to social distance or follow basic hygiene standards to stop the spread.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

countessalmirena — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 22:29:35 GMT

I don't want to blame Premier Berejiklian or Dr Chant; they have never encountered the Delta variant before, and the vicious speed AND ease of transmission, plus the short incubation period, have taken many many health professionals by surprise. In fairness to them, the NSW way of suppressing COVID-19 outbreaks and bringing down the numbers to zero without lockdowns has been well managed in the main, and there's no doubt that the NSW contact tracing has been superb.

But... we're dealing with a more aggressive beast here. I do think that the lockdown should have been imposed more quickly. (It's easy to say in hindsight; I was actually saying this a few days ago, though, and I admit I was surprised by the health advice that - to me - didn't seem to take into account the fast generations of transmission with this variant.) The risk isn't only to NSW, as you've noted, not_for_sale! NSW will probably get this outbreak under control, but I hope that the tentacles of the outbreak don't cause huge problems with other states.

I am of the opinion that Melbourne, and Victoria in general, have shown both the worst and the best when it comes to responding to COVID-19 cases/outbreaks. We went through our second wave with almost 800 deaths resulting, and a ferociously long lockdown, because of the abysmal response and measures by the Health department and our premier's choices. The contact tracing was nowhere near being up to par, and the arrogant refusal to accept responsibility by the state government is something I won't forget. Deflection and failure... and needless suffering... But in contrast, contact tracing in Victoria is now outstandingly good, and the slap-it-down-quickly measures by the state government, particularly with the recent Delta cluster and Kappa clusters, were the right things to impose, much as it affected Melbournians in so many ways.

We are in this COVID-world now. We can't turn back the clock. I'm worried about pandemic fatigue behaviour. We must - absolutely must - do everything we can to avoid transmission in the community. Was it imastawka who mentioned something about how many venues show up in a single person's movements...? Until Australia is roughly 80% vaccinated, I'll continue to curtail my movement; I'll continue to wear a P2 mask; I'll continue to keep my distance from people when unavoidably out and about; I'll continue to sanitise my hands when I have to touch my mask or the mask of someone else, etc. I'm QR-checking-in everywhere. I'm using the COVIDSafe app (but I believe it needs to be updated; more fleeting contact needs to be recorded than 15 minutes).

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

eol-products — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 23:13:19 GMT

Every so often I imagine a new variant will present itself and a new outbreak will occur. How it is handled will change and I am happy with how NSW has reacted to the changing situation with this outbreak. There will always be people who will criticise how each state handles their outbreak but as long as they learn as they go and not repeat past mistakes that is all we can ask of them.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

cezm — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 06:15:29 GMT

We have our Delta variant - imported from the NT ☹️

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

countessalmirena — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 07:50:45 GMT

These are times when we really must stick it to them.

As in... vaccination.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:43:08 GMT

those at the coal face I think will need ramped up personal protection and procedures , think common cold

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:47:20 GMT

NSW tactically seems the most UK centric of States

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 11:01:21 GMT

Speaking of the past , after 18 months the States are finally taking seriously the need and advantages of dedicated quarantine facilities, with i hope dedicated limousine transport... got to be cheaper even short term than burning billion dollar cheques every time an outbreak from seemingly returnees and cabin crew via our now proven inadequate quarantine system.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

rogevibe — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 11:07:04 GMT

Not to press a trite point but the powers were aware of the delta threat or else Australia would not have blocked returnees from India

( Although is sweeping through the relatively porous UK and The States now )

And there is a Delta plus variant being talked about

Now what is being done about the transport of airline cabin crew - or do we just block all international flights during a shutdown ?

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

katistrophik — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:15:41 GMT

Just gone into another lockdown in the Brisbane - Noosa (Sunshine Coast) area - 4 days at this point, but we will see.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

countessalmirena — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:04:16 GMT

Happy masking, katistrophik.

I hope all in the Sunshine Coast area are safe.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

icyfroth — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:27:21 GMT

I think it's more like we are a herd of sheep, simply being rounded up the the shepherds and their sheepdogs into the paddocks we can be restrained into.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

springyzone — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 01:43:11 GMT

Rogespeed, I think the timing before a school holiday is just coincidental. In fact, it mainly hit Melbourne a few weeks back, before the school holidays. It did affect the Queen's birthday long weekend though.

Of course, at holiday time you generally have more people moving around but all this seems to have hit just before a lot of people were due to leave. You do get some who start a week earlier than holidays (because it is cheaper) but even a week back, there were signs things might not be good.

What it is doing though is costing a lot of businesses millions of dollars and after last year, they don't need more of that.

The thing that has surprised me is how many people in what I would call higher risk occupations have not been vaccinated. Let's look at it-flight crew, people working with or around flight crew and passengers, hospital and aged care workers.

All that should have been sorted a few months ago.

Yes, we need dedicated quarantine facilities, the hotels in use were never built for this purpose.

But we also need to be a bit sensible and consider just how many people should be let into Australia, full stop. Especially unvaccinated people.

I'm not saying anyone 'has to' be vaccinated, it's a choice people can make for themselves but if they aren't prepared to do it then I don't see why we have to feel under pressure to let them in.

If it is to be 'reunited with family', we can let their family fly out to stay with them for the duration. Lots of other countries don't have any restrictions. As long as they realise they won't get back in any time soon.

I realise there are sacrifices to be made and some people won't get what they want this way but I don't see why Australians living here should be the ones who always have to make the sacrifices eg with business, personal lives etc

But we also need to step up our vaccination program here, to get about 70-80% of adults vaccinated.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

eol-products — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 02:15:20 GMT

I have stayed in many hotels that used to be hospitals. I wonder why they don't just use these or maybe they are no better when it comes to ventilation than a normal hotel.

Re: Another COVID outbreak , another holiday time

not_for_sale — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 03:55:01 GMT

@icyfroth wrote:
I think it's more like we are a herd of sheep, simply being rounded up the the shepherds and their sheepdogs into the paddocks we can be restrained into.

What the flock are you going on about?