Life under social isolation or mandatory "stay home orders".

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
30 July in Victoria

Record spike in coronavirus cases OF 723 new cases overnight in Victoria , 14 deaths
Australia recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday with 14 deaths and 723 new infections in Victoria state, where the government ordered all residents to wear face-coverings outside.
The toll takes the country's total fatalities from the novel coronavirus to 190, more than half of which have occurred in Victoria, the second-most populous state, and its capital Melbourne, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

Australia had prided itself on rapidly containing the initial COVID-19 outbreak but a second wave which began in Victoria last month has forced Melbourne back into lockdown and sparked outbreaks in other areas including Sydney.

"We've now been in this lockdown (in Melbourne) for some weeks and we are not getting the results we would hope for, and as a result the further measures that are taken are certainly necessary," Morrison told reporters, backing the restrictions announced by the Victorian government."On some days the virus wins, on other days we beat it. But I think we've got to be careful not to slip into some idea that there's some golden immunity that Australia has in relation to this virus."

Further restrictions on movement would deal a blow to the economy which is already in its first recession for 30 years, but failure to control the latest outbreaks would do more economic harm in the long run, Morrison added.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said everyone in the state of more than 6 million people would be required to wear a mask when outside from Sunday, widening a requirement already in place in Melbourne.
Masks to be mandatory across regional Victoria
From midnight Sunday, masks and face coverings will be mandatory across regional Victoria.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also announced new restrictions for six local government areas from midnight Thursday.

Residents in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Colac Otway, and Queenscliff will not be able to host visitors.

Hospitality venues will however remain opened.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/masks-to-be-mandatory-across-regional-victoria/ar-BB17lmgZ?ocid=msedgntp
He also extended social distancing restrictions, with residents in communities southwest of Melbourne no longer allowed to have visitors to their homes from late Thursday.

Cafes, pubs and restaurants would be allowed to stay open, however, because these were controlled environments where social distancing rules could be enforced.
"Having friends over to your house is not a controlled environment," Andrews said.

The previous record daily count of new infections in Australia was 518 reported on Monday. The country has confirmed a total of 16,298 cases since the pandemic began.

Andrews said that while the latest spike in cases was concerning, the majority of them were at known hotspots such as aged-care homes and the number of untraceable infections was "much smaller".

Australia's most-populous state, New South Wales (NSW), reported 18 new cases, with six from unknown sources.

The northeastern state of Queensland, which had effectively eliminated the virus, said it had found three new cases, two of whom were believed to have contracted COVID-19 while in the NSW capital Sydney. Queensland closed its borders to people from Sydney on Wednesday.

Queensland police allege that two 19-year-old women who brought the virus into the state after returning from a trip to Victoria had falsified travel documents and lied to authorities about their movements.

Both now faced criminal charges but one was continuing to refuse to tell officials where she had been, amid a spike in cases south of Brisbane where the pair reside.

“They went to extraordinary lengths to be deceitful and deceptive and quite frankly criminal in their behaviour and that is what has put the community at risk,” Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll told reporters.

Queensland earlier this month denied entry to anyone who had been to Victoria in the previous 14 days.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/wellbeing/australia-reports-record-spike-in-coronavirus-cases-13-deaths/ar-BB17lDrl?ocid=msedgdhp

A large fraction of Victorians not complying

ADF doorknocking finds COVID-19 patients are still going to work while infected
People are still going to work after testing positive for COVID-19, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says, as the state's coronavirus cases spike to a record 723 new infections.

Key points:
Victorian Premiers says confirmed positive COVID-19 cases must stay home
People who breach the chief health officer's directions can be fined $1,652
Experts say people have not locked down as hard the second time around

Australian Defence Force personnel have been doorknocking and checking on people who are supposed to be self-isolating after contracting the virus.


30jluy-adf-dknockers-12503252-3x2-xlarge.jpg

Mr Andrews said 30 ADF teams have doorknocked almost 800 properties so far, with 269 visited on Wednesday.
"Now, I don't want this to be seen as criticism or blame, but I'm obliged to point out that there were a number of people who were not home," he said.
"They will be referred to Victoria Police."

People who breach the chief health officer's directions can be fined $1,652.

Mr Andrews described a joint ADF and Health Department team looking for a person with a confirmed diagnosis, but found they were not at home.
"They weren't home, but a family member was, and the family member helpfully pointed out that that person, a positive coronavirus case, was, in fact, at work," he said.
"To have found even one person who had disregarded their diagnosis and instead had decided to go to work is very disappointing."

In other cases, there were a number of people who needed prescriptions filled or were running low on basic household items, including groceries and toilet paper.
"Because of that visit, we have been able to source all of those things for those people," he said.

"This is not just about compliance, it's also about us visiting and saying: 'What can we do for you? What do you need?' And I think that's a really important point.
"That doesn't mean, though, that you are allowed to be out of your home or at work, or at the shops, if you are positive.
"If you're a positive case, then you need to be at home and you need to be isolating, and that is a very important message."

Mr Andrews said, in some cases, people were unclear about what they needed to do, and doorknockers were able to inform them.

People who do not have sick leave or who are in insecure work can apply for a $300 payment while they wait for their test result and isolate at home.

Those who test positive can receive a $1,500 payment.

"If you've got symptoms, the only thing you can do is get tested," Mr Andrews said.
"You just can't go to work. Because all you'll be doing is spreading the virus."

He added that restrictions would not be lifted if people continued to go to work while sick and infections continued to spread.
Tested Covid19 POSITIVE or have symptoms or waiting results of test should be staying home and social isolating from community and family :
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/adf-door-knocks-checks-on-people-isolating-covid-19/12507366
"Now, I don't want this to be seen as criticism or blame, but I'm obliged to point out that there were a number of people who were not home," he said.
"They will be referred to Victoria Police."

People who breach the chief health officer's directions can be fined $1,652.

Mr Andrews described a joint ADF and Health Department team looking for a person with a confirmed diagnosis, but found they were not at home.
"They weren't home, but a family member was, and the family member helpfully pointed out that that person, a positive coronavirus case, was, in fact, at work," he said.
"To have found even one person who had disregarded their diagnosis and instead had decided to go to work is very disappointing."

In other cases, there were a number of people who needed prescriptions filled or were running low on basic household items, including groceries and toilet paper.
"Because of that visit, we have been able to source all of those things for those people," he said.
"This is not just about compliance, it's also about us visiting and saying: 'What can we do for you? What do you need?' And I think that's a really important point.
<< very lame excuse as it's very easy to arrange online supply orders home delivered in a contact free manner online , and chemists will collect your script and fill it and the refill It as needed by phone order and home deliver payment is over the phone or online >>
"That doesn't mean, though, that you are allowed to be out of your home or at work, or at the shops, if you are positive.
"If you're a positive case, then you need to be at home and you need to be isolating, and that is a very important message."

Mr Andrews said, in some cases, people were unclear about what they needed to do, and doorknockers were able to inform them.

People who do not have sick leave or who are in insecure work can apply for a $300 payment while they wait for their test result and isolate at home.

Those who test positive can receive a $1,500 payment.
"If you've got symptoms, the only thing you can do is get tested," Mr Andrews said.
"You just can't go to work. Because all you'll be doing is spreading the virus."

He added that restrictions would not be lifted if people continued to go to work while sick and infections continued to spread.

Counterfeit N95 masks being sold by some retailors and online
Fake N95 face masks fail safety standards at Queensland coal mines following coronavirus high demand sworldwide and in Victoria have invaded the market
Key points:
Fake and substandard masks have been detected in Queensland following shortages
Workplace Health and Safety says the masks do not provide an adequate facial seal
Some masks have certification documents from unaccredited testing facilities

In a safety alert, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland said it can be very difficult to spot a fake or unaccredited mask from the real thing.

It said some of the masks were marked as P2 or came with packaging indicating that they had been tested.
But WorkSafe New South Wales found some of the documentation was provided by unaccredited testing facilities and some did not have any licence numbers.
Internationally, some companies have been using the approval number of accredited companies, without their permission.

"They were packaged the same, but they were fake, it's very deceptive."

Under Australian consumer law, companies can be fined up to $10 million and individuals $500,000 for making false or misleading representations about goods.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-30/fake-face-masks-risk-coronavirus-shortages-concern-union/12506164

Border runner
COVID-19 denier arrested in Melbourne
A COVID-19 denier who caused public outrage has been arrested in Melbourne, after refusing to speak to police when challenged at a Victoria - NSW border station .
Eve Black - a conspiracy theorist who believes COVID-19 is a hoax - first made headlines last week after she filmed herself refusing questions at a border crossing.

Coronavirus denier Eve Black has been arrested after another standoff with police as new video emerges of another anti-masker in a clash with police.

Police said they were forced to smash through her car window to arrest the 28-year-old, with police saying they had to do it after she refused to speak to them, refused to wind down her window and refused to get out of her vehicle.

Police said they were forced to smash through her car window to arrest the 28-year-old, with police saying they had to do it after she refused to speak to them, refused to wind down her window and refused to get out of her vehicle.

Ms Black has since been released on court summons for failing to produce a licence, breaching the Chief Health Officer’s orders and has been heavily fined .
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/covid-19-denier-arrested-in-melbourne/ar-BB17ltvb?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-anti-masker-arrested-after-stand-off-with-police/vi-BB17lcyG?ocid=msedgdhp
'Lockdown fatigue'
Nick Golding, an associate professor at the School of Public Health at Curtin University, is part of the team that provides daily tracking numbers to the Victorian Government.

He said the rate at which people changed their behaviour — such as staying at home, not going to work, and not meeting up with people — appeared to have changed during the latest lockdown, with some more relaxed the second time around.
"People haven't switched to that behaviour so quickly this time, and it doesn't seem like they've gone quite as far as they did the first time around.
"And it's certainly something we've been expecting. People get a little bit fatigued with lockdown."

He said the reproduction number in Victoria is hovering around one, meaning every positive case is infecting one other person.
"If it's at one, it's not going to decrease," he said.
"So it seems like we haven't locked down quite as hard, and you can see this in the publicly-available health data on people moving around."

Fines for fishing and face masks
Victoria Police have issued 88 fines to people breaching the chief health officer's directions in the past 24 hours.

Of those, 26 were for failing to wear a face covering, which attracts a $200 fine.

Victoria Police said "a number of these fines were issued after people still refused to wear a mask, even after being offered one from police or PSOs [protective services officers]."

Karen from Brighton challenges Daniel Andrews to a FIGHT
Karen from Brighton has challenged Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to a 'fight' after he criticised her breach of lockdown regulations.

Jodi Grollo has embraced her viral nickname ( Brighton Karen ) after she attracted online fame for a video in which she justified travelling outside her district for her daily walks because she was bored of the streets in her affluent coastal suburb of Brighton.
She is even using an Instagram account to poke fun at herself after becoming a minor celebrity, and to take potshots at the Victorian premier.
Her latest attack came in the form of a fashion showdown on Wednesday when she shared an image of the pair side by side both wearing black jackets designed by high-end outdoor brand 'The North Face'.
'Karen’s next opponent is Lord Daniel of House Andrews in the battle of the Northern Face,' the post reads.
'I’ll dodge him faster then he dodges questions about hotel quarantine. I’ll lock him down like Victoria.'

Her use of the terms 'Kween of the North' to describe herself, and 'Lord Daniel of House Andrews' for the premier were references to the HBO hit television series Game of Thrones.
She said the winner would become the new ambassador for The North Face.
Karen’s record 1-0 Andrews record 0 wins from 15304 cases,' the post reads, referring to the escalating number of coronavirus cases in the state.
She said her 1-0 record came from a victory over 'Karen from Bunnings', who was challenging her for the most high-profile 'Karen' to complain about lockdown laws in Victoria.

She posted a video to her Instagram story, which had since been deleted, of her working the heavy bag at a gym before slamming a can of Victoria Bitter and then throwing the empty tin to the ground.
The now-famous Melbourne mum now goes by the Instagram handle 'therealkarenfrombriiighton' and since the account was set up a week ago it had quickly accrued 12,900 followers.

Jodi Grollo is the daughter of pokies king Bruce Mathieson, and the husband of Gianni Grollo, whose family controls the prominent Grollo construction empire.
She initially went viral when she said she had trudged through all of the streets of Brighton and therefore was ignoring instructions for people not to travel across town for exercise or any other outing.
'Well, you get sick of walking the same streets. You know, I've done all of Brighton,' she told Nine News while walking the city's Tan Track.

<< this lady seems to be trying to get off her fine based on "mental health issues" , obviously taken legal advice and it's all an act >>
<< so very weathy and a $200 fine is pocket change to her and she'll never miss it , IMO Jodi Grollo needs to be sent to prison or involuntarily committed to the loony bin >>

I've got a very clear message to every single Victorian, particularly some of those featured on social media: whether you are in Broadmeadows or Brighton, stay at home means stay at home,' The Premier and the Vic Health Minister both said last Saturday.
'And if walking your local streets is boring, well, being bored is much better than being in intensive care. That's my clear message.'

Ms Grollo said she was not bothered by Mr Andrews' rebuke, or the hundreds of angry comments online, and hadn't seen them anyway.
'I'm not on social media so I didn't see any [of the backlash]. To be honest, I found it funny – it made my weekend,' she earlier told The Herald Sun.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/karen-from-brighton-challenges-daniel-andrews-to-a-fight/ar-BB17kKcH?ocid=msedgdhp
Six men at a short term rental property in Mornington Peninsula were issued penalty notices.
"Upon police arrival, they stated they were there for a work-related meeting however, when police arrived, they were drinking alcohol and watching television," according to Victoria Police.

They also fined four people in the Wyndham area who stated their reason for travelling was "to go fishing in Geelong", and another man was fined after travelling "from Dandenong to South Yarra for a convenience store coffee".

Police have done more than 187,500 spot checks in Victoria since March 21, with 5,650 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places conducted on Wednesday.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos urged every Victorian to do their part in order to bring the virus numbers down.
"All the research tells us that we need at least 90 per cent of people doing the right thing," she said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/adf-doorknocking-finds-covid-19-patients-are-still-going-to-work-while-infected/ar-BB17lXSF?ocid=msedgd

NSW - Vic and Vic - SA border issues

Cross-border travellers left in lurch as lack of SA COVID-19 testing sites creates confusion
There are growing calls for a mobile COVID-19 testing clinic to be established at the South Australia-Victoria border in the Mallee region, as essential travellers are being left in the lurch after a new police direction came into effect on Wednesday.

The direction states cross-border travellers must produce evidence of a COVID-19 test every seven days.

The zone for cross-border community members to get a mandatory test has also been narrowed, with those residing in Victoria only allowed to travel 40 kilometres into SA.

Mallee Border Health Centre nurse practitioner Di Thornton works between the communities of Murrayville in Victoria and Pinnaroo in SA.

Her private practice is one of the only places currently conducting COVID-19 tests in the region and she is calling for more testing sites to be established, and clearer information to be released.
"I would've thought as one of the local health practitioners we may have had some warning [about the new rule]; that wasn't to be," Dr Thornton said.

She said she was run off her feet conducting 17 tests at Murrayville yesterday and sent her practice manager to the border to get information after receiving no further clarification from SA Health.
"It's still very difficult to get succinct, clear information about what's going on," Dr Thornton said.
"As far as I know we're the only [local] service offering COVID-19 tests to both South Australian and Victorian residents at the moment."

Nowhere to go
Tiffany Atze has been operating a cross-border shearing contracting business and ran into trouble yesterday when police instructed her shearers to get a test within 24 hours.

After calling Pinnaroo hospital along with a state-run medical clinic and a private practice, all within 40km of the border, she found there was nowhere her shearers could get tested within the set time period.
"I rang the Pinnaroo hospital because according to the SA Health website you can do testing there, which is incorrect," Ms Atze said.
"I rang again to check this morning and they're definitely not doing COVID-19 tests at Pinnaroo hospital."

After calling the hospital to confirm, the ABC was directed back to SA Health.

SA Health said COVID-19 tests are available at Pinnaroo and Lameroo hospitals, including for cross-border travellers who required mandatory testing without showing symptoms.

But Ms Atze said the Lameroo hospital was more than 40km from the border, which meant the Victorian shearers could not go there.

The private clinic advised Ms Atze her shearers would need to wait several days for a test due to a growing list of people that required testing.

This morning, police allowed the Victorian shearers to cross into SA without a COVID-19 test, after the workers explained their situation.

The shearers have been booked for testing tomorrow morning at the state-run Mallee Medical Practice in Pinnaroo, where a drive-through clinic has been established today.

Expansion needed for border testing
Both Ms Thornton and Ms Atze agree the Mallee district needs a mobile testing clinic at the border checkpoint between Pinnaroo and Murrayville.
"They've got them at Bordertown, [Yamba, Mount Gambier] and Naracoorte," Ms Thornton said.
"I think the simplest and easiest place for people to go and know where they can go would be to have a testing station at the border."

Ms Atze estimated there were "hundreds of people" who needed to travel across the border each day.
"If this is mandatory, [a mobile testing clinic] needs to be available. SA Health have completely dropped the ball on this and not provided the services needed," she said.
"I see [it] as completely wrong and inefficient and puts a massive stress load on communities.
"I think it was a good directive but the information wasn't passed on clearly — it wasn't planned clearly."

Chief Public Health Officer apologises
SA Health said it was closely monitoring the situation and would work with SA Pathology to provide additional resources where needed.

Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier admitted there were problems this morning with too many people turning up at the Tailem Bend clinic in the state's south-east, resulting in long queues.

She said it was likely those getting tested were South Australians returning to the state from Victoria before the cut-off or people living near the border who are required to be tested regularly.

Professor Spurrier thanked people for their patience.
"I do apologise but it really shows how South Australians have got on board with this," she said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/cross-border-travellers-left-in-lurch-as-lack-of-sa-covid-19-testing-sites-creates-confusion/ar-BB17lUnC?ocid=msedgdhp

The Victoria Covid Aged Care Catastrophy

Aged care intervention continues in Victoria
Specialist medical teams will arrive in Victoria today to help coronavirus plagued aged care homes.

Victoria coronavirus response boosted by first Australian Medical Assistance Team personnel as cases in aged care continue to rise

Jim and Peter Staffieri found out their 92-year-old mother Luisa in the Epping Gardens nursing home tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday morning.

They waited outside the nursing home for hours until they saw her taken to hospital in an ambulance on Wednesday night.
"We're just so happy to see her — because we don't know when we'll see her again," Peter said.

She waved to her sons and spoke to them briefly, from a distance, before the ambulance drove away.

The Epping Gardens nursing home in Melbourne's north is among the worst-affected aged care coronavirus clusters in the state, with about 61 residents and 22 staff infected.

34 residents were transferred out of the Epping Gardens nursing home on Tuesday, and more residents were taken to hospital yesterday.

Peter said he was glad to see his mother transferred out of Epping Gardens because he had "no confidence" she would get the care she needed in the home.
"At least in the hospital she'll get the care that she needs, I think it would be too late if she got sick here," he said.

Luisa is just one of many aged care residents being moved to hospital as the number of coronavirus deaths continue to rise.

Of recent deaths connected to aged care, 11 were linked to St Basil's in Fawkner, two were linked to Epping Gardens, and one was linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth.

Victoria is working to contain 87 outbreaks at aged care homes, which have claimed more than a dozen lives in the past few weeks.
'SAS of the medical world' arrive in Victoria to help fight growing coronavirus outbreaks
Meanwhile, the first Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) personnel, usually sent to overseas disaster zones, will start work in Victoria today.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt dubbed the assistance teams the "SAS of the medical world" last weekend.
"They have assisted with quarantine, they have assisted in Western Australia, they have assisted in activities around the country and they are the best of the best," he said.

5 AUSMAT senior expert nurse leaders are being deployed to Victoria from other states, and two Victorian-based specialist logisticians will be deployed in support of the nurse deployment and Aged Care Response Centre.

A spokesperson from the Federal Department of Health said more than 450 temporary workforce surge staff had been deployed to providers experiencing a COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria to date.

The Federal Government is also supplying 500,000 reusable face shields for staff in aged care services across Victoria, and releasing a further 5 million face masks from the National Medical Stockpile for aged care providers.

Peter Staffieri said he was glad the Federal Government was sending health workers in to help.
"Let's hope they clean it up and it gets better now," he said.

Premier Daniel Andrews renewed his plea for people experiencing any coronavirus symptoms to stay home and get tested, saying the spread of the virus was being fuelled by workplace outbreaks.

All employers are now required to immediately notify WorkSafe once they become aware that an employee, contractor, or contractor's employee has tested positive to the virus and has attended the workplace during the infectious period.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victoria-coronavirus-response-boosted-by-first-australian-medical-assistance-team-personnel-as-cases-in-aged-care-continue-to-rise/ar-BB17l8Vt?ocid=msedgdhp


Families reunited after Victorian aged care home creates visiting pod
Families have been reunited after an aged care centre created special 'visiting pods' to allow people to interact face-to-face separated by a glass partition.

Multicultural Aged Care Services in Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, came up with the innovative idea to allow families to see one another.

The aged care centre has converted a shipping container into a visitors pod, dividing two rooms where people can spend time with their family member.
30july-aged-care-visiting-pod-BB17lpk8.jpg


Families are separated by a glass partition but there are microphones and speakers installed to help people with hearing problems.

Chief executive of MACS, Joy Leggo, said the pods have made an 'amazing difference' and kept 'human connection' at the aged care centre.
'It's allowed our families to come in and see and have a visit and have a chat in our pod,' she told the Today Show on Thursday.
'We've got two sections to it. We've got a hearing loop install sowed our residents who are hard of hearing can have a conversation.'

30july-pod-inside-BB17lr3-V.jpg

30july-pod-BB17lpkb.jpg


The pods are wheelchair and comfort chair accessible and runs seven days a week from 10am until 7pm at night.
'To see the joy on the residents' faces as they come out, but also the families as well,' Ms Leggo said

Ms Leggo said the pandemic was the most challenging time the aged care sector had faced.

She continues to monitor cases closely and MACS has not had a positive case but given the spike in Melbourne - 72km away - the centre remains ready to lock down.
'The numbers in Geelong, the active cases in Geelong are quite low, but we are watching that very closely on a day-to-day basis,' Ms Leggo said.
'It's the unknown that we are dealing with and we're just pleading with everyone to wear those masks do that social distancing all of those sorts of things.'

Figures released by the Victorian government on Thursday show 913 active cases linked to aged care, including workers, with 87 facilities having active outbreaks.

Former chief medical officer Brendan Murphy, now secretary of the federal Department of Health, said more elderly people will die from the virus.
'There will be more deaths with the number of aged-care recipients that are infected,' he told reporters in Canberra.
'We know that it is a certainty. We will see deaths every day - and that is a tragedy.'

.Premier Daniel Andrews is also expected to report an additional 13 deaths amid more than 80 outbreaks at aged care facilities.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/families-reunited-after-victorian-aged-care-home-creates-visiting-pod/ar-BB17lvFn?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-aged-care-intervention-continues-in-victoria/vi-BB17kVXs?ocid=msedgdhp


Hospitals

Hospital Covid19 Fears driving increase in home births as Victorian COVID outbreak grows
Victorians are very fearful of seeing their doctors at the surgery , in their rooms , in the hospital because of the high number of people in the community who are identified as positive for covid19 and fears of coming into contact with someone who is asymptomic amongst the staff or a symptomic patient waiting to be tested or under observation or waiting to be admitted or as a walk-in.
So many Victorian mother are opting for home birthing using a midwife or RN or NP. This is an expensive option with inherent risks involved too.
But with limited state funding for home births, many are being forced into debt.
This is because it is not covered by Medicare ( under the safety net ) and there are large deductibles if the mother has private health insurance that covers home birthing.

Some soon to be and new mothers have drawn on their Superannuation under the Federal Govt's Covid Hardship provisions to take one or two hits of up to each $10000 from their superannuation to cover this expense and setting up for the newborn.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/increase-in-home-births-as-victorian-covid-outbreak-grows/vi-BB17lD7B?ocid=msedgdhp

Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne COVID-19 outbreak came as baby Barnaby fought for his life and he has been infected and is now fighting for his life in ICU
30july-baby-in-icu-BB17l-Jf9.jpg

Barnaby Craw has been fighting for his life in the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.

Launceston couple Dylan and Lisa Craw were already stressed and anxious packing their bags for their first plane trip with their newborn son, Barnaby.

They were headed to Melbourne, the epicentre of Australia's coronavirus outbreak — but they had no choice.

12-week-old Barnaby was born with a hole in his heart and needed urgent surgery at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne.
"It was the last place we wanted to be heading, but the way we thought about it was if we didn't come over here, then his life was in danger," Mr Craw said.

With limited flights out of Launceston, the couple had to drive to Hobart to catch a plane.
"Obviously it's a tough journey for us anyway with Barnaby, but COVID-19 has made it twice as bad — both of us can't be together in the hospital, let alone at the bedside, so that means it's really tough to support each other, let alone him," Mr Craw said.

Ms Craw said it was an extremely frightening situation.
"He's our first baby," she said.
"He's a very sick baby."

'Complication after complication'
Barnaby, who weighed just 1.625 kilograms at birth, had surgery to repair a ventricular septal defect (VSD) in his heart two weeks ago.
"For the amazing surgeons over here it's fairly routine, but Barnaby had quite a few issues post-op and in ICU he went downhill quite badly," Mr Craw said.
"He had to have his chest reopened for a couple of days to relieve the pressure on his heart and internal organs, so he had to have a second surgery to do that, then they closed it after four days, and then he had a few more hiccups."

The baby spent 8 days in paediatric ICU instead of the 2 that had been predicted.
"We really should have been home by now but it's just been complication after complication," Mr Craw said.
"We're lucky we've still got him … it's been quite a journey.
Ms Craw said the restrictions increased in the pressure.
"Not being there together was just that added extra emotional toll — that certainly has tested us." Ms Craw said.


2 floors below a coronavirus outbreak
Earlier this week Victorian health authorities confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak at the hospital after a baby,2 parents, and a healthcare worker returned positive tests.

"That's on the 5th floor and luckily we're a few floors below that," Mr Craw said.
"To be honest, there's not a lot of talk of it inside the hospital … even though there is an outbreak, I still feel relatively safe."

Mr Craw said there were a lot of procedures and hoops to jump through just to get inside the building.
"Overall it's a very scary situation, but they're doing everything they can to keep everyone safe and taking every precaution possible," he said.

A spokesperson said the Royal Children's Hospital had not allowed visitors on site since March, before visitor directives were issued.
"Any parent, guardian or staff member entering the hospital undergoes health screening and temperature checking before being allowed access," the spokesperson said.
"Under the Government's visitor restrictions, parents/guardians are not considered visitors.
"Even so, we have insisted that only one parent/guardian is allowed with their child at any time.
"While this has caused upset for many families, there is no intention to strengthen this any further as this would mean our patients would not ever see their parents — this is not an outcome anyone would want."

The spokesperson said 17 staff, seven patients and three parents identified as close contacts were undertaking mandatory quarantine requirements.

Nervous about hotel quarantine in Tasmania
The Craws are hoping to return to Launceston as soon as Barnaby is feeding again and strong enough to travel.
"We are definitely counting down the days," Ms Craw said.
"We think each day we're a little bit closer to home and when we get that all-clear it'll be a celebration."

But the new mother does not expect getting home to be easy.
"Where we'll have to quarantine will be another challenge and we're hoping that with everything our beautiful little newborn has been through, and to help with his healing process, we're hoping we can quarantine in our home environment," she said.
"It's in our best interests not to expose Barnaby to anything and to help him in that recovery."

The Craws had nothing but praise and admiration for the hospital and its staff.
"We wouldn't to be anywhere else in terms of the care we've received from the Royal Children's," Ms Craw said.

Health authorities said all 7 babies at the RCH who were classified as close contacts of an infected patient and staff had tested negative.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/royal-children-s-hospital-melbourne-covid-19-outbreak-came-as-baby-barnaby-fought-for-his-life/ar-BB17lJfd?ocid=msedgdhp


Schools

Victorian coronavirus schooling rules for year 11 and 12 VCE students 'inflexible', unions say
The Victorian Government's requirement for all year 11 and 12 students to attend school in person is causing anxiety for school principals and making staff concerned for their safety, unions representing the education sector say.

Prep to year 10 students in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire have been learning from home since July 20.

Currently Victoria's VCE and VCAL students, as well as special school students, are required to attend school in person.

But the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Independent Education Union (IEU) say the policy is inflexible and "failing our school communities".

There are 72 schools across Victoria which are currently closed due to coronavirus:
61 government schools,
9 Catholic schools
and 2 independent schools.

Plus
19 early childhood services are closed.

The unions want the State Government to give school principals more flexibility and the power to implement home learning programs for their students when required.

AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said many union members were concerned about their safety and the safety of their students.
"It is leaving our principals with the responsibility to manage incredibly difficult circumstances for their schools, without having the capacity to make important decisions," she said.

The Victorian Government's rationale for keeping year 11 and 12 students on campus was to avoid VCE students falling out of step with their counterparts outside of the locked-down areas.

But Ms Peace said many parents were keeping their children home because of health concerns anyway, particularly in special schools.
"So we already have significant inequity, because those students who are at home are not receiving a formal learning program — our kids with disabilities, in special schools, are receiving no learning program," she said.

Departmental guidelines were getting in the way of principals doing "the right thing", the general secretary of IEU Vic-Tas Debra James said.
"Too many people are required to be on campus when they could easily be working from home, and principals who are trying to minimise the number of staff or students in the senior secondary area are getting pushback," she said.

Ms Peace said some secondary schools had tried to implement flexible arrangements for their VCE students, such as keeping year 11s at home for part of the week.

But she said the Department of Education and Training told those schools to reverse those decisions, and other proposals put forward by the union had been rejected.
"We cannot have a circumstance where principals are trying to manage the growing anxiety and stress among their staff and students and parents, and yet they are not trusted to make very sensible decisions about how to manage their staff on site."

'This is serious': Unions say contact-tracing delays causing stress for schools
Ms James pointed to a senior secondary school in Melbourne's western suburbs which had recorded positive cases among students and staff and where a partner of a staff member was in ICU.
"This is serious stuff … we believe there is a different way, a better way, and this should be seriously looked at," she said.

The union leaders also said delays in contact tracing were causing a high level of "stress and anxiety" for schools.
"We've heard stories about people sweating over email all weekend, wondering if they should be preparing remote learning classes for their kids or whether they should be preparing to be on site, face to face," Ms Peace said.
"We can't sustain those kinds of workloads, we can't sustain that stress for our school communities."

Education Minister James Merlino said the settings in place at schools in Victoria were based on the Chief Health Officer's advice.
"Schools already have the flexibility at the local level for staff to work remotely and to provide learning support for students on extended absences," he said.
"Having VCE and VCAL students and those with a disability onsite ensures that those most impacted by remote learning still have access to face-to-face learning."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/victorian-coronavirus-schooling-rules-for-year-11-and-12-vce-students-inflexible-unions-say/ar-BB17m6Pn?ocid=msedgdhphp

Major Melbourne employer refuses Covid safe work conditions

Melbourne Cleaning Company SPOTLESS withdraws its Fair Work case against staff over coronavirus outbreak
A Melbourne cleaning company has withdrawn a case it brought to the Fair Work Commission after its staff refused to turn up to work due to a coronavirus outbreak.

About 35 staff from Spotless laundry in Dandenong, owned by Ensign Services, did not show up to work on Wednesday after two people from the workplace tested positive to coronavirus in less than a week.

The United Workers Union (UWU) said the staff did not believe enough had been done to prevent the outbreak from spreading and decided it was safer to stay at home.

It led Ensign Services to launch a case in the Fair Work Commission to compel the staff to return to work.

The hearing on Wednesday afternoon was adjourned to Thursday but the company subsequently dropped the case.

A statement issued by the Commission said staff from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) were onsite on Thursday to "directly assess" the situation "regarding the range of safety measures in place in response to the detection of COVID-19 at the site".

The Commission said in the statement that Ensign Services had been working with the DHHS before Thursday.
"The UWU have agreed to make all reasonable efforts to advise their members that they are not advising them to not attend to work for the day shift [on Thursday]," the statement said.

The DHHS have been approached for comment on the result of the inspection at the laundry.

Workers felt 'moral obligation' to protect community, union says
In a statement, UWU executive director Godfrey Moase said the withdrawal of the action did not resolve workers' concerns and the union wanted to see pandemic leave offered to the workers.
"Low-wage migrant workers have done the right thing by taking a stand for the safety of themselves, their families and the entire community," he said.
"The question now is who pays. Time and time again, corporations shift their responsibilities to stop the spread onto low-wage migrant workers; many of whom don't qualify for JobKeeper or JobSeeker."

The union said a worker had told them a majority of employees at the site lived in extended family households with elderly parents and in-laws with pre-existing health conditions.

The union quoted the unnamed worker as saying they felt a "moral obligation" to protect their community by preventing spread to other family members who also worked in large, industrial workplaces.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/melbourne-company-withdraws-its-fair-work-case-against-staff-over-coronavirus-outbreak/ar-BB17mfx9?ocid=msedgdhp

Coronavirus scare at huge shopping centre as two staff test positive
2 staff members at a Melbourne shopping centre have tested positive for COVID-19.

Northland Shopping Centre in Preston in Melbourne's northeast announced the 2 confirmed cases on Wednesday.
A Myer employee tested positive and last worked at the store on Wednesday, July 22 and a Nike worker who also has the virus last worked on Friday, July 17.
The Myer employee was potentially infectious while working from July 20 to July 22, according to the department store.
In a statement, Northland Shopping Centre tried to quell fears of infection.
'We’ve received no advice which indicates there was any risk to our customers or retail team members who visited Myer on 22 July or Nike on 17 July,' the statement read.
'All team members who have been identified as having been in close contact with the affected team members have been contacted, will undergo testing and will self-isolate until they receive test results.'

Both the Myer and Nike stores in Northland mall have undertaken a deep clean and sanitisation in line with the Department of Health and Human Services' advice.

The latest cases are not the first at the shopping centre as a H&M employee tested positive last month, forcing the store to close down for deep cleaning.

An infectious person also watched Jumanji 2 at the centre's Hoyts cinema, sparking another COVID scare.

Earlier this month, Northland Shopping Centre began limiting its hours to 'adjust to the unprecedented challenges presented by COVID-19'.

'The safety and wellbeing of our customers, retailers, team and community continues to be our top priority,' the centre announced.'We’re taking extra precautions to ensure our centre is clean and hygienic every time you visit, including more frequent cleaning, encouraging healthy physical distancing and good hygiene.'
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-scare-at-huge-shopping-centre-as-two-staff-test-positive/ar-BB17lF5W?ocid=msedgdhp

Coronavirus case sees popular ABC News Breakfast team Michael Rowland, Lisa Millar, Nate Byrne report from home
The ABC's News Breakfast team's members have appeared on screens around the country from home this morning, following a coronavirus scare in the Melbourne studio.

Usual hosts Lisa Millar, Michael Rowland and Nate Byrne were not in their usual seats this morning and have been temporarily replaced by Madeline Morris, Ben Knight and Georgie Tunny.

The decision to keep the usual presenters at home was made by ABC management on Wednesday after the wife of the team's floor manager, Joe, tested positive to coronavirus.

While the team waits for his results, ABC management decided anyone who worked closely with Joe should not come to work.

Morris, Knight and Tunny will continue to host News Breakfast for several days until the presenters are cleared of the virus.

Rowland and Millar were not entirely absent and appeared via their home offices to explain their absence to viewers.
"Things moved very very quickly and full credit to the ABC for taking quick and decisive action," Rowland said.
"It's a lot to take in.
"I wasn't up at the usual time of 2:00am but tossing and turning and up about 5:00am … so sort of a sleep-in."

Millar said people had already contacted the ABC to say thank you for being overly cautious.
"[They said], 'Thank you for going above and beyond … because we know workplaces are the real issue,'" Millar said.

Rowland said many precautions were being taken by the ABC to separate news readers into different studios, with some, such as 7.30 host Leigh Sales, broadcasting from home.
"It applies to programs all through the ABC. This is the ABC making sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed because, sadly in Victoria, coronavirus is still out there," Rowland said.
"We have been reporting on this for more than six months or more now, every single day, and it's gloomy some mornings but it's not until you have a deep personal confrontation with this disease … that it really strikes home for you."

In a tweet, Rowland said the measure went "above and beyond the Health Department's requirements".
"But this precaution is being taken for the wellbeing of other ABC staff in Melbourne," the tweet said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-case-sees-abc-news-breakfast-team-michael-rowland-lisa-millar-nate-byrne-report-from-home/ar-BB17lk4A?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
30 JULY IN NSW

NSW Health records 18 new coronavirus cases as Sydney residents rush to beat Queensland border ban
Sydneysiders are rushing to cross the Queensland border before they're locked out this weekend, amid a rising number of mystery coronavirus infections in New South Wales.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in NSW remained relatively steady yesterday, with 18 fresh infections identified in the 24 hours to 8.00pm last night.

However, in a statement, NSW Health said it was still investigating the source of six of those.

It said two were linked to the funeral gatherings cluster in south-west Sydney, four were linked to the Thai Rock cluster in Wetherill Park, and four were associated with the The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point.

The remaining two were returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

NSW Health said it found an asymptomatic case this morning at Parklea Correction Centre, who had since been placed in isolation while contact tracing was underway.

Gym Fitness First also said it closed its St Leonards club for cleaning after health authorities confirmed a person with COVID-19 visited on Monday, July 27.

MORE details on 18 new coronavirus cases
Of the new cases,
4 are connected to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park, in Sydney's west,
4 are associated with the Apollo at Potts Point,
2 are returned travellers in hotel quarantine
and 6 are under investigation.

The latest figures come as four more Sydney schools closed due to confirmed and suspected cases.

Fort Street High School in Sydney's Inner-West and Ever Learn preschool in the south-west were both closed today while authorities investigated a possible COVID-19 case.

2 Catholic schools in the city's west, which only re-opened yesterday after two confirmed cases, have again been shut down for two weeks as a precaution.

details on 4 schools in NSW closed as new cases reported across Sydney
Three schools and a childcare centre in New South Wales will be closed today over links to COVID-19.

It comes as new cases have been identified in Sydney's eastern suburbs in Bondi and Randwick and a restaurant in Camperdown.

Fort Street High School in Petersham,
Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights,
Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary in Bossley Park
and EverLearn Preschool in Prestons have now shut their doors.

Deep cleaning will be carried out today while contact tracing gets underway to identify any potential new cases of the virus.

In a message on its Facebook page, Fort Street High School confirmed all staff and students would take part in at-home learning.
"The school has been advised by NSW Health of a possible case of COVID-19," the message read.
"The person concerned is being tested and the results will be confirmed (today)."

Freeman Catholic College in Bonnyrigg Heights said 2 students who had contracted the virus, 1 in year 9 and the other in year 12, were "well but showing minor symptoms".

One was infectious while at school last week.

"Our experience with COVID-19 is not over," the principal, Ray Wooby, said in an email to parents.

Students will now move to online classes until next Friday, except for some Year 12 students who need to be at school.

Anybody who might have come into contact with the students will be contacted.

Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary in Bossley Park will also be closed until August 10.

It is also understood that EverLearn Preschool in Prestons has been closed for cleaning after a confirmed case.

NSW Health is urging anyone who live in the below areas to get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms:

Potts Point area
Carnes Hill shops
Prestons
Bonnyrigg
Wetherill Park
Mt Pritchard
Bankstown City Plaza
Cabramatta
Perisher
Authorities said a person who tested positive went to Frank's Pizza Bar in Camperdown on July 26 from 6pm to 8pm, and anyone who was at the restaurant at the same time is advised to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate if they present.

It comes as Parklea Correctional Facility in Sydney's north-west has undergone forensic cleaning after an inmate tested positive to COVID-19.

The inmate had recently been in Victoria and was arrested and refused bail on July 26 for alleged driving offences.
He was taken to Surry Hills holding cells, then transferred to Parklea Correctional Centre.

The inmate was kept in isolation the entire time and underwent mandatory coronavirus testing on arrival. This test came back positive.

There are now 89 cases associated with Thai Rock Wetherill Park, 57 cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster, eight cases associated with Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, and 20 associated with the funerals. There are eleven cases associated with the Potts Point cluster.

more details
New cases of the virus have also been reported in Bondi and Randwick in Sydney's east.

Member for Coogee Marjorie O'Neill shared the information on her social media pages, urging anyone to get tested if they have symptoms.

A restaurant in Camperdown will be closed until next Tuesday after being informed by NSW Health about a positive case.

Frank's Pizza Bar Restaurant announced the news on its Facebook page last night.
"The customer visited on Sunday the 26th of July for dinner between 6pm to 8pm," management said in a statement.
"NSW health has advised us that we are of low risk, as the customer was in the restaurant for two hours and stayed within his group.
"We are choosing to close the restaurant until next Tuesday the 4th of August, in order for our restaurant to be professionally deep cleaned. Our customers health and safety is a priority for us."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/four-schools-in-nsw-close-as-new-cases-reported-across-sydney/ar-BB17kH6N?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/new-south-wales-records-18-new-coronavirus-cases/ar-BB17lraO?ocid=msedgdhp

Sydney gym closed for cleaning after positive COVID-19 test
A Fitness First gym in Sydney's north has been closed after a person who attended the facility tested positive for COVID-19.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-sydney-gym-closed-for-cleaning-after-positive-covid-19-test/vi-BB17m8pq?ocid=msedgdhp
Overall, there are now 85 cases linked to the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park, 57 linked to the Crossroads Hotel, and seven cases linked to Thai Rock in Potts Point and nearby The Apollo restaurant.

Eighteen cases are linked to the funeral cluster in south west Sydney.

The new figures come after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuk on Wednesday declared 31 local government areas, which comprise Greater Sydney, as COVID-19 hotspots.

Flight prices sky-rocketed after Ms Palaszcuk announced the ban from 1:00am on Saturday.

A one-way Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane was selling for more than $1,600, while Virgin Airlines and Jetstar have completely sold out on the same route.

However, an inflated price for a flight home was still cheaper than the cost of a mandatory hotel which travellers would have to pay out of their own pocket, for $2,800 per adult.


Joseph Liu planned to fly home to Queensland at the weekend, but moved his flight forward to avoid quarantine.
"I've had to kind of rush it through," he said.
"Try to get in there before the crazy stuff happens, you kind of get locked in here in NSW, so unfortunately I had to pay a bit extra and try to get on that flight."

He said he visited several websites before he could secure a flight and saw seats completely book out within minutes.
"It was ridiculous … it was going crazy," he said.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was unaware of the decision to declare Greater Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot before it was announced.
"It would have been nice to have been given a heads up, but I get the pressure that everybody's under and we just have to accept the decision," she said today.
"I don't begrudge any other premier having to make decisions in what they believe is in the best interest of their citizens.
"Ironically, we were actually welcoming travellers on behalf of Queensland and WA and the other states who closed their borders to us, keeping their citizens in quarantine before they went back to their home state.
"But now with the Victorian outbreak, clearly things have changed."

The ban comes as three women from Queensland returned after travelling interstate from Melbourne, with police alleging they "went to extraordinary lengths" to hide their travel history.

Queensland today confirmed three new cases, with two of those returning Queenslanders who dined at Sydney's Apollo restaurant, who self-isolated on their return.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nsw-health-records-18-coronavirus-cases-overnight/ar-BB17ly1L?ocid=msedgntp

oronavirus social distancing rules on NSW public transport relaxed amid overcrowding
30jluy-nsw-bus-rules-BB17l-H0e.jpg

Social distancing guidelines for Sydney's public transport system eased.
<< IMO , NOT A GOOD IDEA at this time in large areas of Greater Sydney , the Illawarra and Central Coast >>

A report prepared for the NSW Government proposed loosening coronavirus social distancing rules on public transport as many crowded bus, train and ferry services were violating health advice.

The partially redacted reports and briefings were obtained by the Opposition under Freedom of Information laws.

In the report, Transport for NSW proposed revising and relaxing social distancing guidelines during June, when dozens of services were breaching the rules.

During the AM peak, 23 per cent of trains and 10 per cent of buses were in breach; in the PM peak, that increased to 28 per cent of trains, and 13 per cent of buses.

The transport department said it had put on an additional 3,300 services per week, but that it was, "unable to resource any further service uplifts", despite forecasting about 200,000 more commuters would be using the rail network by the end of July.

Nearly one million people are currently using the state's public transport system.

The State Opposition said the reports and briefings showed damning evidence of COVID-safety failings.
"These documents clearly show that the Government can't meet its own social distancing requirements," said NSW Opposition Leader Jodi McKay.
"It clearly shows that there are concerns about safety on both buses and trains."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this morning said she had not seen the report.
"I've not seen that data and I've certainly not had that presented to me but I want to restate the advice that the health department and the health experts are giving," she said.
"If you're getting on a train or a bus, and people aren't respecting the rules were put in place, you should be wearing a mask."

The proposal asked for the socially-distanced capacity of suburban trains be more than doubled, and the capacity of single-deck buses to be almost doubled.

It asked for the capacity of regional train carriages to be increased from 17 to 64, and for an extra 85 people be allowed on first fleet ferries.

The changes were introduced at the start of July, allowing passengers to sit closer than the widely-used social distancing rule of 1.5 metres.

The change has not been wound back with community transmission of COVID-19 increasing in Sydney in the last few weeks.

In a press release at the time, Ms Berejiklian stressed the changes were in line with health advice.
"Passengers still need to leave a space or an empty seat between themselves, and other customers, and continue to find green dots for the safest places to sit and stand. No green dot, no spot," she said.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance also defended the move.
"There's a space between them, and again, we're urging people to wear masks," he told the ABC.

A briefing document prepared by Transport for NSW in May showed the department knew there were risks associated with using its system.
"There will be limited capacity on public transport to allow for social distancing," one point stated, under the heading 'key messages'.
"NSW has limited enforcement capability — customers not heeding messages and crowding public transport could coincide with a COVID-19 outbreak," said another.

The department first lists 'damage to reputation' as a consequence of those risks, later listing 'assisting the spread of the virus' as another.

The Opposition now wants masks mandated on public transport, but the State Government is against the move.
"If people can consider wearing them, they should," Mr Constance said.

"But at this stage, given the level of community transmission, we're not seeing that advice coming to the fore in terms of mandating masks," he said.

The extent of the overcrowding problem peaked on April 29, showing up to almost 40 per cent of services on some bus routes were over social-distanced capacity.

Route M52, from Parramatta to the City, was 38.9 per cent over; The 410, from Hurstville to Macquarie Park, was 36.8 per cent over; and the 400, from Bondi to the Airport, was 36 per cent over.

Ten per cent of services on the T5 Cumberland train line were also over capacity on April 29.

In the following two weeks, patronage across the network increased by 17 per cent.

But Mr Constance said services had since improved their overcrowding issue, in part due to the relaxed distancing measures.

"Fast forward to now … we are now running 98.7 per cent of our transport services at good physical distancing levels," he said.

"We are the leading Australian jurisdiction when it comes to having a plan in place for cleaning, for services, and for distancing on services, and that's why we need to stay the course."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/coronavirus-social-distancing-rules-on-nsw-public-transport-relaxed-amid-overcrowding/ar-BB17lT2y?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

Inmates charged over Cessnock prison riot, Sydney jail records state's first COVID-19 case
More than 20 inmates have been charged over a riot at a Hunter Valley prison that was sparked by calls for drug withdrawal therapy for inmates in Covid-lockdown.

Police allege the inmates caused significant damage to the ceiling, doors, roof, of the Cessnock correctional facility, along with other items, in April this year.

The 21 men, aged between 22 and 39, were served court attendance notices at six different locations around the state, including prisons and homes.

Police said the men threatened Corrective Services NSW staff with violence.

Drug cravings linked to riot
At the time of the riot, Corrective Services NSW said inmates had been calling for opioid substitution therapy to help manage withdrawals caused by the loss of the supply of illicit drugs.

Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin said the suspension of visits had led to a greater demand for drugs.
"Since visits were cancelled to correctional centres in March due to COVID-19, we've seen people increasingly using mail, drones and tennis balls in an attempt to smuggle drugs into our prisons," Mr Severin said.

His comments followed the thwarting of an alleged plan to use a drone to drop drugs at Cessnock in the past week.

Corrective Services officers said they searched a car located near Cessnock Correctional Centre and found a drone with a line of string attached to a package.

The package allegedly contained 108 buprenorphine oral strips and 42 buprenorphine tablets.

Each tablet and strip allegedly had a prison value of $1,000, the department said.

First COVID-19 case confirmed
Today's charges coincide with an inmate in Sydney testing positive to COVID-19 in what is the first confirmed case in a NSW jail.

A NSW budget estimates hearing prior to the Cessnock riot heard what led to the prison visitor ban.
"The closed nature and security requirements of custodial environments presented challenges in mitigating risk associated with exposure of the prison population to COVID-19," Corrections Minister Anthony Roberts said."I am advised [Corrective Services NSW] will develop new processes and procedures for screening visitors before resuming visits.
"CSNSW had been examining alternative ways to have visits that minimised the risk of transmission, such as greater use of technology instead of person-to-person contact."

He said decisions on how to manage inmates who have contracted COVID-19 would be made in conjunction with Justice Health.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/inmates-charged-over-cessnock-prison-riot-sydney-jail-records-state-s-first-covid-19-case/ar-BB17lHOb?ocid=msedgdhp

NSW-Vic Border issues

More than 1,000 Indigo Shire residents unable to work because of COVID-19 cross-border closures
30july-haye-nsw-BB17m2-GA.jpg

Residents in towns like Chiltern are being prevented from travelling to work across the border.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 Indigo Shire residents in north-east Victoria have been unable to go to work since the New South Wales-Victoria border restrictions tightened last week.

Figures came from the latest census data that indicated 14 per cent of the shire worked on the NSW side of the border in Albury.

Residents who do not fall under an exemption category do not qualify for a permit to cross the border as the shire falls outside the blue zone.

Mayor Jenny O'Connor said councils across the border have been rallying for change but there has still been no answers or communication from the NSW Government.
"Nothing is happening, it's extraordinary," she said.
"We're being hung out to dry."

Ms O'Connor said residents along the border have taken restrictions in their stride but people's livelihoods were at risk.
"There are no cases [of COVID-19] in Indigo Shire so to be protecting NSW from us doesn't add up," she said.
"We don't have the virus here so we're not likely to be spreading it into NSW."

Owner of the Rutherglen IGA supermarket Mick Dare has felt the impacts through his business.

He has been struggling with staff numbers since restrictions were enforced as many lived on the other side of the border in Corowa.
"A lot of our staff have gone from 10–15 hours a week to 40-plus hours a week," Mr Dare said.

He said it has been tough for business and a common-sense approach was needed.
"It's frustrating to be restricted for so long without anyone stepping up, saying, "Right, let's look at this on a case-by-case basis'," Mr Dare said.

Border blindside
Ms O'Connor has slammed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for comments yesterday on how she was 'blindsided' by the closure of the Queensland border to Sydneysiders.
"It's a bit of a cheek because we heard nothing from her [about the NSW-Victoria border closure] and we've been appealing to her directly and have had no response," she said.

Ms O'Connor raised concerns for the local economy and the mental health of residents.
"The impact on rural people whose livelihoods are already under pressure; it's disgraceful," she said.

Member for Indi Helen Haines said restrictions were putting unnecessary stress on residents.
"Right now, people on the border regions are facing tougher restrictions than people living in capital cities where there is community transmission," she said.
"It's simply not fair."

Ms Haines said a solution was needed before the point of no return was reached.
"The reality is this border is closed for a significant period of time so we need to look for ways that this is sustainable for all workers," she said.
"What we have is an unworkable, artificial zone that's placing enormous pressure on small business and families.
"We need a remedy that keeps people safe but allows our businesses to get on with their jobs."

New permit needed
Member for Benambra Bill Tilly said he has been pushing for a new permit called the Continuity of Employment which could be the solution for many workers.
"It would resolve a whole range of issues for people outside the blue bubble," he said.
"Every job is important whether you're inside the blue zone or outside."

The suggested permit was raised at last night's briefing and at the NSW Cabinet meeting.

It is hoped a decision will be made later today.

However, Mr Tilly said restrictions on the border relied on Victorians doing the right thing which was concerning given today's record-breaking number of cases.
"The Victorian Government has to give surety and certainty to the NSW Government that they can contain the spread and community transmission is kept to the absolute minimum," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/more-than-1-000-indigo-shire-residents-unable-to-work-because-of-covid-19-cross-border-closures/ar-BB17lXzJ?ocid=msedgdhp

Hay council defends keeping free camp site open during coronavirus pandemic
30july-haye-BB17lmi1.jpg

Hay Shire Council says a ranger takes details of all campers at its Sandy Point free camp site at 5:00pm each day

A southern New South Wales council has defended its free camping site amid concerns from locals that visitor details have not been recorded.

At the start of July, before the border with Victoria was closed, Hay resident Bob Dougall said he saw about 300 travellers staying at the site on the Murrumbidgee River in one week.
"I find it a little disturbing because we don't know where they have come from, and we don't know what they've brought with them," he said.
"I'm in the age group where if I get coronavirus I'm probably gone, and most of these little towns in the area have a very ageing population."

Hay Shire Council's project manager for economic development, Alison McLean, said council was now recording the details of as many campers as possible with a ranger visiting the site at 5:00pm each day.
"We're pretty sure everyone is generally in there by 5:00pm. If you're setting up camp later than that, you might have left your run a bit late," she said.

Ms McLean said it was an initiative the council was not required to do, and that they also collected details of all visitors to the Tourist Information Centre.
"We think it's a really good opportunity for us to connect with those visitors and to gather that information, in case we needed to do any kind of contact tracing," she said.

Minister for Tourism Stuart Ayers did not answer the ABC's questions about whether or not the collection of details at free camp sites should be mandated.

A statement attributed to a NSW Government spokeswoman encouraged travellers to practise social distancing and wash their hands.

The new owner of the Hay Caravan Park, Julie Lawrence, did not think the council's efforts went far enough.
"You could send a ranger to take names and addresses at say 5:00pm, but then 10 people could turn up at 5:30pm after he has been," she said.
"So you just don't have a full account of the people who go through there."

Dispute over value of free camping
Ms Lawrence was also concerned about the impact of the free option on her business and wanted the site closed.
"If someone did get coronavirus there would be accountability [for the caravan parks]," she said.
"And for the two caravan parks in Hay, who are rate-paying businesses, it would be good if council supported their businesses."

But the Hay Shire Council said the contribution to the town's economy made it worthwhile.
"We've had some analysis done that suggests that the free camping contributes about $1 million to our economy every year and that equates to about 13 jobs in our town," Ms McLean said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/hay-council-defends-keeping-free-camp-site-open-during-coronavirus-pandemic/ar-BB17lDpf?ocid=msedgdhp

( Fringe Ultra Right ) Shooters PartyMP Roy Butler says regional NSW needs to stay open as cases continue to rise in Sydney
30jluy-nw-nsw-BB17l-OTS.jpg

MP says regional NSW wants to remain open, even if greater Sydney is shut down.

A New South Wales Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP is calling for regional areas to stay open as more pandemic hotspots are declared across greater Sydney.

"We've seen businesses really suffer on the back of the drought, and then the first lockdown," said Roy Butler, the member for the western NSW electorate of Barwon.
"In our communities out west, while we wouldn't necessarily have the tourists coming through, at least locals would be able to follow the public health guidelines and businesses would be able to keep trading with their local community.
"People don't want to see state lockdowns when there's no evidence the virus is in our local communities."

Mr Butler has met with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and said if cases in greater Sydney grow then non-essential travel should be restricted there, but regional NSW should be able to stay open.
"If we are going to see restrictions, those restrictions should be localised to places where we have cases," Mr Butler said.

Health authorities in NSW have confirmed 18 new coronavirus infections in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

There have been no active cases of COVID-19 in western NSW since May.
"I've been concerned for months, if we have an outbreak in our communities, we simply don't have the level of healthcare for people to stay in their communities," Mr Butler said.
"The advice from the Premier is to not have any non-essential travel.
"But I think if numbers keep going up we'll see it go from being advice to a health order."

Earlier this month, Premier Gladys Berejiklian sought to reassure the state that another lockdown would not happen.
"Every time we have an outbreak we can't afford to lockdown, reopen, lockdown, reopen," she said.
"That is no way to live and that is no way to be able to instil confidence to businesses to keep employing people."

Mr Butler will meet with the Premier next week to discuss the impact of another lockdown in regional NSW.

Businesses 'won't survive another lockdown'
Mudgee Chamber of Commerce vice president Greg Dowker has run a motel in Mudgee for more than three decades.

He said the coronavirus lockdown saw his business fall to record lows.
"I have 64 units. When we had the shutdown I was letting 2-4 units per night. It was the worst its ever been," he said.

He said that quickly turned around in the July school holidays just gone.
"We were booked solid for those two weeks and even helping people find accommodation elsewhere," Mr Dowker said.

He said another lockdown would be crippling for regional NSW.
"We need the regions to stay open we need businesses to be ticking over," he said.

His establishment is still welcoming visitors from Sydney, for now.
"Sydney is a big market for us. As people book in we have a list of the hotspots and ask the questions and see what they've have been doing," Mr Dowker said.
"At the end of the day it's all about personal responsibly."

Mr Dowker said if greater Sydney was put into lockdown, occupancy at his hotel would drop by more than half.
"It depends what line they draw from Sydney, we do get a lot of people from the western suburbs and Blue Mountains," he said.
"It's a bit tricky off the top of my head, but I'd say we'd drop to 30-40 per cent [occupancy]."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/shooters-mp-roy-butler-says-regional-nsw-needs-to-stay-open-as-cases-continue-to-rise-in-sydney/ar-BB17lF1Q?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
30 July in SA

SA creates strictest border measures yet
Even South Australia residents returning from Victoria are now barred from entering the state in order to keep anyone carrying covid19 out of the state and so the economy can move closer to "normal" life.

SA closes Victoria border – but not everybody crossing is stopped
The South Australian border with Victoria is now limited to only essential travelers – but it's been revealed that not all vehicles which cross are being stopped.

The trucks supposedly stood queued for too long under the new regulations, posing a danger.
"Last night there was a change in protocol at the border to inspect all of them, but when it turned out it was creating an unnecessary traffic hazard, they went back to the normal practice," Premier Steven Marshall said.

But some say that's not good enough.
"How can we do the checks to make sure that they are being tested, how can we do the checks to make sure they are following the right requirements?" Opposition MP and former police minister Chris Picton said.

The gates to South Australia are now closed to all non-essential travellers, even returning South Australian residents.

There is no end date for the tough new restrictions, with authorities vowing to keep them in place until Victoria gets on top of its second wave.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/sa-closes-victoria-border-but-not-everybody-crossing-is-stopped/ar-BB17jQ7W?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/sa-creates-strictest-border-measures-yet/vi-BB17lBsT?ocid=msedgdhp

Hard Border Closure Health Issues.- Cancer patients cut off from chemo in Victoria to get help from South Australian health
South Australian health services are moving to help South East cancer patients cut off from their doctors and chemotherapy treatment in Western Victoria.

While the border shutdown is impacting cross-border travellers, those needing to access lifesaving medical treatment in Western Victoria are among the hardest hit.

Limestone Coast health officials are again facing long queues at coronavirus testing stations today as cross-border travellers scramble to adhere to mandatory requirements.

Hundreds of cars were again stretched along the front of the Mount Gambier Hospital's testing site this morning ahead of its opening time.

The rapid upsurge in testing rates follows SAPOL directives requiring all cross-border community members to produce evidence they have undertaken a COVID-19 test in the past seven days when flowing across the state partition.

Patients in limbo about where to get treatment
Mount Gambier resident Jennifer Jones — who has been treated by the same Victorian-based oncologist for the past 12 years for metastatic breast cancer — remains in limbo amid the tighter border restrictions.

The final treatment in her current three-month chemotherapy course was scheduled in Warrnambool on Wednesday morning — just hours after the new border rules came into force on midnight Tuesday.
"It's an ongoing treatment until it doesn't work anymore, and then they'll swap me to another lot of treatment, hopefully," Ms Jones said.
"Now I don't have the correct traveller status, so I can't go."

Ms Jones will now seek treatment within either Mount Gambier or Adelaide.
"It's just a bit disconcerting when you actually have to postpone treatments because you don't know how much the disease is progressing in the meantime," she said.

Mount Gambier's Hospital does not provide haematology services, and many local patients travel to a specialised cancer centre in nearby Warrnambool in Western Victoria.

Western Victoria patients relocated to Adelaide facilities
Limestone Coast Local Health Network executive director of medical services, Dr Elaine Pretorius, said patients with chemotherapy scheduled would be accommodated "if it is within our capability to administer that medication".
"If not, they will be accommodated at Flinders, and Flinders Medical Centre. I know it's really distressing to patients who have been accessing their treatment."
"I think COVID has shown us that perhaps it's time that we do think about (having) a haematology service, but that's a conversation for another day," Dr Pretorius said.

Cancer Council of SA chief executive Lincoln Size said access to cancer treatment in regional hospitals was a "workforce issue".
"There's always a push to have more localized services in the regions to avoid that travel and allow people to be close to support networks in the regions," Mr Size said.
"In terms of chemotherapy, if you are going to treat mid to high-range chemotherapy in regions, you need a pharmacy in the hospital and you need medical staff on site because obviously people can have adverse reactions," he said.
"When it comes to complex surgery, again, from a workforce point of view, I don't think we have the numbers to be out in the regions."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/cancer-patients-cut-off-from-chemo-in-victoria-to-get-help-from-south-australian-health/ar-BB17m036?ocid=msedgdhp

30 July in Tasmania

Tasmanians in limbo after coronavirus causes elective surgery cancellations in Victoria
Heather Carroll had been hoping and praying her next surgery would put an end to 17 months of severe pain from a back injury.

The Tasmanian had surgery in Melbourne to implant a spinal stimulator on Monday, and was scheduled to have it removed next week.

But after the Victorian Government suspended all but category one and the most urgent category two elective surgeries, Ms Carroll does not know when the procedure will happen.
"The risk of infection because those [spinal stimulator] leads are hanging out of my back that go straight into my spinal cord is very high, so it can only be in for about a week," Ms Carroll said.
"It's a nightmare.
"In the lead up to this surgery for over two weeks, every day I'd be frantically sitting there listening to [Victorian Premier] Dan Andrews' daily update thinking, 'please don't cancel elective surgery, please don't cancel elective surgery'."

Ms Carroll and her husband Alan Carroll are self isolating in a hotel room in Melbourne while they wait to for news about her next surgery.

She said they felt they had no choice but to travel to Victoria for the spinal stimulator trial.
"I can't enjoy my life, I can't do anything with my family, I'm in constant pain even with medication, so really we had to come see if this worked."

Patients facing uncertainty should contact their GP
Urgent and category one elective surgeries are continuing in Victoria and most types of surgery can be performed in Tasmania, so the number of Tasmanians affected is relatively small.

Tasmanians usually travel to Melbourne for complex heart, brain and spinal surgery.

The Tasmanian president of the Royal Australasian College of General Practitioners, Dr Tim Jackson, had a patient whose heart surgery in Melbourne was cancelled.

After consulting with his cardiologist he was able to arrange for the surgery to be done in Hobart.

Dr Jackson said any Tasmanians who have non-urgent elective surgery scheduled in Melbourne should contact their GP.
"The best thing to do would be for the patient in that situation to check in with their general practitioner first and then, like I did with my patient, refer them onto their specialist and have the discussion there," he said.

The rules of Tasmania's Patient Travel Assistance Scheme stipulate that surgeries must be done at the nearest available and suitable facility, which is usually in Melbourne.

The Tasmanian Health Service said the scheme will fund patient travel to New South Wales or Adelaide if necessary.

The Australian Medical Association's Tasmanian president, Dr Helen McArdle, said it was likely doctors would take Victoria's COVID-19 outbreak into consideration when deciding which surgeons to refer patients to.
"The treating doctor would wisely look at areas with a lower level of COVID, both South Australia or Queensland if it's appropriate for that care, given the high level of COVID in Victoria and the demand on the hospital, and also the risk to any patient going over there," Dr McArdle said.

Tasmanian surgical patients in Melbourne faces barriers to return home
Wynyard resident Les Charlesworth also invoked the word "nightmare" when talking about his experience applying to return to Tasmania after having urgent surgery in Melbourne to treat liver cancer.

Mr Charlesworth said he would prefer to self isolate in his home when he comes back, but has accepted he will probably have to quarantine in a hotel.

He said he's had five applications for a G2G Pass to return to Tasmania rejected so far, most recently because the expiry date on his driver's licence was unclear.
"There should be some tolerance built into this because to me there is no compassion being shown to someone who's trying to do the right thing, and getting hit the leg every time you turn around," Mr Charlesworth said.
"It does have an effect on your mental wellbeing. It's certainly stressed me out no end.
"Please, I implore the Premier [Peter Gutwein] and other leaders, show some compassion."

The RACGP and AMA said they are satisfied it is safe for most people who have returned to Tasmania after surgery in Victoria to quarantine in hotels.
"Assuming they're stable and everything post their treatment they've had over there, [hotel] quarantine is appropriate," Dr Jackson said.
"We need to be careful that particularly coming from Victoria with the situation we've got here at the moment, the last thing we want is to bring the virus back into Tasmania.

A spokesperson for the Tasmanian State Control Centre said it individually reviewed each application for an exemption from hotel quarantine on medical grounds.
"Several thousand applications have been processed through G2G since it became operational on July 16," the spokesperson said.
"Like with any online system, some users find it more difficult to navigate than others.
"G2G is continually reviewed based on feedback and changing functional requirements."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/tasmanians-in-limbo-after-coronavirus-causes-elective-surgery-cancellations-in-victoria/ar-BB17llxS?ocid=msedgdhp

Woman in hotel quarantine granted bail after allegedly abusing staff, refusing to stay in her room
A Tasmanian woman accused of breaching coronavirus quarantine rules has been granted bail and will continue isolating in a Launceston hotel.

Deanece Ann Morrell, 59, of Penguin, was charged with failing to comply with the direction of an emergency management worker.

She had arrived in the state on Thursday on the Spirit of Tasmania and was later arrested at the Best Western Hotel in Launceston.

Police were called to the hotel just after 11:00am, after reports the woman had allegedly become "abusive and aggressive" and was refusing to stay in her room.

Tasmania Police said the officers advised her about the quarantine requirements and left shortly after.

About three hours later, police were again called to the hotel because of the same woman.

She was allegedly again refusing to stay in her room, "being disruptive and throwing food".

Tasmania Police said officers gave her a formal direction to quarantine, which she refused.

She was then arrested and charged with "Fail to comply with lawful requirement or direction of an emergency management worker".

Ms Morrell appeared via video link from the Launceston Reception Prison to the Launceston Magistrates Court.

A Justice of the Peace granted her bail and she will reappear in court on August 19.

State Government places new restrictions on essential workers
From Friday morning, the State Government will be cracking down on all essential travellers coming from Victoria and hotspots in New South Wales.

Workers from these areas are now unlikely to be granted exemptions to travel to Tasmania unless there are exceptional circumstances, such as medical treatment or "industry critical circumstances".

Those that are allowed in will undergo mandatory testing on arrival.

The new rule extends to freight and logistics operations unless they have evidence of having had a test more than seven days before entering the state.

The hot spots will be determined by the New South Wales Government.

At the same time, non-Tasmanians and residents returning from Victoria who are required to stay in hotel quarantine will now have to do so at their own expense, except in cases of extreme hardship.

The cost will be at $2,800 per person, with a reduced per-person rate for couples and families.

People who are currently in hotel quarantine will not be required to pay.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/woman-in-hotel-quarantine-granted-bail-after-allegedly-abusing-staff-refusing-to-stay-in-her-room/ar-BB17mmXu?ocid=msedgntp

30 July in NT

NT Treasurer Nicole Manison criticised for coronavirus budget claim
The NT Treasurer's claim that a better-than-expected deficit for last financial year is linked to the Government's budget-repair initiatives is inaccurate, an independent budget policy analyst says.

The Government yesterday released its COVID-19 Financial Report, which included a fiscal update showing a severe deterioration in debt and deficit estimates for the current financial year.

The update also revealed an improvement for the previous financial year, including an estimated $79 million reduction in the deficit compared with the forecast last November.

Treasurer Nicole Manison pointed to the 2019-20 figure as proof the Government's policies were having a positive effect on the books prior to the coronavirus pandemic.
"This is confirmation that we were delivering our budget-repair plan," Ms Manison said at the launch of the fiscal update.

But the Grattan Institute's budget policy fellow, Kate Griffiths, said the deficit improvement was not specifically related to the Government’s expenditure-restraint measures, which included a reduction in executive staffing levels and salary freezes.
"If that's what the Treasurer is referring to, then it wouldn't be fair to sort of claim credit for that [deficit] improvement because the improvement isn't related to decisions made by Government," she said.

Instead, Ms Griffiths said the improvement had more to do with a delay in spending.

She noted yesterday's fiscal update showed the transfer of expenses and capital projects from 2019-20 to 2020-21 amounted to $179 million.

"There's a real question here about governments claiming credit for the good and not accepting responsibility for the bad," Ms Griffiths said.
"This is not a budget-repair story and it shouldn't be like that.
"Because right now, what we need is governments responding to the COVID crisis."

More than 9,000 expected to be unemployed
To date, the Government has committed $383 million in coronavirus-related stimulus and support measures, including $43 million worth of packages unveiled yesterday.

But its budget has been severely impacted by a $649 million reduction in GST revenue over two years, as well as significant falls in mining royalties, payroll tax and other own-source revenue.

The Treasurer said budget-repair initiatives enacted prior to the pandemic had put the Territory in a better position to respond to the health and economic emergency.
"Where we had seen that improvement is because we've been doing the hard work to manage what is an ever-changing budget and a very dynamic situation … and had we not put in the hard work that we had, we wouldn’t be in this position," Ms Manison told the ABC.

While yesterday's fiscal update noted several positive signs in the pre-pandemic economy — including growth in state final demand as well as upwards trends in employment and retail spending — it foreshadowed a coronavirus-related slump over the coming year.

Notably, unemployment is forecast to rise from 5.6 per cent to 6.8 per cent.

In real terms, that equates to an increase from 7,778 Territorians to 9,454.

Ms Griffiths warned the unemployment estimates could prove to be even worse because the fiscal update couldn’t factor in unexpected developments.
"We don't yet know if we're going to need more lockdowns to manage the health situation, whether more states are going to be in the position that Victoria is in right now," she said.
"And if any of those sort of second-wave risks or third-wave risks eventuate for the Northern Territory, then that will affect the unemployment rate beyond what's in the current forecast."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/nt-treasurer-nicole-manison-criticised-for-coronavirus-budget-claim/ar-BB17lc4u?ocid=msedgdhp

30 July Federal Matters

Labor demands paid pandemic leave for all Australians
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says that Australia must do anything necessary to reduce infections
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/labor-demands-paid-pandemic-leave-for-all-australians/vi-BB17lVoa?ocid=msedgdhp


Building approvals fall to 8-year low
Home building approvals have fallen to an eight-year low in June, as the housing sector struggles to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

Approvals for the construction of new homes were down 4.9 per cent, which was worse than the two per cent decrease the market was expecting, but better than the 15.8 per cent fall the previous month.

Approvals for private sector houses were down 5.7 per cent in the month, while those in the other dwellings category, which includes apartment blocks and townhouses, fell 5.3 per cent.

National Australia Bank economist Tapas Strickland says the outlook for dwelling construction has suffered a sharp downturn since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
"Along with the pandemic's impact on unemployment and income, rental vacancy rates have risen and rents are declining," he said.

Mr Strickland said the closing of Australia's international borders has halted migration and slowed population growth, which has also affected demand for housing.
"Some offset will be the government's HomeBuilder scheme that tends to favour detached house construction with anecdotes of strong lot sale enquiries."

Westpac senior economist Matthew Hassan said the pull back is in line with Westpac's expectations and has approvals tracking in line with its forecasts for 2020.
"Approvals will likely understate weakness in building as work on many existing projects will likely be delayed and some approved projects will be shelved or slower to commence, he said.

In the 12 months to June, building approvals were down 15.8 per cent, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

Falls in dwelling approvals were recorded across all the states for both detached and attached dwellings, with NSW, Queensland and Western Australia suffering double digit falls.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/building-approvals-fall-to-8-year-low/ar-BB17lXnI?ocid=msedgdhp

30 July in ACT

ACT Government will not declare greater Sydney a coronavirus hotspot... yet
The ACT Government will not follow Queensland's lead in declaring suburban Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot.

The Queensland border will be closed to anyone from greater Sydney from Saturday August 1, after 19 coronavirus cases were confirmed in NSW yesterday.

But ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the territory would not close its borders this weekend to anyone from greater Sydney, despite a further 18 cases being recorded in NSW overnight.
"We are confident in the NSW response, but we just don't know exactly what is going on in NSW and particularly in Sydney," she said.
"It's one of those situations where we are always seven to 10 days behind knowing exactly what is in the community."

Although the Government has not declared Sydney a hotspot, Ms Stephen-Smith did ask Canberrans to rethink their need to travel to the area at the moment.
"Just put off that trip for a couple of weeks until we know exactly what we're seeing in NSW and can then make a judgment about whether that's fully under control or whether they actually do have community transmission and then we would be starting to respond to that," she said.

She also said it was concerning that the situation in Victoria was not improving, and indicated case numbers there would affect the ACT's next move.
"Today is a checkpoint in terms of easing of restrictions, so Dr Kerryn Coleman [Chief Health Officer] will be looking at the situation today and will probably have more to say tomorrow," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

And, while there are no active coronavirus cases at Thredbo or Perisher, traces of COVID-19 have been found in sewage at the Perisher treatment plant.

The NSW Government has advised anyone who visited those areas and who has symptoms, to get a COVID-19 test.

Are self-isolation measures still in place?
Self-isolation measures still apply in the ACT — depending on where you are returning from.

The latest Public Health Direction requiring anyone who attended the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club from Wednesday 15 July to Friday 17 July to self-isolate for 14 days from the date they were there, even if they do not have any symptoms, still stands.

Self-isolation is also still required for people returning to Canberra from Victoria or from Fairfield, Campbelltown or Liverpool in NSW.

"The pandemic is not over and we must remain vigilant," ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said.
"We only need to have a look at what is happening in Victoria and NSW to see how the situation can change quickly if people don't do the right thing."

Close contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases are still required to quarantine at home for 14 days after their last contact with the infectious person.

The ACT remains at stage 2.2 of the coronavirus recovery plan.

Eighth drop-in clinic opens today
Prompted by the growing demand for testing, the Government have opened their eighth drop-in coronavirus clinic.

The COVID-19 drive-through clinic opened in Kambah this morning, on Jenke Circuit.

Ms Stephen-Smith said the drive-through model has proved popular at EPIC, and she was hopeful the new clinic would reduce pressure on other centres and encourage more people to get tested.
"So we are expecting that some people will go and drive through at Kambah who would have otherwise gone for example to Weston Creek or … to the surge centre in Garran," she said.

More than 50,000 people have tested negative to COVID-19 in the ACT to date, and there is currently still one active case of coronavirus.

ACT Policing investigating fake COVID-19 flyer
ACT Policing are still investigating the origins of the fake flyer distributed to Garran residents two weeks ago.

The flyer purports to contain an important COVID-19 health warning, but instead alleges that coronavirus is being spread by the government through the water supply, and that a possible vaccination against the virus could include a tracking device.

ACT Policing said they were working with health authorities after similar flyers popped up in Watson, too.

Detective Superintendent Jason Kennedy from the COVID-19 Task Force asked residents to check their CCTV and dash-cams for footage of anyone distributing the mail.
"Just a reminder that the letter is not from an official health agency and it doesn't contain any endorsed health information. It is just straight out misinformation," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/act-government-will-not-declare-greater-sydney-a-coronavirus-hotspot-yet/ar-BB17lryd?ocid=msedgdhp

Across the Tasman Sea ( our moat ) in NZ

New Zealand to start charging some travellers for coronavirus quarantine
Some travellers returning to New Zealand will have to pay the costs of their quarantine, after the government partially backed down from a controversial plan to bill all arrivals for their two-week isolation stay.

The costs will apply only those who chose to leave the country after the charges are imposed and then return, or those staying in New Zealand for fewer than 90 days, the government said on Wednesday.

Temporary visa holders will also be charged, but New Zealanders returning home permanently will avoid any costs.

The isolation stays will cost NZ$3,100 ($2,050) for the first adult in each hotel room, $950 for each additional adult and $475 for each child sharing the room. Megan Woods, the housing minister, said on Wednesday those who could not afford the fees could apply for waivers.

30july-nz-BB17i-Yd-R.jpg

The Sudima hotel, one of the spots used to isolate returning New Zealanders during the coronavirus pandemic. Some travellers will soon have to pay for their stay.
<< could be worse , at least most the rooms will have a view >>

She added: “This solution balances the rights of New Zealanders to return home, while ensuring those who choose to holiday here, or holiday overseas before returning home, are contributing to the considerable cost of managed isolation.”

The government would recoup up to NZ$10m by charging some returnees, against $497m it had allocated for the costs of quarantine to the end of the year, she told reporters at Parliament in Wellington.

With just over 6,100 places available in designated hotels and about a million New Zealanders spread around the globe eyeing the relative safety of their home country, the government had said for weeks that it was looking to start charging for quarantine.

The ruling centre-left Labour party hopes to pass a law next week allowing the fees. If it passes, the country will join Australia in charging for quarantine, costs that states implement on a case-by-case basis, mostly covering more travellers than the New Zealand rules will.

On Wednesday, New Zealand’s move was decried by one of Labour’s governing partners, and by the centre-right opposition National party, as too weak – for failing to cover all returning travellers.

Winston Peters, the leader of the government coalition partner New Zealand First, said that forcing taxpayers to foot the bill for quarantine was “grossly unfair”.

His fellow parties in government “leave themselves open to the perception that they see New Zealanders overseas as a source of votes for the looming general election, so public policy integrity has given way to electoral strategy”, Peters said.

David Seymour, the leader and sole lawmaker for New Zealand’s libertarian ACT party, said in a statement that the narrow-ranging fee was an “underwhelming and unimaginative response to the challenges New Zealand faces”.

Woods said a universal charge would have collected just $125m for the government, while costing $33m.

But she added that it was not “fair for the New Zealand taxpayer to pay for managed isolation if you’ve elected to go on holiday”, and those who did should “factor into the cost of that visit the cost of your isolation”.

Campaigners against the fees had mounted a “Team of Six Million” Facebook group – referring to the 5 million New Zealanders who live in the country and the one million more who reside abroad – and collected 4,000 signatures on a petition against the charges. Some who had been opposed to the costs welcomed the compromise, but the move was criticised by others who did not believe fees should be imposed at all.

The left-leaning Green party, another government coalition partner, claimed the fee structure as a political victory, saying it was they who had dissuaded Labour from wider-ranging charges.
“It would have always been incredibly unfair to charge New Zealanders overseas who had left New Zealand before it was clear a returning cost would be imposed,” said Golriz Ghahraman, the party’s immigration spokesperson, in a statement. “We’ve heard the distress of New Zealanders overseas, for whom the cost of quarantine would be a huge barrier to return.”

Only New Zealanders, their families, and certain temporary visa holders are permitted to enter New Zealand, and must spend two weeks in quarantine at government-managed hotels. All diagnosed cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand are contained in the managed isolation facilities, and there is no known community transmission in New Zealand.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/new-zealand-to-start-charging-some-travellers-for-coronavirus-quarantine/ar-BB17iUUm?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
30 July in QLD

Queensland Covid-19 testing blitz results 'best we could have hoped for' as three new cases recorded
30july-qld-queue-BB17l-Om-T.jpg

Thousands of people arrive & patiently queue at a Covid-19 screening clinic at the Parklands Christian College in Brisbane and in Greater Brisbane and in Surfers.

Thursday as Queensland ramps up its testing after two women returned from Victoria and failed to isolate.
The initial results of testing to contain a potential Covid-19 outbreak south of Brisbane have been “the best we could have hoped for”, Queensland authorities said on Thursday.

The state announced three new coronavirus cases had been detected – none linked to two women who tested positive after recently returning to Brisbane from Melbourne, and who allegedly made false declarations to evade Queensland border restrictions.

But Queensland remains on edge about the potential for another source of virus infections, with a large tranche of tests results expected soon and recriminations already under way about the effectiveness of border controls and the actions of the women.

Brisbane’s only daily print newspaper, the Courier Mail, printed the women’s names and photographs on its front page, calling them “enemies of the state”.

Queensland has notionally opened its borders to interstate travellers, except to those arriving from declared Covid-19 “hotspots”, including Victoria and, from this coming Saturday, all of greater Sydney.

The border system – especially at highway checkpoints – largely relies on good-faith statutory declarations made by people to confirm they have not recently travelled to such a hotspot. People can be fined for making a false declaration to obtain a border pass, though police rarely appear to conduct proactive checks at the border.

On Thursday, the police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, told reporters “the processes and systems [at the border] are excellent”, and that border controls could not be blamed for the 19-year-old women giving allegedly false information.
“Unfortunately such is life, we’re always going to find that small percentage [of people] who have done the wrong thing,” Carroll said.
“If you go like they did and spend an awful amount of time planning how … to be deceitful, that’s doing the wrong thing.
“‘You’ve got to have confidence in the system we have in place is exceptional compared to what we see in other parts of the country.”

The deputy commissioner, Steve Gollschewski, told reporters that one of the women had also not been cooperative with police, who are attempting to establish their movements in a critical eight-day period between returning to Brisbane and being placed in isolation in hospital.
“Borders are the first line of defence for all of us,” Gollschewski said.
“The next layer of defence is our social distancing and the reason why that is so important is because the borders are not 100% guaranteed to stop [people], as we have seen, we have had some people coming to the state who have tested Covid positive.
“The third layer of defence is a rapid response, [which] is currently in play and I can assure you it is operating at a very high level and I have great confidence in it.”

Police investigating women accused of bringing COVID-19 back to Queensland
Police in protective medical gear have attended a Brisbane home and removed people into quarantine as they continue to investigate two teenage women accused of bringing coronavirus back to Queensland.

The two 19-year-olds who have tested positive have sparked the exact emergency Queensland feared when it reopened its border – they had been in Melbourne and flew home, skipping quarantine with allegedly false information on their border declarations.

On Tuesday night, police in protective equipment attended a home in Acacia Ridge, removing up to 6 people related to the women, 9News can reveal.

The family is now in quarantine under guard.

The actions of the two women led to hundreds of people queuing to be tested yesterday as authorities race to halt any potential outbreaks linked to the duo.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was "furious".
"We had a hard border closure with Victoria and what is extremely disappointing is these two people went to Victoria," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"That's what they did and now we have to act swiftly and quickly.
"We have been preparing for these scenarios. We have done this before and we will do it again.
"Because of the negligent actions of these two we now have to do a lot of contact tracing and it's going to be an inconvenience to a lot of people."

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said there was an ongoing criminal investigation.

"Initial investigations indicate there were incorrect details on border declaration passes," Mr Gollschewski said.
"This highlights why you need to declare if you've been to Victoria where there's been a high instance of community transmission.
"You need to think about those around you – not just yourself."

The women did not self-isolate when they returned on July 21 to Queensland from Melbourne. The returned via Sydney on flights VA 863 and VA 977.

They travelled largely around the Springfield and Logan areas after they returned to Brisbane.

Queensland's third confirmed COVID-19 case yesterday was a 22-year-old woman who is a close contact to the two 19-year-old.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/police-investigating-women-accused-of-bringing-covid-19-back-to-queensland/ar-BB17kSaU?ocid=msedgdhp

Parklands Christian College coronavirus case prompts order for staff and students to isolate at home
Parklands Christian College director Mike Warman says he is frustrated and disappointed to find his school at the centre of Queensland's coronavirus flare-up, which has forced the school to shut down.

Students have been ordered to quarantine for a week after a cleaner at the college tested positive to COVID-19.

Mr Warman said 127 staff and 734 students at the school in Logan, south of Brisbane, are now stuck at home until August 6, following directions from Queensland Health late last night.
"It's beyond frustration, it's devastating and disappointed that the actions of a few people we couldn't predict or protect against, but we have to manage now," he said.
"Everybody's lives have been turned upside down.
"Whole family units aren't required to isolate, but all students and all staff are required and then, of course, families have to organise their students at home for online learning.
"Numbers of our staff have been tested ... the good news is they're all coming back negative at this point in time."

Parklands principal Gary Cully released a statement saying staff have been busily preparing for students to work from home.
"The public health unit is currently working closely with us to manage the situation, and will soon be in contact with every staff member and family," he said in the statement.
"During these extraordinary times our students and their parents have come together in support of our school.
"While this situation represents a considerable disruption to the lives of our families, we collectively support the efforts of the Metro South Public Health Unit."

A fever clinic has been set up at the college.

For the second day in a row, hundreds of people have lined up for testing.

Olivia Winnie Muranga, 19, worked at the school as a cleaner in the days before she tested positive to coronavirus.
Police said she had travelled to Melbourne with a friend for a party and did not quarantine on her return to Queensland, allegedly lying on her border declaration forms.

The women have minor symptoms and are under police guard at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Second school closes for second day
Chatswood Hills State School was also closed today and announced this afternoon that it would also be closed on Friday "as a precaution".

A close contact of the women who went to Melbourne for the party was also diagnosed with COVID-19 and worked at the school's outside hours care service.
"This is an evolving situation and there may be further recommendations," Principal David Teale wrote to parents.
"We have a role to play to help to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/parklands-christian-college-coronavirus-case-prompts-order-for-staff-and-students-to-isolate-at-home/ar-BB17lRZf?ocid=msedgdhp

Qld border runners test positive to COVID-19 after shoplifting heist in Vic
2 young "ladies" who tested positive to COVID-19 in Queensland allegedly travelled to Melbourne earlier this month to steal designer handbags.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed three new cases of coronavirus in the state yesterday, including the two 19-year-old girls and one of the girls’ sisters.

The Premier also revealed the pair - Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu - were wanted by Victoria Police for allegedly stealing handbags from luxury stores during their trip to Melbourne.

The pair has also been fined $4000 each for falsifying their state border declaration forms by failing to declare their visit to Victoria.

These criminals were only confirmed to have the virus eight days after their return to the Sunshine State, meaning they went about life as normal, potentially infecting thousands.

Health authorities have closed two schools, including Parklands Christian College where one of the girls worked as a cleaner, and six restaurants and bars across Brisbane.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/qld-teens-test-positive-to-covid-19-after-shoplifting-heist-in-vic/ar-BB17l8vb?ocid=msedgdh
<< I like most Australians hope these self lying stupid young "ladies" end up spending a very long tim in a very nasty and unconfortable prison cell for several years and cop enormous fines . I also hope their bosses sack them and their families disown and disinherit them .>>

About 1,000 people from the Logan area were tested on Wednesday as a large testing and contact-tracing operation got under way.
Thousands are lined up for coronavirus testing in Greater Brisbane after a number of new cases have sparked fresh outbreak fears.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-thousands-queue-for-covid-19-testing-in-brisbane/vi-BB17m6dI?ocid=msedgdhp

Some results of those tests were not expected to be confirmed until Thursday, but the initial results have offered some cause for optimism.

Queensland’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said three new cases were detected on Wednesday. They included a man in hotel quarantine and a couple linked to a cluster of cases at Potts Point in Sydney, who had been self-isolating since returning to Queensland.
“It’s been a long time in Queensland since we’ve had those sorts of case numbers,” Young said.
“This is an increasingly risky time for Queensland, we need to get through the next week.”

The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said she made no apology for her decision to declare greater Sydney a hotspot, meaning travellers who have been to Sydney will be unable to return – or will be forced into hotel quarantine – from Saturday.

She said she was frustrated at the actions of the two women who returned from Melbourne.
“Most people are doing the right thing,” Palaszczuk said. “It is unbelievable to think that Queenslanders are putting other Queenslanders at risk. They have put the health of Queenslanders and their families at risk.
“During this time, we need to make sure that everyone is doing the right thing. We need to make sure that if you are sick, you are getting tested and I want everyone to listen to Dr Young, and if you’re sick, stay at home, do not go to work. It is absolutely vital.
“You must keep up that social distancing. If you’re going to a shopping centre and seeing people not social distancing, you should leave. I mean, now is not the time to be in extremely large gatherings where people are not social distancing.”

The health minister, Steven Miles, said 255 children at a Logan area school – where one of the women who returned from Melbourne works as a cleaner – were tested on Wednesday.
“There are now six locations in [southern Brisbane] where people can get tested,” Miles said.
“We tested 6,826 people [statewide] yesterday and all of the [results received so far] were negative. That is really the best we could have hoped for in the first 24 hours of our rapid response to those new cases and we would certainly hope to see another 24 hours like that.”

Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the sister of one of the women had tested positive. She is an after-school care worker at Chatswood Hills in Brisbane’s south.

Students from a local school visited the state parliament on Wednesday. As a result, the parliament was cleaned on Wednesday night and staff who had contact with the students told to go home.
Relief as results start coming in

The initial results of testing to contain a potential Covid-19 outbreak south of Brisbane have been “the best we could have hoped for”, Queensland authorities said on Thursday.


The state announced three new coronavirus cases had been detected – none linked to two women who tested positive after recently returning to Brisbane from Melbourne, and who allegedly made false declarations to evade Queensland border restrictions.

But Queensland remains on edge about the potential for another source of virus infections, with a large tranche of tests results expected soon and recriminations already under way about the effectiveness of border controls and the actions of the women.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/authorities-confirm-3-new-cases-of-covid-19-overnight/vi-BB17lQN1?ocid=msedgdhp

Urgent coronavirus contact tracing underway in Logan and Brisbane's southside
Queensland Health is leading a contact tracing and testing response in Logan and Brisbane's southside encompassing multiple restaurants, two schools and a medical practice after two new COVID-19 cases were detected.

The alarm was raised yesterday when three women were placed in quarantine after returning to Queensland from Melbourne, allegedly deliberately misleading authorities upon arrival.

Two of the women have tested positive to the virus.

They travelled from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21 and may have been unknowingly passing the virus to others while out in the community for eight days.

They visited a long list of locations which have now been identified by authorities.

Queensland police said the women's border declaration passes contained incorrect information and all three have been charged.

'It could be the start of Queensland hotspots'
Gold Coast Primary Health Network chair Roger Halliwell said re-closing the border will be considered by authorities "quiet seriously" in response to the new cases.
"There are good reasons why that may be an important next step," Dr Halliwell said.
"[The new cases] is the beginning of what could be a community-spread type event and causing potential hotspots.

Dr Halliwell said everyone with respiratory symptoms must get tested, including children.

University of Queensland Associate Professor of Virology Ian Mackay said Queenslanders should expect to see this kind of transmission from other states occur.
"I think we're going to keep seeing things like this happen … it shouldn't be a surprising event," he said.
"Down the track, if this were to spin into a bigger outbreak, those people have to live with their decisions here."

Widespread testing at fever clinics in the region is underway and people who have been to a number of restaurants and shops in Logan and Brisbane's southside are being urged to immediately self-quarantine and contact authorities.

The ABC understands people have been waiting for several hours to undergo a COVID-19 test at Brisbane's Prince Charles and Princess Alexandra hospitals.

It was a wait of at least four hours at Springfield Central Shopping Centre in Ipswich.

One woman told the ABC she waited at Springfield for five-and-a-half hours before being told they would not be able to get to her.

Dr Mackay said authorities were hoping the women had not spent too long with other people in the places they visited since returning to Queensland.
"We can hope that in those places that they've gone to, they haven't spent too long with other people, face-to-face at a close distance," he said.
"That's where the risks are … if that has happened, there will be the chance more cases will spin out of this."

Will Queensland close its border to New South Wales?
While the new cases were announced, Queensland also closed its border to all of Greater Sydney, meaning the more than 5 million people who live there cannot travel to Queensland, with few exemptions being granted.

Queensland had already closed its borders to three NSW local government areas, but has now added another 31 areas to the blacklist, including Paramatta and the Blue Mountains, effective Saturday at 1:00am.

Non-residents who have been in those 34 NSW areas or in Victoria in the past 14 days are not permitted to enter the state.

Queenslanders will still be allowed to return home but must quarantine at a hotel at their own expense.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Government was closely monitoring the rest of New South Wales for further signs of community transmission outside of Sydney before making any decisions about closing the border to all of the state.

Queensland police have not indicated whether they expect a rush of people from Sydney entering the state before the border deadline on Saturday, or what extra resources they might need to tackle screening at airport and road borders.

Tourism operators 'devastated'
Ms Palaszczuk conceded the further border closures would have an impact on the tourism industry.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Mark Olsen said tourism operators in the state's north were devastated.
"We estimated that the winter would bring us more than $250 million of additional visitor expenditure," Mr Olsen said.
"We'll see $100 million wiped off that figure with the announcement today … 70 per cent of our visitors from New South Wales come from Greater Sydney."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/urgent-coronavirus-testing-and-contact-tracing-underway-in-logan-and-brisbane-s-southside/ar-BB17kZfQ?ocid=msedgdhp
State in midst of 'increasingly risky time' with three new COVID-19 cases
Queensland has recorded 3 new cases of COVID-19 overnight, none of them are linked to the two 19-year-old women who failed to self-isolate after returning from Melbourne.

One of the new cases is 20-year-old male traveller from the US who is in hotel quarantine, the other two are a couple who have been traced back to Sydney's Apollo restaurant.
"The 3 new cases are unrelated to the cases were reported yesterday," Health Minister Steven Miles said.
"First, a man in his 20s who had returned from the United States and was in quarantine, and a couple who had eaten at the Apollo restaurant in Potts Point in Sydney which is a known cluster and identified cluster."

The couple who returned from Sydney self-isolated as soon as they arrived back in Queensland.

They are all isolated and pose no risk to the community, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

More than 6800 tests were conducted yesterday, almost 1000 of them were in the Metro South area.

The results of those tests are expected to be available later today.
"The fact that two of these three new cases came from Sydney, as well as the fact that two of the cases were reported yesterday had transited through Sydney underlines how important it is that we have made that decision to declare Greater Sydney as a hotspot," Mr Miles said.
"It will allow us to control cases returning from Sydney where we know that there are outbreaks. That means it was the right decision."

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said Queensland was in the midst of "an increasingly risky time".
"At the stage when they returned, Sydney was not regarded as a hot spot. So that was an excellent response by those people (the couple who self quarantined)," she said.
"As of 1am Saturday, all the metropolitan Sydney and some of the surrounding areas have been declared a hot spot, meaning anyone who has been to that area will need to quarantine in a hotel when they come into Queensland.
"It is important because we can now say over the last two days, we have had six new cases. It has been a long time in Queensland since we have really had those sorts of new case numbers."

Mr Miles provided further details about the case of the two teenage women who are now the subject of a criminal investigation.

A third woman who tested positive yesterday is a relative of one of the women.

Mr Miles suggested the trio had contracted COVID-19 at a party in Melbourne.
"Police believe they have now identified all three Queenslanders who were at that party in Melbourne," he said.
"We don't think there are any others."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/state-in-midst-of-increasingly-risky-time-with-three-new-covid-19-cases/ar-BB17lqBE?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/queensland-covid-19-testing-blitz-results-best-we-could-have-hoped-for-as-three-new-cases-recorded/ar-BB17lOmV?ocid=msedgdhp


New tourism blow for Far North Queensland as Sydney declared coronavirus hotspot
Far North Queensland's tourism-driven economy has been dealt another blow, with all of metropolitan Sydney being declared a coronavirus hotspot.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the state will close the border to dozens of local government areas in New South Wales from 1:00am on Saturday after a spike in cases there.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland CEO Mark Olsen said the decision could cost the region $100 million.
"It's a devastating blow for the tourism sector," Mr Olsen said.
"In just a bit under three weeks we saw more than 10,000 passengers come through from Sydney, we were just starting our recovery.
"It's another setback but we know that the only way we can start a vibrant, healthy tourism economy is to be clear of this health concern."

Mr Olsen said 11 flights from Sydney to Cairns had already been cancelled as a result of the latest border ban.

He said the decision would prompt a change in marketing the region.
"We'll be pulling back from New South Wales and concentrating again on south-east Queensland as well as Adelaide and Western Australia."

Border closures taking a toll on residents
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said the latest border closure would have an impact on residents' mental wellbeing.
"Some people are feeling very battered and hammered and the worst for wear at the moment, and this will certainly affect their confidence further," Councillor Manning said.

But he conceded that the decision to declare Sydney as a COVID-19 hotspot was the "right thing to do".
"The health authorities have to do what they have to do — there's no arguing about that and we can't risk an exponential explosion of COVID-19," he said.
"We know from the second wave experience of Victoria that we've got to do everything we can to not let this second wave impose on us any further and the message is just to do what we've been told to do."

Cairns-based economist Peter Faulkner said the latest border closure was "really bad news" for the region.
"Our modelling shows that unemployment will continue to move up to at least 9 per cent in September," Mr Faulkner said.

Cairns has the highest number of residents receiving the Federal Government's JobKeeper benefit in Queensland.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/new-tourism-blow-for-far-north-queensland-as-sydney-declared-coronavirus-hotspot/ar-BB17lukd?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 July

New o/night cases in Victoria = 627
New 0/night cases in NSW = 21
New o/night cases in QLD = 1
New o/night cases in WA = 1
New o/night cases in SA = 1
New o/night cases in NT = 1
Total new o/night cases Aus = 652
Cumulated daily cases since 10 June = 10007

I've added all states and am now monitoring Vic, NSW & Qld closely ( updated numbers from 28 July when the QLD Border Breech Incident happened ).

31july-2nd-wave.png


Daily cases last 2 weeks
31july-daily-cases-by-state-1.png

31july-daily-cases-by-state-2.png


Positivity
31july-positivity.png


Australia daily cases
31july-2.png


Australian summary (updates 6pm daily)
31july-australian-summary.png


Hospital situation today
31july-hospitals.png


Australia's daily deaths
31july-australia-daily-deaths.png


Australian deaths demographics
31july-deaths-by-demography.png


Australian deaths by cluster
31july-australia-deaths-by-cluster.png


Australian confirmed cases demographics
31july-australia-confirmed-cases-demographics.png


2nd wave clusters
31july-2nd-wave-clusters.png


2nd wave clusters in Victoria ( > 5 ) data
31july-2nd-wave-clusters-Vic.png


2nd wave clusters in NSW ( > 5 ) data
31july-2nd-wave-clusters-NSW.png


Residential aged care data for 2020
31july-residential-aged-care-situation.png


In home assisted aged care data for 2020
31july-home-assisted-aged-care-situation.png


Lot of news for 31 July to process , pending.
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 July Victoria

Victorian coronavirus cases rise by 627 as eight more people die, lockdown could be extended
Premier Daniel Andrews has warned restrictions in Victoria are likely to be extended beyond the six-week lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, after the state recorded another 627 coronavirus cases.
8 more people died of the disease in the state in the past day..
The increase in cases is the second-highest single-day increase of the pandemic and comes after a record 723 cases were recorded yesterday.
"I've got no announcements to make about next steps but it is important that all of us acknowledge that these numbers are still far too high and we could not open up with these numbers," the Premier said today.
"We could not open up even with significantly less than these numbers."

The Premier said national and Victorian health officials were doing a "detailed analysis" of what was driving the increasing cases.
"We have data that marks the halfway point of the six week [lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire]," he said.
"We have numbers that are too high, community transmission too high, and we need to do detailed analysis and potentially take further steps beyond the current framework."
The Premier said aged care residents represented 928 active cases and health workers 1030 cases.
Victoria’s total death toll since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak now sits at 112.

He said the analysis would let authorities know what needed to be done to drive numbers down.
"It will continue today, tomorrow and if we have got further announcements to make, we will," he said.
"I don't think it is unreasonable to say that there are a whole range of potential next steps that will come at a very significant cost — and I mean that in all of its senses."

More than 1,000 healthcare workers infected
The people who died were two men in their 50s, two men in their 70s, three men in their 80s and one woman in her 70s. The state's death toll now stands at 112.
Four of the deaths were connected to aged care settings, Mr Andrews said.
The eight deaths include the death of a man in his 50s from Portland in south-western Victoria, which health authorities confirmed late yesterday.
There are now a total of 349 people in hospital, including 37 people in intensive care.
The Premier said 928 active cases in Victoria were connected to aged care settings, and 614 active cases were healthcare workers.
A total of 1,030 healthcare workers have been infected with coronavirus since the pandemic began.
More than 100 COVID-positive people not at home during door-knocks
Since late last week, Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and health authorities have been doorknocking the homes of people who have tested positive to COVID-19 .
The Premier said more than 130 people who had tested positive to coronavirus who were not at home over the past two days.
"It is difficult to understand why one in four people that were doorknocked weren't there," he said.
"It is very challenging to try and understand that. There could be economic issues, we have talked about many times over many days."
Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien has called for tougher fines and an end to outdoor exercise for COVD-19 cases in home isolation.

He has also suggested electronic tracking bracelets and mandatory hotel quarantine for those who break the rules, with the cost of isolation to be paid by the patient.
"The trouble is we have got too many *****s with COVID who aren't following the rules and we've got a Government that is too soft to make them follow the rules," he said.
"I think we can do a lot more to protect the community from these people who just won't follow the rules to keep the rest of us safe,'' Mr O'Brien said.
Mr Andrews said 5,200 people had applied for the $300 payment which is on offer to people waiting for a test result and who have no sick leave.
Mr Andrews said 4,200 people had been paid out a total of $1.26 million.

Victoria's upward trend 'very concerning'
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said Victoria's continuing upward trend is 'very concerning' after the state recorded 723 COVID-19 cases.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-victorias-upward-trend-very-concerning/vi-BB17o0Jd
Vic lockdown almost halved secondary infections: Chief health officer
Victoria’s stage three lockdown has cut the average number of secondary infections of COVID-19 by up to half but needs to be pushed down further, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was dispiriting to see such big numbers every day.
"The stage 3 restrictions had a really significant impact and people should be gratified by the fact that is the case," Dr Sutton said.
"The effective reproduction number was probably at 1.75 or close to 2. It has come down to one.
Professor Sutton said Victoria would do a “deep dive” into coronavirus data to examine trends and suppression concepts before taking the next step.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was about getting the “full picture” before making tough decisions which would have significant impacts.“The stage three restrictions had a really significant impact, and people should be gratified by the fact that’s the case,” Professor Sutton said.
“The effective reproduction number was probably at 1.75 or close to two, it’s come down to one.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/vic-lockdown-almost-halved-secondary-infections-chief-health-officer/ar-BB17olb2?ocid=msedgdhp
Everybody who is covid infected in Victoria is passing it on to 1 to 2 people on average
The high reproduction rate of the disease is leading the state government to consider bringing in strict stage four restrictions."In terms of that effective reproduction rate, we are still hovering around one, maybe just under and what that means is that every positive case is infecting more than 1 other person," Mr Andrews said.
"Unless we drive that number down, so that every second or every third person who has got it is infecting one other, then we will not see our numbers half and half again and half again.
"We will be in this limbo, where we've stopped it from getting completely out of control and our health system being swamped but we haven't been able to suppress it sufficiently."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/everybody-in-victoria-with-coronavirus-passing-it-on-to-another-person-on-average/ar-BB17onwX?ocid=msedgdhp


CHO has 'absolutely no regrets' about St Basil's response
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has also defended directing staff at St Basil's nursing home in Fawkner to enter quarantine, amid one of the largest aged care-related outbreaks in the state.
St Basil's handed over control of the home to Aspen Medical workers appointed by the Federal Government last week so all its staff could go into quarantine, as the rate of new infections accelerated.
The sudden staffing swap disrupted care to residents at the home, as the new staff struggled to familiarise themselves with the home's systems and communicate with Greek-speaking residents.
On the weekend, federal and state health authorities sent a senior nurse manager and staff from Victoria's hospitals into the St Basil's to address the issues.
The chairman of St Basil's in Victoria was reported in Nine media today as saying he warned Professor Sutton that standing down the entire staff at the Fawkner facility would jeopardise residents' care.
But Professor Sutton addressed those comments today, and said he wrote to St Basil's and told management their entire workforce were considered close contacts.
He said there were now 124 cases in St Basil's — "and that's with the intervention". "Without the intervention … that's just more and more residents exposed and infected and dying so I have absolutely no regrets about writing to St Basil's about changing that workforce," he said.
"What I did say was they should do it when an appropriate workforce could be mobilised.
"If they could not find a reasonable workforce to transition I would have been up for that conversation."
Professor Sutton said he was not part of day-to-day talks about how that transition occurred.
Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said on Tuesday his department would begin an investigation into the St Basil's outbreak as soon as possible.
Stricter measures introduced in regional Victoria
Stricter coronavirus measures are being introduced in regional Victoria with masks to be worn across the state from Sunday night, and visits to other households banned in some areas.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/australia-to-join-us-in-south-china-sea/vi-BB17ixEq?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/stricter-measures-being-introduced-in-regional-victoria/vi-BB17otXX?ocid=msedgdhp

6 Victorian shires to have new restrictions
From midnight tonight, residents in the six shires will not be able to have anyone over to their homes.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/6-victorian-shires-to-have-new-restrictions/vi-BB17lMhT?ocid=msedgdhp


Vic. considering tougher restrictions for hotspots
Dr Senanayake says that there is no use putting harsher restrictions in place if Victorians continue to flout the rules.
Further COVID restrictions flagged based on data
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, suggests restrictions in Victoria could be extended beyond the six-week lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/further-covid-restrictions-flagged-based-on-data/vi-BB17ol9x?ocid=msedgdhp
COVID-19 contract tracing overwhelmed and backlog grows in Victoria
As coronavirus numbers grow, Victoria's contract tracing team is falling further behind, risking further spread of the virus. In some cases, it's taking more than a week for close contacts of an infected person to be notified.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/covid-19-contract-tracing-backlog-grows-in-victoria/vi-BB17o6p6?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/vic-considering-tougher-restrictions-for-hotspots/vi-BB17oMMR?ocid=msedgdhp

Victoria considers NZ-style virus lockdown
Australia's coronavirus death toll has risen to 197 after eight more people lost their lives in Victoria where authorities are considering tougher restrictions
Victoria 'may need New Zealand-style lockdown'
Victoria may need to adopt a New Zealand style lockdown to combat the state's growing COVID-19 crisis, deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said.
Mr Marles told Today "everything needs to be on the table" as Victoria braces for its 10,000th official case within hours.
"I do think we need to brace ourselves for, you know, tougher measures if that's what's required," he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Daniel Andrews are said to have discussed introducing tighter New Zealand-style lockdowns in Victoria to contain the escalating outbreak during talks lat night.
That would mean closing all businesses except for essential services, such as supermarkets and chemists, and also potentially restricting the movement of residents even further.
One suggestion is keeping people to their immediate neighbourhood for essential supplies.
Mr Marles - a Victoria MP - said numbers of cases were heading "in the wrong direction"."I mean, ultimately the one thing that we can't allow to keep happening is for this number to be going in the wrong direction and, you know, to state the obvious, we need to do whatever it takes," he said.
He said it was being fuelled by some infected Victorians refusing to stay at home.
All state and territory leaders are due to hold further talks today.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victoria-may-need-new-zealand-style-lockdown/ar-BB17o43i?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/news/victoria-considers-nz-style-virus-lockdown/vi-BB17oJEc?ocid=msedgdhp

Postcode data on coronavirus cases reveals Victoria's COVID-19 hotspots
The Victorian Government has released data highlighting the postcodes worst hit in the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://i.postimg.cc/J73V1sPB/31jul-melbourne-pc-data.png
https://i.postimg.cc/FK0GjLfy/31jul-melbourne-pc-data-sw-vic.png
There are 13 postcodes with more than 90 active cases, and four postcodes have more than 200 each.
Active COVID-19 cases by postcode:
3029 — 346
3064 — 286
3021 — 221
3030 — 217
3023 — 177
3076 — 146
3020 — 144
3037 — 119
3031 — 118
3175 — 112
3024 — 94
3060 — 91
Postcode data indicates the registered address the patient gave to authorities and may not necessarily be where they are currently residing.
The area with the highest number of active coronavirus cases is postcode 3029, which includes Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina in Melbourne's western suburbs. It has 346 active cases.
Truganina is home to Al-Taqwa College, the school which had been linked to 184 cases as of Friday.
The second hardest-hit was 3064 in Melbourne's north, including Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Donnybrook, Kalkallo and Mickleham, with 286 active cases.
Postcode 3021, including the suburbs of St Albans, Albanvale, Kealba and Kings Park, has 221 active cases.
In Werribee and Point Cook, postcode 3030, there are 217 infections.
Postcode 3023, which includes Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Burnside Ravenhall and Cairnlea, currently has 177 cases.
Epping, postcode 3076, had the next highest number of cases, with 146. The suburb is where the Epping Gardens aged care centre is located.
Sunshine, Sunshine West, Sunshine North and Albion, in postcode 3020, has 144 active infections.
The postcode 3037, which includes Sydenham, Calder Park, Hillside, Taylors Hill and Delahey, has 119 cases.
Flemington, postcode 3031, has the 10th highest number of active cases, with 118, with several cases linked to a social housing estate there.
Dandenong, Dandenong North, Dandenong South and Bangholme, in postcode 3175, has 112 active cases.
https://i.postimg.cc/V6xKMWgW/31jul-victoria-conf-cases.png
Mambourin and Mount Cottrell in postcode 3024, which adjoins the suburbs of Werribee and Hoppers Crossing, has 94 active cases.
Fawkner, in postcode 3060, has 91 active infections. The St Basil's aged care facility is in this suburb.
Postcode 3081 — which includes Heidelberg West and Bellfield — and postcode 3337 — comprising Melton, Melton West, Kurunjang and Toolern Vale — each have 79 active cases.
The south-west town of Colac, postcode 3250, had the highest number of cases in a Victorian regional area, with 69 active infections. Most cases are linked to the Australian Lamb Company meatworks.
Virus mapping shows poorer areas often have worse health
One of the most important messages from the Government during the COVID pandemic has been to work from home if you can, but for many people, this simply hasn't been possible because they leave pay packet to paypacket, don’t know when their day if work will be , have no leave entitlements, and have huge pressures to keep working just to pay there and put food on the table , this is the lot of casual low payed workers.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/virus-mapping-shows-poorer-areas-often-have-worse-health/vi-BB17mnnR?ocid=msedgdhpnt
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/coronavirus-near-me-victoria-melbourne-postcode-data-covid19/12513684
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/postcode-data-on-coronavirus-cases-reveals-victoria-s-covid-19-hotspots/ar-BB17p9H3?ocid=msedgdhp
Mr Andrews said one-in-four coronavirus patients meant to be in self-isolation have not been at home when visited by authorities.
Victoria is moving to visit everyone who has been instructed to self-isolate, either because they are a positive COVID-19 case or a close contact of one.
More than 500 visits were conducted yesterday – close to double the number on Wednesday.
"It is simply unacceptable if you have COVID-19 for you to be out," Premier Daniel Andrews said.
High infection rates
Everybody in Victoria with coronavirus is on average passing it on to another person, Premier Daniel Andrews says.
The high reproduction rate of the disease is leading the state government to consider bringing in strict stage four restrictions.
"In terms of that effective reproduction rate, we are still hovering around one, maybe just under and what that means is that every positive case is infecting one other person," Mr Andrews said.
"We will be in this limbo, where we've stopped it from getting completely out of control and our health system being swamped but we haven't been able to suppress it sufficiently."
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was dispiriting to see such big numbers every day.
"The stage 3 restrictions had a really significant impact and people should be gratified by the fact that is the case," Dr Sutton said.
"The effective reproduction number was probably at 1.75 or close to 2. It has come down to one. "We can't sit with 400 or up to 600 cases a day ongoing. We have to drive it down even further."
Serious breaches
One in four positive cases of COVID-19 in Victoria were not at home when health authorities check in on them, prompting fears of the outbreak spreading.
Premier Daniel Andrews said in the last 24 hours there had been 130 unsuccessful visits by authorities to confirmed cases at their places of residence.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-authorities-claim-130-people-with-covid-19-were-not-isolating-in-melbourne/vi-BB17oNeH?ocid=msedgdhp
“It’s simply unacceptable to have this virus and not be at home,” he said on Friday.
The Premier said more than 100 people were referred to Victoria Police for further investigation yesterday alone.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/one-in-four-victorians-with-covid-19-are-refusing-to-isolate/ar-BB17omCe?ocid=msedgdhp


Members of the Australian Defence Force and health personnel conducted 500 visits to positive cases to check on their welfare and ensure self-isolation is taking place.
"This is not about just getting fresh air, this is people out in the community."

More than 100 positive cases of COVID-19 who were not self-isolating at home will now be followed up by Victoria Police.
Mr Andrews said penalties - if pursued in court - could easily equal tens of thousands of dollars.
[/quote]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/victorian-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-627-as-eight-more-people-die-lockdown-could-be-extended/ar-BB17omgh?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/more-than-600-new-coronavirus-cases-in-victoria/ar-BB17ojFn?ocid=msedgntp

Vic Premier holds crisis talks with PM following worst COVID-19 day on record
Melbourne may be headed for an even tougher lockdown after reporting its worst day of the pandemic with a record 723 new cases and 13 new deaths.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was in crisis talks with Prime Minister Scott Morrison well into the night.
Under a harder lockdown, all businesses aside from only the most essential - supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations and healthcare – would be forced to close.
Premier Andrews yesterday mandated mask wearing for all Victorians from this Monday, including those living in the state’s regions.
He also introduced new rules for the state’s south-west, restricting residents from gathering inside their homes.
Industry-focused lockdown on the table in Vic
Daniel Andrews, says that until the coronavirus pandemic is under control, the economy will not recover.
"We have data that marks the halfway point of the six week [lockdown in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire]," he said.
"We have numbers that are too high, community transmission too high, and we need to do detailed analysis and potentially take further steps beyond the current framework."
He said the analysis would let authorities know what needed to be done to drive numbers down.
"It will continue today, tomorrow and if we have got further announcements to make, we will," he said.
"I don't think it is unreasonable to say that there are a whole range of potential next steps that will come at a very significant cost — and I mean that in all of its senses."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victorian-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-627-as-eight-more-people-die-lockdown-could-be-extended/ar-BB17o50u?ocid=msedgdhp

Melburnians warned to prepare for a long haul, with experts saying longer lockdown is looming
Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire are now more than halfway through their six-week coronavirus lockdown, but some medical experts are warning that Victorians must prepare for the dismaying prospect of the lockdown's extension. Modelling from previous shutdowns suggests the curve should be flattening, especially after the introduction of mandatory masks more than a week ago.
But after yesterday's case numbers, experts have warned Victorians to ready themselves for the likelihood of a longer lockdown.
"Stage 3 is not ending in three weeks. I can say that with 98 per cent probability," University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely said.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) also said Melbourne's restrictions would be needed for longer.
"It's really unlikely that we're going to be able to see any lifting of restrictions within the next three weeks," AMA president Tony Bartone said.

Professor Blakely said Victoria was facing "very challenging times".
"723 is quite high and I was frankly quite floored by it," he said.

Calls for clothing, shoe stores to close
Professor Blakely, said Victorian authorities needed to redefine what constituted "essential" workers and industries.He said the movement and mingling of people needed to be further curtailed.
"If you've got 'essential' industries open that aren't really that essential, it's quite likely that in two weeks time that may be where the virus is propagating," he said.
"Going hard can pay dividends down the track because you can open up sooner.
So I would recommend at this point in time that industries that aren't really essential, footwear stores, that type of thing, are closed so we're moving to a tighter definition of what is an essential worker or essential workplace," he said.
"That would see the department stores that sell shoes, clothes, construction sites closed, it would only allow industries open that are essential to us.
"So that's food, healthcare, pharmacists and the aged care facilities."
However he said Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in a speech to the National Press Club last week, made it clear a move to stage 4 restrictions was off the table, "making it very challenging for us".
"It means somehow we've got to get this virus down and head towards elimination, which is the national goal, without going to stage 4," Professor Blakey said.
"We've got to use really clever stage 3. "We're in this awkward no-man's or no-woman's land at the moment whereby we can't use stage 4 to go for elimination even though that's the national goal."We've got to do this smart and hard stage 3."
Move to 'the next level' now, AMA urges
The AMA also wants tougher measures to restrict people's movement and a critical examination of all industries.
"Pharmacies, supermarkets, medical facilities, they clearly remain essential and it's extremely important they remain open," AMA president Tony Bartone said.
"After that we really need to produce a very strong, clear reason why we should be having any activity in that sector.
"We need to move to the next level. "Going harder, earlier will certainly, I believe, result in less overall pain in the long run.
"This sees a really significant curtailing to the amount of movement, reducing the amount of mixing in the community and really we need to look at the definition of what is an essential industry."

Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said it was important to find ways to stop people who were infected or waiting for test results from going to work.
"This doesn't go away if we all go to work when we've got COVID-19," Dr Coatsworth told Radio National Drive.
"So any hardship that we're feeling at the moment is going to be magnified manifold if we don't get this under control and that's where we can all play a part."

Meanwhile, Professor Blakely said he would be expecting the impact of mandatory mask wearing to "kick in"."So I don't want to be too despondent about it — nevertheless we have ongoing high numbers by Australian standards," Professor Blakely.
He said his "most optimistic" guess would be a scenario where Victoria could get to a state of zero community transmission in six weeks, but only with "six weeks of incredibly hard lockdown" … but he also said that it could go on for up to 20 weeks.

"It is now going to be a long haul," he said.
Mental health in lockdown concerns top doctor
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said authorities are concerned about the mental health of Victorians in lockdown.
He told Today many people were feeling frustrated after the state reintroduced restrictions in response to a surge in COVID-19 cases.
"A lot of people are feeling very despondent about what's happening. We're very concerned about the mental health and wellbeing of people are in isolation and lockdown," Professor Kidd said.
He urged affected people to seek counselling from organisations such as Lifeline or Beyond Blue.

He also said people in lockdown should not neglect existing health problems.
"We're also very concerned about people staying at home, doing the right thing, but neglecting other aspects of their own healthcare," Professor Kidd said.
"So please, if you do have other health problems, make sure you're getting those attended to, Telehealth, of course, is still available with your GP and other healthcare providers."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/mental-health-in-lockdown-concerns-top-doctor/ar-BB17olXu?ocid=msedgdhp
Concerns raised for vulnerable children during Victoria's COVID-19 outbreak
As Victoria's second lockdown widens, the state's Child Safety Commissioner has raised concerns that vulnerable children could be at risk if the government continues to scale back in-person monitoring of child protection matters.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/concerns-raised-for-vulnerable-children-during-victoria-s-covid-19-outbreak/vi-BB17o6Az?ocid=msedgdhp

[/quote]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/melburnians-warned-to-prepare-for-a-long-haul-with-experts-saying-longer-lockdown-is-looming/ar-BB17nRbI?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1
[/quote]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/vic-premier-holds-crisis-talks-with-pm-following-worst-covid-19-day-on-record/ar-BB17nFT1?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/andrews-economy-cannot-recover-until-health-crisis-is-fixed/vi-BB17o5P4?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/industry-focused-lockdown-on-the-table-in-vic/vi-BB17oUeH?ocid=msedgntp


Vic Regional and border areas
More than 1,000 Indigo Shire residents unable to work because of COVID-19 cross-border closures
Thousands march in Berlin to protest coronavirus curbs
Man transforms his home into a lush 'jungle' after spending $50,000

a car parked on a city street: Residents in towns like Chiltern are being preventing from travelling to work across the border. (Supplied: Indigo Shire Council)© Provided by ABC Health Residents in towns like Chiltern are being preventing from travelling to work across the border. (Supplied: Indigo Shire Council)
It is estimated that more than 1,000 Indigo Shire residents in north-east Victoria have been unable to go to work since the New South Wales-Victoria border restrictions tightened last week.
Figures came from the latest census data that indicated 14 per cent of the shire worked on the NSW side of the border in Albury.
Residents who do not fall under an exemption category do not qualify for a permit to cross the border as the shire falls outside the blue zone.

Mayor Jenny O'Connor said councils across the border have been rallying for change but there has still been no answers or communication from the NSW Government."Nothing is happening, it's extraordinary," she said."We're being hung out to dry."
Ms O'Connor said residents along the border have taken restrictions in their stride but people's livelihoods were at risk.
"We don't have the virus here so we're not likely to be spreading it into NSW."

Owner of the Rutherglen IGA supermarket Mick Dare has felt the impacts through his business.
He has been struggling with staff numbers since restrictions were enforced as many lived on the other side of the border in Corowa."A lot of our staff have gone from 10–15 hours a week to 40-plus hours a week," Mr Dare said.
He said it has been tough for business and a common-sense approach was needed."It's frustrating to be restricted for so long without anyone stepping up, saying, "Right, let's look at this on a case-by-case basis'," Mr Dare said.
Border blindside
Ms O'Connor has slammed NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for comments yesterday on how she was 'blindsided' by the closure of the Queensland border to Sydneysiders. "It's a bit of a cheek because we heard nothing from her [about the NSW-Victoria border closure] and we've been appealing to her directly and have had no response," she said.

Ms O'Connor raised concerns for the local economy and the mental health of residents. "The impact on rural people whose livelihoods are already under pressure; it's disgraceful," she said.

Member for Indi Helen Haines said restrictions were putting unnecessary stress on residents."Right now, people on the border regions are facing tougher restrictions than people living in capital cities where there is community transmission," she said."It's simply not fair."

Ms Haines said a solution was needed before the point of no return was reached."The reality is this border is closed for a significant period of time so we need to look for ways that this is sustainable for all workers," she said."What we have is an unworkable, artificial zone that's placing enormous pressure on small business and families."We need a remedy that keeps people safe but allows our businesses to get on with their jobs."

New permit needed
Member for Benambra Bill Tilly said he has been pushing for a new permit called the Continuity of Employment which could be the solution for many workers."It would resolve a whole range of issues for people outside the blue bubble," he said.
"Every job is important whether you're inside the blue zone or outside."

The suggested permit was raised at last night's briefing and at the NSW Cabinet meeting.It is hoped a decision will be made later today.

However, Mr Tilly said restrictions on the border relied on Victorians doing the right thing which was concerning given today's record-breaking number of cases."The Victorian Government has to give surety and certainty to the NSW Government that they can contain the spread and community transmission is kept to the absolute minimum," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/more-than-1-000-indigo-shire-residents-unable-to-work-because-of-covid-19-cross-border-closures/ar-BB17lXzJ?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

Aged Care
Victorian coronavirus outbreaks in aged care homes swell as St Basil's in Melbourne evacuated
Health authorities are moving every resident from St Basil's aged care home into hospital in a bid to save lives and deliver better care, as the biggest aged care home outbreak in Victoria continues to spread.
The St Basil's home in Fawkner is now linked to 124 cases, including 78 residents, 35 staff and 11 other contacts.
The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, a joint state and federal task force, said the decision to fully evacuate the home was made after six staff brought in to help manage the outbreak were infected in recent days. "The decision was made to transfer residents to hospitals due to a reduction in staff numbers at St Basil's," the centre said in a statement.
"Six staff at St Basil's have tested positive for COVID-19, and as a precautionary measure all staff have been instructed to be tested and self-isolate for a mandatory period."
Australia's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said the decision had not been made lightly and acknowledged there were risks with moving residents, particularly those with dementia.
"But it was felt that it was time that we do this for the safety of the residents," she said."It highlights the challenges we face in managing this outbreak. So it was staff that came to help in that difficult time 10 days ago and have now unfortunately tested positive."

Federal and state health teams are aiming to move the remaining 30 residents out of the home by the end of Friday.
There have been 94 outbreaks in aged care homes, which have been linked to 61 deaths.
The 10 active aged care outbreaks with the highest number of cases are the following:

St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner: 124 cases (78 residents, 35 staff and 11 other)
Epping Gardens Aged Care: 115 cases (76 residents, 22 staff and 17 other)
Estia's aged care home at Ardeer: 104 cases (49 residents, 53 staff and 2 other)
Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth: 87 cases (44 residents, 34 staff and 9 other)
Estia's aged care home in Heidelberg: 82 cases (23 residents, 44 staff and 15 other)
Menarock Life's aged care home in Essendon: 63 cases (19 resident cases, 25 staff and 19 other)
Glendale Aged Care in Werribee: 58 cases (29 residents, 20 staff and 9 other)
Outlook Gardens aged care home in Dandenong North: 55 cases (18 residents, 23 staff, 14 other)
BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee: 52 cases (27 residents, 25 staff)
Arcare's aged care home in Craigieburn: 45 cases (25 residents, 20 staff)
Professor McMillan said face masks and face shields were now being handed out to every aged care home in the state.She said additional training would be provided to ensure the personal protective equipment (PPE) was being properly used.

Families suffering regret and grief, isolated from parents
Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT), usually deployed to overseas disasters, have been sent into at least two other aged care homes.
It comes as families with relatives in homes struck by outbreaks continue to struggle to support their loved ones and chase up information from overwhelmed workers.
John Jasinski said his 95-year-old father Stanislaw, a resident at Epping Gardens, was admitted to hospital on Friday after testing positive to coronavirus.
He said he spoke to his father over the phone on Sunday and could tell something was wrong, but staff told him "he's just got a bit of a cold". "That worried me from there on … the communication we had, it was so bad … this place will not pick up the phone," Mr Jasinski said.
Mr Jasinski became emotional when he described his regret at putting his father into the centre. "I put him in January, I'm sorry I did it … now I could lose him," he said.

Heritage Care, which operates Epping Gardens, told families earlier this week that it had advocated for residents to be taken to hospital in the early stages of the outbreak.
Victorian health authorities have relied upon a "case-by-case" assessment of whether a resident who tests positive to coronavirus can be isolated and cared for in the aged care home, or must be transferred to hospital.
Menarock Life aged care and St Basil's are believed to be the only two aged care homes which have been entirely evacuated of residents due to coronavirus outbreaks.

Aged care sector continues to be devastated by virus – calls to transfer ALL aged covid cases in facilities to hospitals immediately.
Patricia Sparrow is the CEO of Aged and Community Services Australia and she says residents with coronavirus must be moved to hospitals to prevent spread inside aged care homes.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/aged-care-sector-continues-to-be-devastated-by-virus/vi-BB17o7bG?ocid=msedgdhp
Families pained by Melbourne’s aged care failures
Victoria has recorded close to 1000 coronavirus cases in aged care facilities.
There are reports coronavirus victims have been left dead in their beds for up to six hours at a nursing home in Melbourne's north this week.
Senior doctors reported a number of deceased patients were left in their beds for hours at the Epping Gardens home in Melbourne, which is now being assisted by defence force personnel.
Further claims allege neglect at the facility and a staff to patient ratio of 1 to 13. The Epping Gardens home has been linked to 90 COVID-19 infections and six deaths.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-victims-left-dead-in-their-beds-for-hours-at-vic-aged-care-home/ar-BB17nNjL?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-families-pained-by-melbourne-s-aged-care-failures/vi-BB17mgWB?ocid=msedgdhp
'Significant failings' in Victorian aged care homes: PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled reports of neglect in Victorian aged care facilities as "distressing", admitting there have been "significant failings" in some homes.
Mr Morrison was asked about one case at the Epping Gardens home, where one of the residents son's told the Herald Sun he was informed of his mother's death 11 hours after she died.
Staff from the home reportedly rang the man to ask for the body to be removed, as it was deteriorating and the facility did not have refrigerated room.
<< Gobsmacked !! , people pay $100ks to buy into these places and pay very steep weekly feeds , nothing is included and has to be paid for , and this is how they treat their residents ! >>
"These are the distressing situations I was referring to earlier in the week. As they are incredibly distressing," the prime minister said.
"They are the product of a very severe crisis that occurred in a number of these sectors and we have been fairly upfront about that and the reasons as to how that took place."
The prime minister said the strategy to move residents into hospitals was a solution to slowing down the outbreak within aged care facilities.

"There have been significant failings in those areas and that's what the team has been working to address and to ensure that we don't get a repeat of that, remembering that when you get an outbreak in the community, that does affect workforce, whether it is an aged care facility or any other type of workplace," Mr Morrison said.
\"One of the challenges that we are facing in Victoria at the moment is that we are still seeing too much transmission in workplaces."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/significant-failings-in-victorian-aged-care-homes-pm/ar-BB17lVA1?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/victorian-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-aged-care-homes-swell-as-st-basil-s-in-melbourne-evacuated/ar-BB17p5cG?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

School
Victorian coronavirus schooling rules for year 11 and 12 VCE students 'inflexible', unions say
The Victorian Government's requirement for all year 11 and 12 students to attend school in person is causing anxiety for school principals and making staff concerned for their safety, unions representing the education sector say.

Prep to year 10 students in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire have been learning from home since July 20.

Currently Victoria's VCE and VCAL students, as well as special school students, are required to attend school in person.

But the Australian Education Union (AEU) and the Independent Education Union (IEU) say the policy is inflexible and "failing our school communities".

There are 72 schools across Victoria which are currently closed due to coronavirus: 61 government schools, nine Catholic schools and two independent schools.

Nineteen early childhood services are closed.

The unions want the State Government to give school principals more flexibility and the power to implement home learning programs for their students when required.

AEU Victorian branch president Meredith Peace said many union members were concerned about their safety and the safety of their students.
"It is leaving our principals with the responsibility to manage incredibly difficult circumstances for their schools, without having the capacity to make important decisions," she said.

The Victorian Government's rationale for keeping year 11 and 12 students on campus was to avoid VCE students falling out of step with their counterparts outside of the locked-down areas.

But Ms Peace said many parents were keeping their children home because of health concerns anyway, particularly in special schools.
"So we already have significant inequity, because those students who are at home are not receiving a formal learning program — our kids with disabilities, in special schools, are receiving no learning program," she said.

Departmental guidelines were getting in the way of principals doing "the right thing", the general secretary of IEU Vic-Tas Debra James said.
"Too many people are required to be on campus when they could easily be working from home, and principals who are trying to minimise the number of staff or students in the senior secondary area are getting pushback," she said.

Ms Peace said some secondary schools had tried to implement flexible arrangements for their VCE students, such as keeping year 11s at home for part of the week.

But she said the Department of Education and Training told those schools to reverse those decisions, and other proposals put forward by the union had been rejected.
"We cannot have a circumstance where principals are trying to manage the growing anxiety and stress among their staff and students and parents, and yet they are not trusted to make very sensible decisions about how to manage their staff on site."

'This is serious': Unions say contact-tracing delays causing stress for schools
Ms James pointed to a senior secondary school in Melbourne's western suburbs which had recorded positive cases among students and staff and where a partner of a staff member was in ICU.
"This is serious stuff … we believe there is a different way, a better way, and this should be seriously looked at," she said.

The union leaders also said delays in contact tracing were causing a high level of "stress and anxiety" for schools.
"We've heard stories about people sweating over email all weekend, wondering if they should be preparing remote learning classes for their kids or whether they should be preparing to be on site, face to face," Ms Peace said.
"We can't sustain those kinds of workloads, we can't sustain that stress for our school communities."

Education Minister James Merlino said the settings in place at schools in Victoria were based on the Chief Health Officer's advice.
"Schools already have the flexibility at the local level for staff to work remotely and to provide learning support for students on extended absences," he said.
"Having VCE and VCAL students and those with a disability onsite ensures that those most impacted by remote learning still have access to face-to-face learning."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victorian-coronavirus-schooling-rules-for-year-11-and-12-vce-students-inflexible-unions-say/ar-BB17mblq?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

Bendigo Catholic education boss 'unsettled' as COVID-19 cases see diocese close Bendigo schools
The head of Catholic colleges across Bendigo forced to closed due to coronavirus infections says he is worried over the lack of communication from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) about contact tracing.

A student at Catherine McAuley College and a teacher at St Joseph's Primary School in Quarry Hill both tested positive.

Paul Desmond, the director of Catholic education Sandhurst, told ABC Central Victoria Breakfast he was "unsettled" by the lack of contact tracing taking place on Thursday morning.
"I'm feeling a little bit unsettled by it, but I'm remaining hope filled. If I heard today how those things were being attended to then I would feel better," he said.
"The immediate reaction [by DHHS] was ideal, the follow-up I can't comment on because to the best of our knowledge there hasn't been a follow-up as yet."

Mr Desmond said it would be almost impossible for the school to do its own contact tracing.
"I'd be more likely once the phone ticks past 9, to be on the phone to DHHS to ask them what they are doing so I can keep these communities informed and calmed," he said.
"I'd like to be able to reassure parents that contact tracing has been deemed essential and has commenced."

Holy Rosary Heathcote has also been closed as a precaution, due to a link with one of the cases.

The health department has been contacted for comment.
Mr Desmond said the people who tested positive left school when they began feeling unwell but were likely at school when they had had COVID-19.
The schools will remain closed until August 5 while deep cleaning and contract tracing is undertaken.
A positive case has also been linked to Girton Grammar's senior college in Bendigo. A family member of a student has tested positive, but the school will remain open.

Communication a problem
A worker at Royal Freemasons aged care home in Kangaroo Flat has also tested positive. Management said the person last worked at the site last Thursday.

Jan Clarridge's mother is a resident at the aged care home, and she said her heart sank when she was told by the media that there was a COVID-19 case.

She said a lack of communication was an issue and families had not been given a plan to say what would happen if there were a positive case.
"It was very distressing to know that something was going on and it was quite a number of hours later (before I was told)," she said.

On Thursday, Bendigo Health chief executive Peter Faulkner said there were two patients being treated in hospital for COVID-19.He said if a person tested positive at the hospital, the hospital would do the contact tracing.

Another Department of Education employee who worked at the Malmsbury Youth Justice Centre has also tested positive to the coronavirus.It brings the total number of positive cases associated with Malmsbury to eight.

The Department of Justice said the centre remained in partial lockdown, with some young people still locked in their rooms.
An outbreak linked to the Don KR at Castlemaine remained at 10 and the company said 800 of its 1,300 workers had now tested negative.
The official health department numbers for Central Victoria were expected to go up tomorrow to reflect the new cases at schools and Freemasons Bendigo.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/bendigo-catholic-education-boss-unsettled-as-covid-19-cases-see-diocese-close-bendigo-schools/ar-BB17lUa7?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

More medical workers and doctors infected
Paramedic who volunteered to help in Victoria contracts COVID-19
A South Australian paramedic who volunteered to help during the new outbreak in Victoria has been diagnosed with coronavirus.The paramedic, a woman aged in her 20s, was part of a team of 21 who travelled from South Australia to Victoria to support testing in virus-affected areas.
Chief Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the paramedic was tested at the airport when she arrived in Adelaide on Wednesday night.
She had remained in quarantine ever since.
There had been one incidence of close contact, but that was with a member of the same team, all of whom are also currently in quarantine. The majority of the team's tests have come back negative, but some were still outstanding.
The infected paramedic had "very mild symptoms". "We thank this person, who selflessly volunteered to head over to Victoria to support the health system there," Premier Steven Marshall said.
{/quote}
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/paramedic-who-volunteered-to-help-in-victoria-contracts-covid-19/ar-BB17pAvb?ocid=msedgntp

At least three doctors in ICU with COVID-19 in Melbourne
At least three Melbourne doctors are tonight in intensive care, suffering from COVID-19.
One is a young emergency doctor at the Northern Hospital. He is believed to have contracted the virus while working at a screening clinic with COVID-19 patients.
Another afflicted doctor is a GP in his 60s, currently at Royal Melbourne Hospital. doctor in her 30s has also been hospitalised.
Some doctors told 9News they were worried transmission was taking place in hospitals, and that it's going to get worse.
There are now 614 healthcare workers battling COVID-19 in total.
Among them are six nurses who tested positive to the virus at St Vincent's Hospital.
Victoria's chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton is worried that personal protective equipment (PPE) is not stopping the spread.
"Transmission is a risk, within workplaces," he said.
But a new test is bolstering the response at St Vincent's, with swabs from suspected COVID-19 patients from the intensive care unit can be analysed within an hour
Healthcare workers demand better PPE
It comes after doctors, paramedics and patient transfer staff claimed they had been put at unacceptable risk and demanded better protective equipment at work.

The Victorian Ambulance Union has written to the Premier requesting "N95" masks be made mandatory when caring for all coronavirus patients, after some staff had been treating and transporting more than a dozen aged care residents suspected of having the virus each day.

The N95 masks are tighter fitting and more protective than the standard surgical masks.
"We fear that being in such close proximity to patients in a confined space for our members in the back of an ambulance is just too higher risk, which is why we need the more protective masks," union secretary Danny Hill said. "Our members are transferring between 10 to 15 patients in a shift with suspected COVID."

Ambulance Victoria's executive director of clinical operations, Mick Stephenson, said paramedics wore a N95 mask when responding to a cardiac arrest and for every case where an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP), including intubation, was being performed.
"For all other patient interactions, PPE consisting of gloves, protective eyewear and a surgical mask is the minimum requirement," he said.
"AV paramedics all carry N95 masks and they may choose to wear them if that makes them comfortable."

Fear of infection 'never far' from hospital workers' thoughts
Melbourne emergency physician Stephen Parnis said every health worker including cleaners, orderlies, administrators, doctors and nurses, were concerned about catching the virus at work. "It is a concern, a worry for all of us, it is never far from our thoughts," Dr Parnis said.

Dr Parnis, who is a former Australian Medical Association Victoria branch president, said he felt the state had "no choice" but to enter a harder lockdown. He said it was clear that the current level of lockdown had prevented the "absolute catastrophe" of thousands of cases each day, but the numbers were still not "safe or acceptable".
"My sense, as a senior hospital doctor, is that we have to go harder, we have to do so now and we really need to use the only tool we have in the toolbox to drive the numbers down and that is increased levels of isolation," Dr Parnis said.
"And that's going to hurt, the second wave has been harder to deal with than the first one, but we have no choice.
"In the absence of a vaccine, we only can reduce these numbers by reducing transmission."

He said he felt access to protective personal equipment for doctors was better than it had been a few months ago and the focus had now turned to emergency research about the different protection offered by N95 masks compared to surgical masks.
"Every health worker is interested in that notion of doing things as safely as possible and where appropriate, we that know the use of N95 masks that are properly fitted, in those areas where you are dealing very closely with COVID-positive patients, is something that I think we all regard as a very important priority," he said.

Emergency physicians back calls for N95 masks
In a statement, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine joined calls for better access to N95 masks to better protect healthcare workers.
The college's president John Bonning said he found it "deeply distressing" to learn of the emergency doctor in his 30s who was "gravely ill" with coronavirus in ICU.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the doctor concerned, their family, friends and colleagues, as they are with all healthcare workers affected by this terrible virus," he said.
"We are all hoping for their recovery."

He said the college was "deeply concerned" by the number of infections among healthcare workers.
"These risks are further exacerbated by the lack of inpatient beds currently facing many hospitals and the long periods of time that patients wait in emergency departments for an inpatient bed," he said.
"We need to understand more about how and where these infections are occurring, including through greater transparency and reporting of official data.
"All healthcare workers have a right to be safe at work, and this needs to be at the very top of the priority list for governments, health departments, healthcare systems and hospitals.
"We need the best protection available, including consistent PPE guidelines and reliable access to N95 masks and face shields."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/victorian-coronavirus-cases-in-icu-include-northern-health-doctor-in-his-30s/ar-BB17ovbH?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/at-least-three-doctors-in-icu-with-covid-19-in-melbourne/ar-BB17pDhv?ocid=msedgntp

Vulnerable groups
Concerns for migrant and refugee victims in isolation
Increased levels of domestic violence cases during the national lockdowns have been well reported, but family abuse specialists are warning that migrant and refugee victims are finding it hard to access help and services
Charity handing out goods to affected residents
The Wyndham City Council area, on Melbourne's outer south western fringe, is one of Victoria's worst impacted districts. The Wyndham Hearts in Hands charity helps residents with donations of everything from food to furniture.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/charity-handing-out-goods-to-affected-residents/vi-BB17oBVr?ocid=msedgdhp Group marks Islamic holiday with drive-thru hampers
In Victoria, one community has come up with its own way to mark Eid Al-Adha during the coronavirus lockdown. Abdulah Hamimi says the Eid drive-thru in Doveton aims to include the Eid tradition of giving.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/group-marks-islamic-holiday-with-drive-thru-hampers/vi-BB17o2Xx?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/concerns-for-migrant-and-refugee-victims-in-isolation/vi-BB17owzj?ocid=msedgdhp

Business issues
Spotless laundry shut down due to coronavirus after company tried to force staff to work
A business in Melbourne's south-east has been shut down by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) due to a coronavirus outbreak after the owners tried to force staff to stay at work.
Earlier in the week about 35 staff from Spotless laundry in Dandenong, owned by Ensign Services, refused to come to work after two staff members tested positive to coronavirus.
It led Ensign Services to launch a case with the Fair Work Commission to compel staff to return to work.
After the first case was diagnosed on Saturday, staff working in a small section of the laundry with the infected person were considered close contacts by Ensign Services and told to self-isolate.

All other staff were to return to work.
The second case was diagnosed on Tuesday, leading some staff to stay away from the laundry on Wednesday fearing not enough had been done to contain the outbreak.
The Fair Work case was dropped by Ensign Services yesterday before the laundry was shut down by the DHHS following an inspection.
Any worker who spent more than 30 minutes at the site since July 6 is considered a close contact and must be tested for COVID-19 and remain in quarantine for 14 days.
The United Workers Union (UWU) said it was confirmed on Friday a third staff member had tested positive to the virus.UWU executive director Godfrey Moase said if it was not for staff staying away from work earlier in the week "this outbreak could have been much worse".
"Spotless Dandenong workers are low-wage migrant workers who have acted together and swiftly. They acted in the interests of the entire community and should be congratulated for their service," Mr Moase said.
The union wants all staff, including the contractors who were onsite yesterday, to be paid pandemic leave.

A spokesperson for Spotless said after the first confirmed case, 18 employees were identified as close contacts.
"These employees were isolated and tested, with one employee within the group initially testing positive," the spokesperson said."Yesterday afternoon, we were notified of a second positive result and following this result, the site was closed."

The spokesperson said up until the laundry was shut down, the company had been working with the DHHS "on a solution to continue operations given the essential-service nature of laundry services"."This was no longer deemed possible by DHHS following the second test result."
The DHHS have been approached for comment.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets/spotless-laundry-shut-down-due-to-coronavirus-after-company-tried-to-force-staff-to-work/ar-BB17o4L6?ocid=msedgdhp

Should abattoirs be automated to protect food security in pandemics?
With Victoria's meat processing businesses linked to hundreds of cases of coronavirus in the state, is it time to rethink the industry's reliance on human labour?

The director of the University of Queensland's Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, Professor Robert Henry, said new technologies had been in various stages of planning prior to COVID-19, but food producers would now consider fast tracking automation to prepare for the next pandemic.
"We need to think much more seriously about mechanisation and automation of the food production system in ways that make it less susceptible to the adverse impacts of a pandemic," Professor Henry said.

He said food processing facilities where people worked together in close confines presented a risk of transmission of pathogens and the spread of viruses via food products.
"COVID-19 doesn't seem to survive very long on food, but we have the risk with future pandemics that the organism might be one that's transmitted through the food itself," he said.

Professor Henry said agriculture's heavy reliance on human labour also presented a challenge during a pandemic.
"One of the issues is the availability of labour, particularly migrant labour if they have to move internationally or across borders," he said.
"We will need to design crops to suit automated systems, for example for fruit to grow in places where it can be harvested robotically."

Professor Henry said increased investment in agricultural research and development would support enhanced food security.
"The amount of investment in innovation that would be required in some of these areas is not trivial, but I think the seriousness of the current situation will probably induce many people to think much more seriously about making that investment," he said.

Meat processing industry already focused on new technologies
The Australian Meat Industry Council said, while in the short term the industry was focused on getting through current COVID-19 impacts, especially in Victoria, it was already looking at automation, robotics, and new technologies.

CEO Patrick Hutchinson said even during the coronavirus crisis the industry had used technology to cope with the restrictions and remain compliant.
"Some of that includes automated auditing or remote auditing where people could have things like Google glasses and be reviewing carcasses from a remote location," he said.

Mr Hutchinson said the sector was already short of labour and continually searching for ways to improve.
"Overall, we're often looking for in excess of about 4,000 jobs a day to be at full capacity across Australia in semi-skilled and unskilled [work]," he said.
"The jobs of the future as we see it within our industry is that we're not just an abattoir, it's a big meat processing facility and as such we're looking for engineers, we're looking for food technicians, food scientists, laboratory technicians right through to individuals that are going to be high level in IT, artificial intelligence and augmented reality."

Mr Hutchinson said industry was planning for the medium to longer term and it was not simply a case of replacing jobs.
'We don't see this as being something futuristic like something like an i-Robot film, where it's just robots running everything,' he said.
"We see it as a gradual progression towards opportunities for the jobs of the future."

Robots inevitable but should not cost jobs
The Australasian Meat Industry Employee's Union agreed that automation was the way of the future, given this country's relatively high costs of production.

Queensland Branch Secretary Matt Journeaux said it was a trend already being seen in small stock processing.
"Pig and sheep [processing] already has a significant amount of robotics being used and I am sure beef processing will be next," he said.

Mr Journeaux urged the industry and governments to join with the union to soften any displacement of meat workers by retraining staff for new roles within the sector.
"These programs need to be put in place ready to go before any worker loses their job," he said.
"We cannot simply live in a world run by machines with no work for people to do.
"Meat processing is an important source of income for many rural and regional workers and if that was to disappear it would be devastating for them and their local communities."
{/quote]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/should-abattoirs-be-automated-to-protect-food-security-in-pandemics/ar-BB17nQfF?ocid=msedgdhp

Key Victorian anti-masker stabbed his drug buddy to death
An anti-masker who pushes the ridiculous conspiracy theory Bill Gates created coronavirus in a Wuhan lab to sell vaccines once stabbed his drug buddy to death.
Lance Simon is the husband of gangland lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson and a good friend of Roberta Williams, widow of notorious crime boss Carl Williams. The 36-year-old was put on trial for murder over the December 2011 killing, but was found not guilty 18 months later on self-defence grounds.
He now produces rambling videos under the alter-ego 'Lucky Lance' spreading dangerous coronavirus conspiracies amid Melbourne's lockdown.
Iran says it has detained U.S.-based opposition leader over 2008 bomb attack
170 Australians arrive from coronavirus hot spot

An anti-masker who pushes the ridiculous conspiracy theory Bill Gates created coronavirus in a Wuhan lab to sell vaccines once stabbed his drug buddy to death.

Lance Simon is the husband of gangland lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson and a good friend of Roberta Williams, widow of notorious crime boss Carl Williams.

The 36-year-old was put on trial for murder over the December 2011 killing, but was found not guilty 18 months later on self-defence grounds.

He now produces rambling videos under the alter-ego 'Lucky Lance' spreading dangerous coronavirus conspiracies amid Melbourne's lockdown.

Lance Simon is an anti-masker who believes Bill Gates created coronavirus in a Wuhan lab to sell vaccines. He also stabbed his drug buddy to death in 2011© Provided by Daily Mail Lance Simon is an anti-masker who believes Bill Gates created coronavirus in a Wuhan lab to sell vaccines. He also stabbed his drug buddy to death in 2011
Late on Sunday night he visited five Melbourne hospitals in a sad attempt to 'prove' the city's covid-19 crisis was highly exaggerated.
'I can't find this elusive coronavirus... it's a ghost town. Talk to any nurses they can't get work,' he said as he filmed himself wandering around outside one.

There are now 349 covid-19 patients in Victorian hospitals, including 37 in intensive care, according to the latest Health Department figures Many nurses are out of work because all elective surgeries are cancelled, though some of them are pitching in to help treat coronavirus.

Simon in another video claimed his 'research' revealed masks were ineffective and that wearers breathe in too much carbon dioxide. 'Don't wear the masks, they can't fine us all... and if you get a fine, don't pay it, what do you think they're gonna do? Nothing it's a hoax, a bluff,' he said.
<< very stupid and dangerous man >>
He falsely claimed Bill Gates had links to the Wuhan 'bio-weapons lab' and peddled the debunked conspiracy theory that Mr Gates took out a patent on a covid-19 vaccine before the pandemic began.
'Imagine it comes out that Bill Gates actually created, in Wuhan, the whole virus just to sell his vaccine,' he said.
'But why do we even need a vaccine? Millions of people have already recovered from it without one.'
Mr Gates, who made billions by founding Microsoft, is now one of the world's biggest philanthropists and donates huge amounts of money to vaccine programs.
He does not stand to gain financially from vaccine production and he does not have a patent on any coronavirus drug.
Furthermore, the Wuhan Institute of Virology is a research lab and there is no evidence it has ever developed bio-weapons.
Simon even admits in his video: 'I may even be incorrect in some of the things I'm preaching now'. But he carries on spreading untruths anyway.

Instead of wearing masks and locking down Victoria he advocates quarantining old and vulnerable people. He also claims the number of deaths in inflated because many elderly casualties 'would die of the hiccups'. 'Guys don't listen to the TV, don't listen to the government, just relax and enjoy your life like me,' he said.
Simon was on a meth binge on the day he stabbed hospitality worker Paul Thornell, 38, to death on December 5, 2011.

He was approached by Mr Thornell outside Peel Nightclub in Collingwood and asked for drugs, giving him $180.
Simon later went back to Mr Thornell's house in Cockatoo in the Dandenong Ranges after the victim complained he had been ripped off.
Mr Thornell's father Jeffrey told the court he heard Simon yelling at his son to open his bedroom door after it slammed shut and went to investigate.

'I looked into Paul's bedroom and saw Paul lying on his back on the floor between the doorway and his bed. I saw Paul's gut hanging out,' he said.

The court heard he saw Simon holding a 20-25cm knife before he demanded money and ransacked the kitchen before stealing a wallet and a phone and running away.

In June 2013 he was found not guilty of murder, defensive murder, and manslaughter and walked from the Victorian Supreme Court a free man.

Earlier, in 2007, Simon was convicted of trafficking meth and possession of steroids. He was also busted with a cache of illegal weapons at his home, including Samurai swords, a flick knife and knuckle dusters. He escaped jail after a judge heard he was a full-time dad to his new baby, and ordered him to do 175 hours of community service.

While on bail for those charges he spray-painted nine Versace handbags worth almost $30,000 at a Crown Casino store.
The court heard he was angry about a dispute over the repair of his Versace suit and yelled 'do you want to start me?' to staff who tried to intervene.

Who is gangland lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson?
Zarah Garde-Wilson, 42, is a criminal barrister best known for her entanglement in the 1998-2006 Melbourne gangland killings.
She met gang enforcer Lewis Caine as a young lawyer when she was defending him on a drink driving charge.

Caine had recently got out of jail after serving 10 years for murdering David Templeton.
Over the course of their relationship, Ms Garde-Wilson defended numerous gangland figures including Carl Williams and Tony Morkbel.
Caine was assassinated by hitmen Evangelos Goussis and Keith Faure with a single bullet to the head on May 8, 2004.
The following year she was convicted of contempt for refusing to testify against Caine's killers.

Her role in the gangland saga was featured in TV series Underbelly where she was portrayed by Kestie Morassi
She has been in a relationship with Lance Simon since at least 2007.

Carl Williams was bashed to death in jail in 2010 but she and Simon remain good friends with his widow Roberta.
The court heard his relationship with Ms Garde-Wilson was on the rocks at the time and he was under great stress.
He pleaded guilty to criminal damage, paid for the damaged bags, and wrote a grovelling apology letter.
Simon and Ms Garde-Wilson's relationship survived his legal woes and they got married in 2019.
They share daughter Samantha, 11, and twin nine-year-olds Max and Sophie.

Simon along with his wife and Roberta Williams regularly discuss criminal issues, and recently coronavirus, on at least two podcasts.
Williams and Simon filmed a skit early in the pandemic where Simon knocks on her door begging for an advance on what appeared to be drugs, even though he still owed her money.
The items he was desperate to get hold of were at the end of the joke sketch revealed to be rolls of toilet paper.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/key-victorian-anti-masker-stabbed-his-drug-buddy-to-death/ar-BB17oGDf?ocid=msedgntp#image=BB17oGDf_1|2

Vic Police forced to break up anti-mask protest
Police were forced to break up an anti-mask rally in Melbourne today after a dozen people gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance to protest the mandatory mask rule.
Police told attendees – most who were unmasked - to disperse or face arrest.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced yesterday masks would be made mandatory for regional Victorians, joining those in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/vic-police-forced-to-break-up-anti-mask-protest/ar-BB17o9B3?ocid=msedgdhp&fullscreen=true#image=1

Victoria's second wave 'will see house prices fall fast'
Peter Switzer says the extent of the lockdown in Victoria will cause house prices to fall fast due to reduced confidence.
"You have to expect consumer confidence and business confidence will fall, therefore business investment falls and then house prices will fall faster than they currently are," Mr Switzer said.
It's difficult to sell if you cant get people to go to open houses and the fear factor is getting bigger.
"The last five weeks in a row, confidence has fallen and it is all linked to the lockdown."
Mr Switzer said he believed New South Wales would follow suit.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victoria-s-second-wave-will-see-house-prices-fall-fast/ar-BB17obX3?ocid=msedgdhp
Thousands of Victorians claim $300 hardship payments as further help flagged
More than 5,200 Victorians have already applied for the Victorian government's coronavirus hardship payments, as Premier Daniel Andrews flagged further possible assistance in the days to come.
The $300 payments are for those who are in employment but don't have access to sick leave.
The premier has touted the payments are a key measure to stop people attending work while potentially infectious with coronavirus, after it was revealed last week that nine out of 10 Victorians were not isolating as soon as they became symptomatic.
More than half (53 %) were still failing to isolate even after getting tested for COVID-19 whilst awaiting the results.

Of the 5200 claims, 4200 have already been paid the lump sum of $300, with a total cost to the Victorian government of $1.26 million.
A "small number" had been rejected because they already had sick leave or were on JobKeeper, Mr Andrews said, whilst the remainder were still being processed.
A total of 12,600 Victorian businesses have now received the state government's $5000 assistance grants, totalling $63 million in funds.
In addition, 77,600 businesses have been paid the $10,000 grant originally offered to provide support during the first lockdown.

The premier announced the new figures at this morning's press conference, where it was also revealed that further lockdown measures were being discussed amid stubbornly high COVID-19 numbers.
It is becoming increasingly unlikely that Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will be able to come out of stage three stay-at-home orders in three weeks' time, as initially scheduled.
"It may be that there is further support that is needed for businesses, for workers," the premier said.
"Part of my discussions and dialogue with the prime minister will focus on those issues as well. "That is why I'm grateful for such a positive partnership, one that is all about dealing with the challenge."

Mr Andrews said the state would be unable to look to its economic recovery while coronavirus numbers remained high.

"We will not be able to open up, and find a COVID normal – we will still be in this limbo where we have stabilised, we have avoided our hospital system being completely overrun, but we're not seeing those numbers fall sufficiently to be able to bring an end to the restrictions and move into a much more open economy and a much more open Victorian community," he said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/melbourne/thousands-of-victorians-claim-300-hardship-payments-as-further-help-flagged/ar-BB17ob51?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 JULY NSW

NSW records 21 new COVID-19 cases in past 24 hours
Health authorities in NSW have confirmed 21 coronavirus infections overnight, only two of those are returned travellers. The new figures come after the closure of three more venues across Sydney for deep cleaning.
NSW Covid-19 hotspots: list of regional and Sydney outbreak locations
New South Wales has seen an uptick in community transmission of coronavirus in recent weeks, putting the state on high alert to prevent further spread.
Many cases can be traced back to the Crossroads Hotel cluster and the Thai Rock restaurant in Wetherill Park, but new locations have cropped up in the news briefings each day. Here is an overview of the state’s current hotspots and what to do if you’ve visited them. More detailed information is available at the NSW Health website.

List of outbreaks in NSW
If you were at the following venues on these dates you must get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, even if your test is negative.

St Brendan’s Catholic Church, Bankstown: Thursday 16 July – 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Saturday 18 July – 10am to 11am funeral.
Batemans Bay Soldiers Club: Monday 13 July, Wednesday 15 July, Thursday 16 July, Friday 17 July.
Ausia Funeral Services, Fairfield East: Friday 17 July – 1pm to 8pm
Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral in Harris Park: Wednesday 15 July – 5.30pm Mass, Thursday 16 July – 6pm Mass, Friday 17 July – 1pm funeral and 6pm Mass.
Mounties, Mount Pritchard: Wednesday 22 July from 6pm to Saturday 25 July at 3am.
Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Mount Pritchard: Sunday July 19 – 7.30am to 8.30am
Thai Rock Restaurant, Potts Point: Wednesday 15 July to Saturday 25 July inclusive if you attended this restaurant for two hours or more.
The Apollo in Potts Point: Wednesday 22 July to Saturday 25 July
St John of God Lawn, Rookwood: Saturday 18 July – 11.30am to 1pm burial.
Tan Viet in Cabramatta: 23 July from noon to 2pm
Harpoon and Hotel Harry in Surry Hills: 26 July, from 2.15pm to 11pm
Fitness First St Leonards: Monday July 27, 9am to 10.30am. People who were at the gym at this time but only attended a group fitness class are not required to isolate, but should monitor for symptoms and immediately self-isolate and seek testing if they develop symptoms.
With the growing number of cases in the area, NSW Health is asking all people who live in, or have visited, the following areas in the past two weeks to get tested if they have any symptoms of Covid-19 at all, even the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat.

Potts Point area
Carnes Hill shops
Prestons
Bonnyrigg
Wetherill Park
Mt Pritchard
Bankstown City Plaza
Cabramatta
Perisher
If you were at any of the following locations on these dates, monitor yourself for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if symptoms occur.

McDonald’s Albion Park, Wednesday 15 July, 2pm to 2.30pm.
An Restaurant, Bankstown: Thursday 23 July, 9am to 11am
Tan Viet Noodle House (also known as Crispy Chicken Noodle House), Cabramatta: Wednesday 22 July – 1pm to 2pm
Frank’s Pizza Bar Restaurant, Camperdown: Sunday 26 July from 6pm to 8pm
Costco, Marsden Park: Sunday 19 July – 11am to 2pm.
Pritchard’s Hotel, Mount Pritchard: Friday 24 July – 5pm to 7pm
Westfield Mount Druitt, Saturday 18 July, 1.30pm to 3.30pm.
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta: Sunday 19 July – 8am mass
Salamander Bay Shopping Centre, Salamander Bay: Wednesday 15 July.
Salamander Bay Woolworths, Salamander Bay: 17 July between 2.30pm to closing time, 18 July between 4pm to closing time, 19 July between 12.45pm to closing time, 20 July between 3pm to closing time.
Salamander Bay Shopping Centre, Salamander Bay: Wednesday 15 July
Matinee Coffee, Marrickville: 26 July, 8am to 9am, and 27 July, 7am to 7.45am
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/nsw-covid-19-hotspots-list-of-regional-and-sydney-outbreak-locations/ar-BB17oeRe?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-venues-across-sydney-record-new-infections/vi-BB17nWdF?ocid=msedgdhp
Authorities concerned as new NSW cases not traceable
Authorities in NSW are unable to link six new coronavirus cases to known clusters.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-authorities-concerned-as-new-nsw-cases-not-traceable/vi-BB17mydt?ocid=msedgdhp
'Everybody is very worried': testing times for residents of Sydney's Covid-19 hotspots
At the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, down by the water, next to the trophies that say “World sailing youth match racing world championship” and “Sydney-Hobart yacht race record breaker”, there is a sign. It is roughly laminated, and attached with black gaffer tape, and has been up since Tuesday. Joggers scoot past, looking for the entrance to the park, and dog-walkers drag their pets along. “Earlier today, the CYCA was advised an active member of the club and his partner had tested positive for Covid-19,” it says. The line for testing starts a few doors down.

On a day when Victoria reported a record 723 new cases and 13 deaths, residents of Sydney’s slowly growing hotspots are wary, and being urged to test at the first sign of a sniffle.

Rushcutter’s Bay Park, by the football fields and sailboats, is the latest pop-up testing clinic to open in Sydney’s east.

The nearby suburb of Potts Point has been declared a hotspot, and NSW Health has told all residents – or anyone who has visited the area in the past two weeks – to get tested if they show any symptoms.

There are 11 cases linked to the suburb, with four more announced on Thursday linked to the Apollo restaurant. Two diners, who were previously diagnosed on Tuesday, visited the Apollo on 22 July, and then the Cruising Yacht Club later – sparking its closure.

Opposite Kings Cross station, local resident Rachel has just been tested for the first time. The Kings Cross library, temporarily closed, has been refashioned into a pop-up testing clinic. A security guard stands outside, squeezing out dollops of hand sanitiser. Inside its glass-fronted doors, four or five people sit patiently.
“I live in Potts Point so I sort of figure it’s a good thing to do,” Rachel tells Guardian Australia. “I teach pilates and yoga and that sort of stuff, and I figured, I’m potentially in contact with a lot of people.”

At lunchtime on Thursday, the clinic is relatively quiet, and there is no line.
“I think it’s pretty amazing,” Rachel says. “I didn’t have to wait long, I was probably in there about 15 minutes all up. That’s a really extraordinary result that they managed to get so many different centres open so quickly. I walked about 200 metres to get there, the other one is 400 metres away.”

She says the suburb has changed since it was declared a hotspot.
“I taught in Balmain yesterday and I drove back through, it would have been about 3pm, and it definitely felt like there were fewer people in the street. When I was in Harris Farm yesterday I felt like everyone was wearing a mask, except for me.”

The testing experience was “as fun as having somebody shove something up your nose can be”, she says. After, they gave her a mask and handed her three pages, double-sided, containing stern warnings.
“Basically I have got to isolate until I get my results,” she says. “I can’t have visitors, I can go into my own garden but not others, that sort of stuff. They were really respectful and informative.”
Down at Rushcutters Bay, another local resident, who declined to give her name, is walking her dogs – two pomeranians – when she pauses to read the sign.

She tells Guardian Australia she was also here yesterday, the day the pop-up clinic first opened, to get tested.
“I live in Darling Point,” she says. “I do go to the yacht club, and I had been here around the time that they found out that the vice-commodore was infected by the virus. But I worked it out, it was a couple of days before. But as I have had a slight sore throat, and a runny nose and a cough, I thought let’s get tested.
“It was very busy. So many nurses and security guards and doctors down there. There was a long queue.”

Beyond her, a line of more than 20 people snakes down the street, outside the entrance to the d’Albora Marina. They stand outside stores selling boating supplies and sunhats. A sign facing them advertises “Roni rigging and racing”.
The resident says she will know her results in two or three days, and she has been isolating. “[They said] you can exercise outside but don’t go anywhere else. I’ve only taken them [the dogs] to the park for half an hour and I’m back home.

“I think everybody is very concerned about it. Because we thought, you know, there are lots of hotspots in the east, but we weren’t expecting it in this area. Darling Point! But yeah, everybody is very worried like we are all over the world.”

In Potts Point, Rachel says she feels the pandemic is taking its toll.
“Given there seem to be so many cases cropping up, everything that is happening in Queensland as well, I guess what is concerning is, how long can we keep doing this for?
“I think we are all kind of worn down, financially and emotionally. It’s not like I’m going out a lot, but I am not as worried as I was the first time around, but I probably should be more worried.”

Back at the yacht club, the Darling Point resident, when asked about the day’s record new cases in Victoria, shakes her head. “I think we will be [the same],” she says. “I think it will happen.”
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/everybody-is-very-worried-testing-times-for-residents-of-sydney-s-covid-19-hotspots/ar-BB17nKWp?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nsw-records-21-new-covid-19-cases-in-past-24-hours/vi-BB17orTw?ocid=msedgdhp

NSW Government targets young people in new COVID19 ad
The NSW Government is planning a new advertising blitz to target young people flouting coronavirus restrictions.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-nsw-government-targets-young-people-in-new-ad/vi-BB17pjEQ?ocid=msedgdhp

Inside one of the last Jetstar flights from Sydney to Queensland
A woman has described the 'frightening' scenes on board one of the last flights from Sydney to Queensland which was packed with 'scared and coughing passengers'.

Jetstar flight JQ7002 left Sydney bound for the Gold Coast at 3.45pm on Thursday afternoon ahead of the Queensland border closure at 1am on Saturday.

Photos sent to Daily Mail Australia show passengers in face masks sitting knee-to- knee in the Qantas budget airline, with some choosing not to wear protective equipment on the packed plane.

A passenger on the flight said she did not feel safe on board.
'It's a COVID-19 mosh pit. No social distancing on planes,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'No wonder it's spreading across borders.'
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/inside-one-of-the-last-flights-from-sydney-to-queensland/ar-BB17nbeT?ocid=msedgdhp

Sydney gym closed for cleaning after positive COVID-19 test
A Fitness First gym in Sydney's north has been closed after a person who attended the facility tested positive for COVID-19.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-sydney-gym-closed-for-cleaning-after-positive-covid-19-test/vi-BB17m8pq?ocid=msedgdhp

Police investigating after video shows dozens lining up outside Sydney pub, without social distancing
Holiday firms can’t get a break as quarantines crush faint recovery
170 Australians arrive from coronavirus hot spot
Police have confirmed they are investigating after revellers were filmed appearing to break COVID-19 rules by lining-up outside a Sydney hotel.
Dozens of people were seen queuing to get in to Greengate Hotel in Killara on the city's north shore last night, social distancing only when security guards spotted 9News cameras.
Ryde MP and minister for customer service, Victor Dominello, said it was "absolutely foolish, contemptuous behaviour".
"We are going to keep cracking down on those operators who think they operate outside the law," Mr Dominello said.
This morning 2GB radio presenter Ray Hadley also criticised the pub's management. "I say to the owners of the Greengate … you badly let the team down this week," he said.
The pub's website outlined how it was handling restrictions earlier this month. The venue said it was not allowing groups over 10, said guests must remain seated at all times and patrons must keep 1.5 metres from others.
They said they would have a dedicated "COVID marshal" ( TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING OUTSIDE THE PUB ).
The images emerged weeks after another Sydney hotel was fined thousands after similar lines built up outside, breaking COVID-19 rules.

Pictures showed hundreds queuing outside The Golden Sheaf in Double Bay last month, and a $5500 fine was issued by the NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming.A NSW Police spokeswoman confirmed police are making enquires with hotel staff.The Greengate Hotel declined to comment to 9News.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/police-investigating-after-video-shows-dozens-lining-up-outside-sydney-pub-without-social-distancing/ar-BB17lTYc?ocid=msedgdhp

Inmate at facility in north-west Sydney tests COVID-positive
He's the first confirmed case among correctional staff or inmates at a New South Wales jail.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/inmate-at-facility-in-north-west-sydney-tests-covid-positive/vi-BB17m4eW?ocid=msedgdhp

Melbourne man 'flew into Sydney without permit, lied about having kids'
A Melbourne man who allegedly flew into Sydney without a permit to enter NSW then lied to authorities about having children has been charged.
The 21-year-old was stopped by NSW Health staff at Sydney Airport after disembarking a Melbourne flight just before 1pm yesterday.
When he was unable to provide a NSW Health exemption, police officers stationed at the airport were called to assist.
The Roxburgh Park man initially claimed his phone had run out of battery on the flight.

After authorities assisted him in charging his phone, it was established he didn't have a permit but would apply for one so he could care for his children. It's alleged the man had made a number of applications for a permit and had provided false information.
Police then established he did not have any children, or a valid reason for being in NSW and directed him to return to Victoria.

He was offered options for travel and further assistance from NSW Health, according to police, but refused to make travel plans.
Around 3.30pm, he was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station.
During a search of the man and his bags, police found a bottle of alprazolam – an anxiety drug often sold under the brand name Xanax – which was not prescribed to him.

He has now been charged with breaching a Public Health Order and possessing a prescribed restricted substance.
He has been granted conditional bail but will now be required to stay in mandatory hotel quarantine in Sydney until his appearance at Downing Local Court on August 17.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/sydney/melbourne-man-flew-into-sydney-without-permit-lied-about-having-kids/ar-BB17lWGR?ocid=msedgdhp

ENQUIRY INTO RUBY PRINCESS DESASTER - Passengers disembarked after BF officer misread results
A senior Australian Border Force officer who allowed passengers to disembark from the Ruby Princess Cruise Ship in March, mistook negative flu tests for the results of coronavirus screening. The Opposition says the Government must apologise.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/passengers-disembarked-after-officer-misread-results/vi-BB17ogLU?ocid=msedgdhp

Exemption Granted = Auburn Gallipoli Mosque granted coronavirus exemption for 400 people to celebrate Eid-al-Adha
Hundreds of Muslim worshippers have marked one of Islam's holiest days at a Sydney mosque after the NSW Government granted it a temporary exemption from coronavirus restrictions.
Up to 400 people were allowed inside the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in Sydney's west under the one-off exemption, granted by NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
Under NSW coronavirus restrictions, places of worship are limited to 100 people, or one visitor per 4 square metres.
The mosque's president Abdurrahman Asaroglu said those attending the annual festival of Eid al-Adha, also known as the festival of sacrifice, would be subject to temperature checks, sign-in sheets, and it would be mandatory to wear a mask.
Worshippers at the mosque will be expected to bring their own prayer mats and abide by social distancing rules while praying.

Dr Asaroglu said attendees would be spread out across "four zones" including the two levels of the mosque, an adjoining function hall and carpark.
"Our community is really understanding and they are OK to follow these measures — no shaking hands, no hugging — making sure that they just pray," he said.
"If everyone does the right thing I don't think there will be any issues."

In a statement, NSW Health said exemptions were only considered under "exceptional circumstances" and the mosque had developed a comprehensive COVID-19 Safety Plan.
It said none of the separate zones would exceed 100 worshippers and would not be allowed to mix between areas.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, in an interview this morning, urged religious communities to find alternative ways to celebrate their faith.
"Jenny and I haven't had the chance to be at our church since February," the Prime Minister said.
"I know faith is very important to people, but even at times like this it is even more important that we don't gather in those large groups as important as faith is, we really do think of the health issues here"

Eid al-Adha marks the end of hajj, a five-day pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and is one of the holiest days on the Islamic calendar.

Last year, around 3,000 worshippers attended Eid al-Adha prayers at Auburn Gallipoli Mosque, with thousands more spilling out onto nearby streets.
But Dr Asaroglu said those scenes wouldn't be repeated this year. "If anybody is not abiding by the regulations, we have security to make sure that they are excluded," he said. If more than 400 people turn up, Dr Asaroglu said they would be turned away.

The chance for worshippers to attend Friday's prayers comes after the mosque was closed to the public during Eid al-Fitr in May due to the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/auburn-gallipoli-mosque-granted-coronavirus-exemption-for-400-people-to-celebrate-eid-al-adha/ar-BB17nOKB?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/sydney-mosque-granted-exemption-for-eid-al-adha-prayers/vi-BB17ocHw?ocid=msedgdhp


Businesses encouraging use of masks in NSW stores
Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Michael Kidd, is backing the move and says people should wear a mask where social distancing can't be guaranteed.
Woolworths to encourage masks in NSW and the ACT
Woolworths is stepping up its COVID-19 precautions with customers at all stores in New South Wales and the ACT ‘strongly encouraged’ to wear face coverings from Monday.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-woolworths-to-encourage-masks-in-nsw-and-the-act/vi-BB17nFj2?ocid=msedgdhp
Woolworths wants many shoppers wearing face masks — here's what you need to know
If you're a Woolworths shopper in New South Wales, the ACT or parts of Queensland, you're being "strongly encouraged" to wear face coverings.

If you've got questions about just how strongly you're being encouraged, or what supermarkets in Queensland are affected, or whether Coles will be following suit, you're not alone — here are some answers.

Who is covered by the announcement and when does it start?
Woolworths says the advice applies to staff and customers at all of the company's stores in NSW and the ACT from Monday.

In the case of what Woolworths called "hotspot" areas of Queensland, it said customers and staff would be encouraged to wear face coverings from Saturday.

The announcement doesn't just apply to Woolworths supermarkets either, with the company's other businesses also affected, including:

Dan Murphy's
Big W
BWS
ALH Group hotels
Woolworths chief executive Brad Banducci said the announcement was a response to the current situation around COVID-19.

"Just given where things are at, we feel that we need to role model what is the right behaviour," he said on ABC's AM program.

Does 'strongly encouraged' mean I can still shop without a mask?
Yes, it's not a mandatory requirement, and Mr Banducci has stressed this point.

"Customers have the choice. If they don't [wear a mask], then that's fine, they are welcome in our stores," he said.

However, he said if customers don't wear masks, they are still asked to do other things — for instance, making use of hand sanitiser dispensers at the front of stores and keeping 1.5 metres away from other customers and staff.

How does this announcement compare to the official advice?
Professor Michael Kidd, Australia's Deputy Chief Medical Officer, addressed the issue on ABC News Breakfast on Friday morning.

"I think people should be considering wearing masks, but particularly in those areas where we have community transmission," he said.

He also referred to Woolworths' decision, saying going to the supermarket was one situation in which people may get closer to you than 1.5 metres.

This is the current state-by-state advice:

In New South Wales, the Federal Department of Health says people should wear face masks in situations where they cannot practice social distancing. On Wednesday, Premier Gladys Berejiklian also said it was "good policy" for staff to be encouraged to wear masks at hospitality venues
In Queensland, this is the advice on mask use on the State Government's website: "You don't need to wear a face mask unless your doctor has told you to or you are caring for someone who might have COVID-19."
In the ACT, this is the advice: "In general, if you are healthy you do not need to wear a mask. This is especially true given there is no evidence of community transmission in the ACT."
Victoria wasn't a focus of Woolworths' announcement because mask use will already be mandatory for every Victorian outside their home from 11:59pm Sunday (this is already the case for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire).

Did Woolworths discuss any of this with health officials?
Mr Banducci was asked on AM if he had sought the opinion of Australia's Chief Medical Officer.
He responded by saying the company followed all national and state-based health advice, and that it also had its own medical advisory board.
"There's no way we would move before taking the right advice," Mr Banducci said.

What are the Queensland hotspots and do we know which stores are affected?
In a statement, Woolworths said the Queensland supermarkets affected included:

Brookwater
Browns Plains
Browns Plains Westpoint
Chatswood Hills
Park Ridge
Springfield
Springwood
Sunnybank
A Queensland Health contact tracing and testing response has focused on Logan and Brisbane's southside after two women who returned to Queensland from Melbourne tested positive to COVID-19.

How has Coles responded?
In a statement, a Coles spokesperson said the company would continue to take the advice of state governments on mask use in stores.
"Health authorities continue to advise that physical distancing and regular hand-washing are still the best defence against COVID," they said.

However, the spokesperson also said that "in addition to wearing a mask while shopping", Coles asked that shoppers continue to shop safely by following measures including:

Using provided hand sanitiser
Social distancing
Shopping alone (if possible)
Using tap-and-go payment
Coles said the company had masks available for workers in NSW and Queensland, but said their use was not mandatory.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/woolworths-wants-many-shoppers-wearing-face-masks-here-s-what-you-need-to-know/ar-BB17oa64?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/businesses-encouraging-use-of-masks-in-nsw-stores/vi-BB17o3di?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 july tas
Tasmanian Government to ban travel from 'Queensland hotspots'
The Tasmanian Government will ban travel into the state from "Queensland hotspots" in a bid to stop any spread of infection that may have been caused by a group of women accused of skipping quarantine in the sunshine state.

Three Queensland women - Diana Lasu, 21, Olivia Muranga, 19, and a 21-year-old from Algester — have been charged with fraud and lying to health officials to evade quarantine after a trip to Melbourne.

Two of the women were diagnosed with coronavirus upon their return.

Speaking on Friday, Tasmania's Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said the "hotspots" would include places visited by the women.
"There are a number of … places we now know they spent several hours in, and it's possible those are the sorts of settings where infection can be transmitted," Dr Veitch said.
"We will be adding those locations to a list of what we call 'affected premises'.
"Anyone who seeks to come to Tasmania who has been to one of those premises won't be able to enter Tasmania unless they are a Tasmanian resident or they are an essential worker."

Dr Veitch added it was "fairly unlikely" anyone wishing to enter would have visited the same premises as the women.

Travellers from Victoria and parts of New South Wales are already banned from entering Tasmania without a State Government exemption.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the exact hotspots would be announced later on Friday.

He warned anyone entering Tasmania to "tell the truth".
"Do not think that you can get away with entering the state if you've been in a hotspot," he said.
"If you don't tell the truth, we will catch you, and we will throw the book at you.
"This is critical, it is life or death."

Tasmania back to zero active coronavirus cases
Since July 9, 11 people have been turned away trying to enter the state from banned hotspots.

Three people have been charged with breaching quarantine protocols.

Currently, all non-essential travellers to the state are required to quarantine for 14 days — either at home or in a Government quarantine hotel.

Any Tasmanian residents returning home from Victoria are required to enter hotel quarantine if they do not have an exemption.

Tasmania's borders are due to open to travellers from South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia next Friday.

On Friday, Mr Gutwein also announced the state was now once again coronavirus-free, with zero active cases after the recovery of a woman who had tested positive while in quarantine.

Tasmania has had 227 COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/tasmanian-government-to-ban-travel-from-queensland-hotspots/ar-BB17oSmC?ocid=msedgdhp

Mandatory virus testing for Tas. travellers returning from hotspots
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/mandatory-virus-testing-for-tas-travellers-from-hotspots/vi-BB17oImi?ocid=msedgntp

31 July FEDERAL
Ridiculous': Infectious diseases expert slams Clive Palmer's hepatitis B COVID-19 comparison’
CoronaCheck #32
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer is back on our radar this week. Mr Palmer, in arguing for the removal of WA's hard border restrictions, compared COVID-19 to Hepatitis B. We take a look at why that comparison is problematic.

We've also spoken to Melbourne Airport to clear up some persistent misinformation around international flights, and look at a viral video coming out of Washington, D.C., in which doctors claim there is a cure for COVID-19.
Clive Palmer's 'ridiculous' hepatitis B comparison
As his case against WA's coronavirus border closures headed to the Federal Court this week, mining magnate and former federal MP Clive Palmer took to social media to attack WA premier Mark McGowan.
"Mark 'The Menace' McGowan knows the mortality rate for West Australians hasn't increased because of COVID-19 yet he continues to mislead the people of WA for political grandstanding," Mr Palmer, who is currently facing fraud charges over his 2013 election campaign, said.
"There are other highly contagious viruses, for example Hepatitis B, which result in thousands of deaths every year. COVID-19 has claimed very few lives in WA, yet has led to unprecedented border closures and devastation to the economy."

But is that comparison to hepatitis B valid? According to the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, there were an estimated 435 deaths attributable to chronic hepatitis B in Australia in 2018. Additionally, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says acute hepatitis B was responsible for 279 deaths in Australia between 1997 and 2016.

Josh Davis, a senior principal research fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research and former president of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, told Fact Check that comparing deaths from hepatitis B and COVID-19 was "ridiculous".

Professor Davis explained that the two diseases spread in very different ways, with hepatitis spread through blood and other bodily fluids (through sexual contact, mother to child transmission or shared injecting equipment) rather than via respiratory droplets as in the case of COVID-19.
"It's completely safe to hug, kiss, share food etc with a HBV-infected person," he said in an email. "State borders are completely irrelevant."

He added that hepatitis B caused a low-grade infection over decades and that around 80 per cent of people did not end up with health problems as a result of the infection.

Well, to begin with, the blood-borne disease does not cause thousands of deaths every year.
"The only thing [hepatitis B and COVID-19] have in common is that they are both caused by viruses. But the viruses are no more closely genetically related to each other than a human is to a fish."

Another key difference between the infections? There's a vaccine for hepatitis B.

According to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, a hepatitis B vaccine was first introduced in 1983.

Australian year 7 students have been immunised for the disease since 1998, while newborn babies have received the vaccine since 2000.

Professor Davis said the vaccine was "very effective" and had led to a large drop in the prevalence of hepatitis B over the past two decades.

Mr Palmer did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/coronacheck-clive-palmer-covid-19-comparison-hepatitis-b/12506842

Half a million younger Australians completely drain their supers
Treasury initially estimated the early access super scheme would see workers withdraw a total of $29.5 billion from their retirement savings, but it's now revised that estimate to $42 billion.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/half-a-million-australians-completely-drain-their-supers/vi-BB17mhmw?ocid=msedgdhp

Federal Government set to allow fruit pickers from Vanuatu into Australia despite coronavirus border closure
The Federal Government is set to permit foreign workers to fly into Australia to help farmers harvest crops despite an inbound travel ban and surging unemployment.

The ABC understands the Government is on the cusp of announcing a pilot program that would allow up to 200 workers to travel from Vanuatu to harvest mangoes in the Northern Territory, possibly within weeks.

Farmers across the country have become increasingly concerned that their crops could be left to rot, and sheep left unshorn, without access to the foreign workers that typically work on Australian farms.

The Northern Territory's Primary Industries Minister Paul Kirby said the Federal Government had "agreed upon and confirmed" the process to allow 200 people from Vanuatu to enter the Northern Territory under the Seasonal Worker Program.
"The Federal Government has committed to processing visas for seasonal workers from Vanuatu and allow them entry to Australia," Mr Kirby told the ABC.

Mr Kirby said there had been no recorded cases of coronavirus from Vanuatu.

But Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said there had been no formal approval provided to the Northern Territory Government for the pilot to commence.

"There are a number of issues that remain unresolved that the Federal Government is working through which will hopefully be resolved quickly," Mr Littleproud said.

Mr Kirby said the pilot had been agreed to by the NT's chief health officer and that on entry, the workers would be required to quarantine for two weeks at a former village for Inpex gas employees at Howard Springs, near Darwin.
"The exact number of workers entering the NT during the first intake is expected to be between 120 and 200, and we would hope for more after the initial pilot program," he said.

Mr Kirby said there had been industry calls for workers from Timor-Leste to come to Australia under the pilot, but "there were concerns with Timorese workers and soft borders with Indonesia and how COVID might be tracking in Indonesia, so for that first pilot program, [we'll employ workers from] Vanuatu to start with".

The Mango industry has lobbied for the workers to arrive in Australia by August 20, which would allow pickers to be on farms in early September.

Mr Kirby said he had pleaded with the Federal Government for swift approval of the visas, which can sometimes take up to six weeks to approve under the seasonal worker program.

He said the Territory Government had already attempted to match unemployed local people with jobs in the farm sector.
"Our first priority is always to local job seekers, but there simply isn't enough available to meet the demand," Mr Kirby said.

Potentially hundreds of workers to follow initial pilot
President of the Northern Territory Mango Industry Association, Leo Skliros said he had been involved in discussions about plans to import hundreds of workers from Vanuatu.

Mr Skliros said details of the program were still being finalised but growers had agreed to help cover the cost of the 14-day quarantine period at Howard Springs and flights from Vanuatu.
"We're hoping to bring in the first plane load early, so the workers can quarantine and be available for the earliest possible crop," he said.
"But then the plan is to get every two weeks, possibly two planes at once, so we're quarantining 300 workers.
"So it's not just that one pilot program, we hope this all goes well and it opens up the avenue to bring more workers in. We hope it could be a shortfall of 1,000 people we could bring in if required."

The Opposition's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor questioned how the pilot would unfold.
"Federal Labor supports the seasonal worker program, however the questions that need to be asked include: is there a legitimate local labour supply, and if not, is it safe for people to travel, and will they avoid the exploitation which has previously been reported under this scheme?" he said.

When borders closed to international travellers earlier this year, there were 140,000 backpackers and more than 7000 Pacific Islanders with working visas in the country.

The Federal Government extended the visas for those seasonal workers in country, but farmers say it is not enough to see them through the spring and summer harvest.

Other industries fear shortages
It is not just the horticulture sector concerned about access to workers — the wool industry fears it will not have access to overseas shearers, prompting animal welfare concerns if sheep are left to wait to be shorn.

The Shearing Contractors Association of Australia said the local industry typically relied on 480 shearers from New Zealand to sheer about 5 million sheep.

Based on the current travel restrictions, the association said that could mean up to 8 per cent of the national flock may not be shorn in a timely manner.

West Australian grain farmers have warned the State Government their industry could have a shortfall of 500 header drivers, plus an additional 1,000 unskilled workers.

WAFarmers grains president Mic Fels said farmers were "freaking out a little bit" about who was going to get the crop off later this year.
"Conservatively, we're talking in excess of 500 skilled header drivers as a shortfall for this coming harvest and the consequences if we can't work it out is delayed harvest but also serious OH&S concerns," Mr Fels said.

Earlier this week, Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the Government was working on new measures to meet the labour shortage, saying "there's a real aversion from the Australian workforce to go and pick fruit".
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/federal-government-set-to-allow-fruit-pickers-from-vanuatu-into-australia-despite-coronavirus-border-closure/ar-BB17nK7q?ocid=msedgdhp

Treasurer Claws back saving from Jobless ( typical of the Liberals )- Liquid assets test sees applicants with savings shut out of JobSeeker payments
Kristie thought she was doing everything right for her young family.

Every month, the single mother had been diligently watching her budget, limiting her spending and building up her savings.

Then came COVID-19.
"I've been working full time now on a few different jobs for just over six years," she said.
"I've been making sure that I've been looking to the future and putting money aside. It's taken, you know, a good five or six years to get us to this point where we're not living week to week."

At the beginning of July, she lost her job as a business development coordinator at a property management company.

The Sydney woman received a redundancy payment, and under Centrelink rules she's not eligible for JobSeeker payments until early October.

But, even then, she's unlikely to receive payments.

All the money she's saved will put her over the threshold of the liquid assets test, which measures what the government deems 'funds readily available to you' — a determination made with departmental discretion.

The Federal Government removed the liquid asset test in March as the COVID-19 crunch took hold, but will reintroduce it for JobSeeker applicants on September 25.
"It does make me feel like I'm being penalised," she said. "I'm going to be even further behind the eight ball."

For singles, the test threshold is $5500. For singles with children, it's $11,000.

Depending on the value of someone's 'liquid assets', and how far it puts them above these thresholds, JobSeeker payments can be delayed until a time they are deemed eligible to receive them, which can be up to 13 weeks.

Kristie's savings are above the threshold, so she'll have to use them up while she waits for JobSeeker to kick in.

By October, her savings could be more than $12,000, which would mean a further two weeks without JobSeeker payments. But if Centrelink determines her assets are greater than that, she could wait longer.
"It doesn't feel fair," she said. "I don't have a lot of a buffer. I don't have a lot of savings for a rainy day."

In a statement, a spokesperson for the Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash said that the test could be waived if a person was in severe financial hardship.
"Before the temporary exemption, the vast majority of income support recipients did not serve any Liquid Assets Test Waiting Period," the statement said.

The Government said it didn't know how many people currently on JobSeeker had benefitted from the Liquid Asset Test being suspended in March.

Kristie said she understood if some people questioned why she should get JobSeeker payments while she still had money in the bank.
"What I don't agree with is the amounts that the Centrelink allows you to have; $10,000 is not going to last very long," she said.
"I think that everybody should have a little bit of of a buffer."

Some economists believe bringing back the liquid asset test now is a bad idea.
"It means that many Australians, particularly the kind of Australians who have lost jobs for the first time, will have to burn through quite a lot of their savings before they become eligible for the payment," the Grattan Institute's Brendan Coates said.

There are about 1.6 million Australians on JobSeeker and some experts suggest up to 300,000 people now receiving the JobKeeper wage subsidy may join them by the end of the year.

Mr Coates argues the more money those on JobSeeker have to spend in the economy, the better.
"The challenge here is the more that we rely on people relying on their own savings to get themselves through, then the less willing they are going to be [to] spend," he said.
"On the other side of the crisis, [that] is something we're going to need them to do in the recovery.
"Getting Australians to draw down on those savings, particularly their liquid savings that they can access today, does probably make it harder for a lot of Australians to get through this."

As for Kristie, she's already on the hunt for a new job.
But she said she was "petrified" about a future with no savings and trying to live on JobSeeker.
"So if something goes wrong, if the car breaks down or, you know, we get a big bill or my rent increases or any of those kinds of things, I'm not going to have the option of taking that on the chin," she said.
"It's really going to be a massive stress because I don't have that buffer sitting in the bank waiting to be used in an emergency."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/liquid-assets-test-sees-applicants-with-savings-shut-out-of-jobseeker-payments/ar-BB17nItK?ocid=msedgdhp

Tighter restrictions may be imposed on hotspot industries
Tony Blakely is an epidemiologist at Melbourne University and he is critical little seems to have been learned from the first wave of COVID-19.
>> aged homes
>> quarantine
>> border controls
>> schools
>> public transport
>> masks
>> reducing restrictions too fast
Are the main issues where state and federal governments are continually falling down.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/tighter-restrictions-may-be-imposed-on-hotspot-industries/vi-BB17o4vk?ocid=msedgdhp

Covid19 research
Children carry COVID-19 virus
Children younger than five carried major amounts of coronavirus in their upper respiratory tract, a small study published on Thursday showed, raising new questions about whether kids can infect others.

Data on children as sources of coronavirus spread are sparse, and early reports did not find strong evidence of children as major contributors to the deadly virus that has killed 669,632 people globally.

Understanding the transmission potential in children will be key to developing public health guidelines, said the researchers who published the study in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

Between March 23 and April 27, 2020, a research team from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern University tested swab collections from inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, and drive-through testing sites in Chicago, Illinois.

The study included 145 individuals aged between one month and 65 years with mild to moderate COVID-19 who were studied in three groups - children younger than five years, children 5 to 17 years, and adults 18 to 65 years.

Their analysis suggests the young children had a viral load 10-fold to 100-fold greater than adults in their upper respiratory tracts.

Viral loads in older children with COVID-19 are similar to levels in adults. This study found greater amounts of viral nucleic acid – the genetic codes for proteins to produce new viruses - in children younger than 5 years.

The study only looked at viral nucleic acid and not infectious virus, meaning it is not clear if the children would spread the virus.

Still, the prevalence in young children raise concerns about their behavioral habits, and their proximity in schools and day care centers as public health restrictions are eased, researchers said.

In addition to public health implications, the researchers said the results could help put the focus on this population while targeting immunization efforts when COVID-19 vaccines become available.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/nt-new-coronavirus-case-diagnosed/12513260

31july NZ
Ove 100k Americans visited New Zealand's immigration website
More than 110,000 Americans visited New Zealand's immigration website last month to learn if they qualify to move there amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tens of thousands of foreigners from other countries have also inquired about living in New Zealand and applied for residency as the country emerged as the gold standard for dealing with the health crisis.

New Zealand on Thursday had just 24 active cases, all placed into isolation, and reported only 22 deaths in total. The country had 1,560 cases total and 1,514 recoveries. On the other hand, the United States continued to lead the world in coronavirus cases and deaths, with more than four million confirmed infections and 150,717 fatalities.

Under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand implemented a lockdown so severe that reclaiming a lost ball from a neighbor's yard was prohibited.
But the measures were successful at halting the virus' spread, and the country lifted its lockdown restrictions and declared itself virus-free on June 8.
Citizens there are now not required to social distance, and can visit bars, restaurants and public spaces freely again

Meanwhile many states of the US are having to slow or halt their reopening amid a second surge of cases.
A New Zealand demographics expert told the New Zealand Herald that the surge in interest about moving to the Pacific country showed a failure of the American public health and political system - which has become all the more contentious in recent weeks.
The uptick also indicates a dissatisfaction with President Trump and his administration's handling of the global pandemic that inundated the country.

More than 250,000 Americans in total have logged on to check their status since the pandemic hit six months ago.
Massey University's Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley told the publication that the pattern will likely increase as the situation in the United States worsens.
'Middle class, professional America is saying, "Well, where do we go for our own safety and the safety of our families?"'

Such sentiments from America's middle class would be a blow to Trump's 2020 election campaign after the Commander-and-Chief tried to appeal to suburban residents in a controversial tweet this week.
'I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood,' wrote Trump on Twitter, adding 'crime will do down.'
Many called Trump's message 'blatant racism' that targeted families who rely on low income housing to survive

Last month, 112,800 more Americans visited the Immigration New Zealand website compared to the same time in 2019 - a 160 per cent spike.
That's also the equivalent of on American clicking on the website every 30 seconds. But it's not just Americans who are floating the idea of moving to New Zealand.
46,000 British citizens looked at Immigration New Zealand's website last month, which is up 27,100 from 2019.
Internationally, there was a unexpected upswing in Google searches in June with the key words 'move to New Zealand.'

Figures shared by Immigration New Zealand showed that almost 10,000 people were granted application to move to the country in the past two months. June saw the largest number of approved residency applications, many of which came from India and South Africa. 7,085 people were given the 'OK' to move.
India has recorded more than 1.5million confirmed coronavirus cases and around 35,000 deaths. South Africa had 470,000 cases and nearly 8,000 deaths.

But for the time being, New Zealand's borders remain closed to most travelers, and those who do gain entry must quarantine for 14 days.
Immigration New Zealand said the surge in inquiries picked up in April, just as news of lockdown guidelines in the country successfully curbing infections gained international attention.

Ardern has been praised for her communication skills and presenting public health guidelines as a vital key beating the virus.
In a video posted to her Facebook just before the beginning of New Zealand's lockdown on March 25, Ardern urged residents to stay indoors.
'Stay at home, break the chain and you’ll save lives,' she said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/health/medical/scores-of-americans-visited-new-zealand-s-immigration-website/ar-BB17nnJb?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 july sa

Border-crossing truck drivers caught in catch 22 situation over COVID-19 testing
Victorian truck drivers are caught in a catch-22 situation over South Australian border-crossing restrictions.

The SA Government requires truckies to show proof they have had a negative coronavirus test in the seven days prior to driving across the Victoria-South Australia border.

But Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson said getting tests in Victoria is predominantly restricted to people with COVID-19 symptoms.

"The issue that we have as an industry is not the impediment that it might put into the daily lives and the cost to the individual companies to try and organise all their drivers to be tested regularly," Mr Anderson said.
"It's really the fact that there's a contradiction in the two laws between the states.
"There's asymptomatic testing in South Australia — you're allowed to go and get tested any time you like.
"But in Victoria, you're only meant to be tested if you have symptoms, and you are then required to go and isolate for three to five days until you get the results."

Asymptomatic testing is only available in hotspot areas like Colac — a town in south-west Victoria where an outbreak stemming from a meatworks has infected at least 64 people.

Some trucking companies have expressed concern about sending truck drivers into hotspots like Colac for regular COVID-19 tests.

Mr Anderson said that in the day after the restriction was introduced he spoke to about 70 people in the industry who were concerned.
"The reaction has been huge," he said.
"It's all about trying to protect people from the disease — we understand that."

Mr Anderson said the freight and transport industry had already introduced pandemic measures including permits, safety plans, and asking drivers to keep a record of any contacts they have had over the previous 28 days.

He said truckies were also following a "straight there, straight back" policy.
"It's do your job and get back to Victoria," Mr Anderson said.

He said truckies were already doing it tough.
"We had a member the other day had a truck break down interstate and when he gave the repair people his registration number, they said: 'Oh, you're from Victoria, no, we won't go near your truck'," Mr Anderson said.
"It meant that he had to go through a lot of work to try to repair that truck and get it back on the route."

He said getting weekly tests for every cross-border truckie in Victoria would also put pressure on a system already trying to process more than 20,000 tests a day.

The Victorian Health Department was asked whether regular asymptomatic testing would be made available to cross-border truck drivers, but did not respond.

The South Australian Government is standing by its restrictions, while Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said yesterday in a statement that "State and Territory Governments remain responsible for the operation of domestic border controls".
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/border-crossing-truck-drivers-caught-in-catch-22-situation-over-covid-19-testing/ar-BB17ommN?ocid=msedgdhp

Border beech
Truckie accused of sneaking woman into SA from Victoria
A truck driver is behind bars, accused of deliberately smuggling a woman into South Australia from Victoria.
Woman allegedly hides in back of truck to re-enter SA during first night of hard border closure
A woman has been accused of hiding in the back of a truck to cross the South Australian border during the first night of the state's strengthened border closure with Victoria.

Police will allege that at some stage during Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, the 65-year-old Mount Gambier woman hid in a truck that drove back into the state from Victoria.

South Australians can no longer return to their home state from Victoria unless they are essential travellers, .

Police said the woman had spent several weeks in Victoria when they received a report on Thursday that she was back in SA, and she was then arrested.

She was charged with failing to comply with a direction and was refused bail to appear in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court today.
"Enquiries continue regarding the identity of the driver, and if they were aware that the woman was hiding in the truck," police said.

Police said any similar incidents should be reported immediately via the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.

The arrest comes as concerns were raised just hours after the restrictions came into effect when a line-up of trucks were let through an SA border checkpoint without being checked for permits.

A truckie told ABC Radio Adelaide that he had lined up at the border to return to South Australia from Victoria during the first night of the state's strengthened border restrictions.

The truck driver, named Steve, said on his return back to South Australia at about 1:45am Wednesday, he had to line-up in a queue of trucks about 3-kilometres long.

When finally reaching the front of the queue at about 3:00am, he said all the trucks in line were then waved through at once, without being checked for permits.
"Didn't even stop, didn't even talk to me, just waved a wand at me and waved me on," he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
"Straight through … 80 trucks launched it straight away … I'm surprised there wasn't a fatal."

'There is a risk that must be accepted'
Yesterday, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said there would always be a "risk" that people could seek to enter the state hidden in freight transport.

However, he said there was a national directive for patrols not to inhibit freight movement around Australia, particularly into South Australia.
"There is a risk that somebody may seek to travel into South Australia by getting onto a truck," he said.
"There is a risk element there that just must be accepted. We do randomly check trucks and we think that's a sufficient process at this time."

Earlier this week, Premier Steven Marshall also defended the actions of patrols, saying they do not stop every heavy vehicle due to the high volume crossing the border each day.
"SAPOL have only ever done random checks on the trucks that come across as essential workers from day one," Mr Marshall said.
"There was a change in protocol at the border to inspect all of them, but when it turned out that this was creating unnecessary traffic hazards, they went back to the normal practice."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/woman-allegedly-hides-in-back-of-truck-to-re-enter-sa-during-first-night-of-hard-border-closure/ar-BB17o2Q7?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-truckie-accused-of-sneaking-woman-into-sa-from-victoria/vi-BB17pkDu?ocid=msedgdhp

No jail for woman who illegally crossed SA border
A woman who illegally crossed the South Australian border has walked free from court.

Patricia Kohn, 65, snuck across the border from Victoria in the back of a truck.

Kohn arrived in Mount Gambier in South Australia on Tuesday night and went to a Service SA centre twice before a tip-off yesterday led to her arrest. The mother-of-eight pleaded guilty and was handed a suspended prison term.

Today, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said measures would be put in place to keep Kohn from potentially infecting South Australians.

She has been ordered into two weeks of isolation. Mr Stevens defended the decision to not stop all trucks at the border.
"Stopping every single truck, regardless of the amount of resources we will have, will create significant delays, and create significant road safety issues for people using major arterial roads throughout the state," he said.

The driver of the truck was arrested at Regency Park in Adelaide today.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/no-jail-for-woman-who-illegally-crossed-sa-border/ar-BB17ojjh?ocid=msedgntp#image=1

Coronavirus Australia live news: Victoria announces 627 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths, SA paramedic tests positive
[quoteSouth Australian Police are urging people to reconsider travel to and from Queensland as restrictions may be imposed at short notice to prevent a second wave of COVID-19.

However no decision has been made nor is a date being considered.

The warning comes after three Queensland women sparked a coronavirus health alert after returning from Melbourne.] [/quote]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-news-scott-morrison-won-t-rule-out-further-covid-19-restrictions-in-victoria-queensland-testing-blitz-results-due/ar-BB17nZRB?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31july wa
The key criteria needed to make it across WA's tough borders may not be what you think
31july-wa-border-BB17o8-TE.jpg

Thousands of people are trying to get into Western Australia, and some of them are simply trying to return to their home or support their family during an emotional time.

But under the WA Government's tough border restrictions — which became even stricter after the recent COVID-19 outbreaks in New South Wales and Victoria — they are finding it hard to get an exemption to enter the state on compassionate grounds.

So how does the system work?
Under the WA State of Emergency, the Police Commissioner — as State Emergency Coordinator — has directed that no-one can enter WA unless they are an exempt traveller.

Unfortunately under the "hard borders" policy, if you've left the state, you can't necessarily come back home.

There are quite a few workers who do qualify for an exemption, including military personnel, emergency service workers, medical workers government officials, federal politicians and their staff.

They were among the about 400 exempt travellers entering WA each day, as of last week, according to Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.

But there are many people who want to return to their home town but can't because their application to enter on compassionate grounds has been rejected, often multiple times.

It's this category of exemption that appears to have caused the most controversy and distress, especially for those whose home is in WA but now find themselves stuck in other Australian states.

How do I apply for an exemption to enter WA?
You can apply for an exemption to enter WA — known as a G2G pass — online or by email, although the first option is quickest.

Only adults and unaccompanied minors need to apply for the pass containing a unique QR code, or barcode which can be read by a smartphone.

Your QR code, either in paper or on your smartphone, will be scanned when you enter WA to check whether your purpose for being in WA has been approved.

What's needed for a compassionate grounds application?
You need to satisfy two key criteria: a safe place to quarantine and evidence of a compassionate reason.

Many people may not realise that where they nominate to quarantine for 14 days after arriving in WA has a big impact on the success of their application.

Your application is likely to be instantly rejected if you are not isolating in hotel quarantine and do not have a suitable place — such your own bedroom and bathroom within a private home — as well as someone to support you.
"Some people may be saying, 'I've got to quarantine but I've only got a three-by-one unit that I'm going to quarantine in,'" Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Dreibergs says.
"Well, that's not sufficient. You've got to at least have a house with separate bathrooms, separate bedrooms and an ability for that person to quarantine in that house."

Then you need to mount and prove an argument that you have a claim to enter WA for compassionate reasons.

Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs says you will need strong evidence, such as official documents, like school enrolment forms, birth or death certificates or a letter from your doctor.
"If you say you've got a mental health matter, we need to see evidence that is a significant mental health issue and the cure for that is coming to Western Australia and being here, and not being treated in Victoria, for instance," he said.

So how do they decide if my reasons are legitimate?
This is where the process becomes quite subjective, with each application assessed on a case-by-case basis by individual police officers.

Unusually for a bureaucracy, WA Police has no official guidelines for officers to follow.
"You can't write a rule for compassionate circumstances, unfortunately," Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs says.

Instead, officers follow what WA Police call "guiding principles", with serious consideration given to people who are in a position of harm or extreme hardship.

It's not clear exactly when these principles were introduced but they are, in descending order of importance:

• That there is evidence of the applicant's circumstances

• That the applicant could suffer harm or extreme hardship, which may be financial, medical, physical or psychological

• That the risk associated with the applicant, as well as the overall risk to the WA community, has been assessed

It's a busy workload for these officers, with more than 1,700 people a day applying to return to WA, and a backlog of thousands of resubmitted applications.

Junior officers are processing and, if deemed necessary, rejecting applications, while approvals are handled by a sergeant or more senior officer, and can even reach Police Commissioner Chris Dawson's desk.
"We always take health advice," Commissioner Dawson says.

What if I want to escape interstate COVID-19 outbreaks?
Well it's not good news. Deputy Commissioner Dreibergs says applications from New South Wales and Victoria are being scrutinised more closely.
"We have to weigh up so many things which is about protecting this border and protecting this state," he said.
"We've been told very specifically that we do not want people arriving from Victoria and New South Wales unless there's absolute significant compassionate or real difficult hardship."

Is there an appeals process?
No, your only option is to resubmit your application.

Many people are trying their luck, with WA Police dealing with more than 2,200 resubmitted applications as of Wednesday this week.

But some people, such as WA-born Beauden Gellard and his wife Giang Nguyen, have had their exemption rejections reversed after highlighting problems with the process in the media.

Initially the couple, who had been living in Vietnam, used the same documentation, but WA-born Mr Gellard's application was rejected while his Vietnamese wife's was approved.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/the-key-criteria-needed-to-make-it-across-wa-s-tough-borders-may-not-be-what-you-think/ar-BB17o3Px?ocid=msedgdhp

COVID-obsessed Bruce Rock supermarket owner burnt down his own business to 'keep customers safe'
The co-owner of the only supermarket in a small WA country town burnt down his business at the height of the COVID pandemic because he was "obsessed" with the virus and was being put under pressure by angry customers and out-of-town panic buyers, a Perth court has been told.

On the night of March 25 this year, Edward Guy Mason, 57, went to his store in Bruce Rock, 240 kilometres east of Perth, packed three shopping trolleys with cardboard and set them on fire, before trying to take his own life.

He then left the building and locked himself out, before walking home, where he was later arrested.

Passers-by saw the fire and alerted authorities, but the supermarket and an adjoining hardware store, owned by Mason's brother, were destroyed, causing more than $1 million damage.

Mason pleaded guilty to a charge of wilfully and unlawfully damaging a building by fire, with the District Court hearing that before he set fire to the supermarket he had smoked eight cannabis bongs.

Mason decided to 'eradicate himself'
The court heard Mason's mental health had been declining for about six months, but it was made worse because of the coronavirus pandemic, which had seen people from out-of-town panic buying toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

That was affecting his stock levels and customers were becoming angry and abusing him about items not being available, and also about the extra hygiene measures he had to put in place as a result of the pandemic.

His lawyer, Richard Lawson, said Mason then became convinced he had the virus, and to protect his customers and the public from getting infected he had to burn down his business, later repeatedly telling witnesses, "I set fire to business to kill the germs."
"He decided he had to eradicate himself," Mr Lawson said.

Mason has been in custody since his arrest on the night, and Mr Lawson said in those four months, his mental health had improved because he had resumed taking anti-depressant medication and was receiving counselling.

Judge John Prior said he had received 17 character references on behalf of Mason, who was described as "well liked and respected" in the Bruce Rock community where he was born and raised.

Judge Prior said most of the authors were shocked by what Mason had done, but did say in the lead up to the incident they had observed he was under immense pressure to maintain stock levels and keep his customers happy and safe.

The court heard he had run the supermarket for 28 years after inheriting the business from his parents, who had owned it for 50 years.
'You wanted to keep people safe': Judge
Judge Prior described Mason's offence as very serious, saying the fire had caused substantial damage and put at risk other buildings and the safety of others in the town.

However, he described the case as "unusual", saying he was satisfied the COVID pandemic had a "direct causal impact" on Mason's behaviour.
"At the time, you had an obsession with COVID-19. It impacted on your grocery business. You believed you were infected. You wanted to keep people safe," he said.

Judge Prior imposed a 16-month jail term but suspended it, noting that Mason had never committed any offence before, had spent four months in custody, had pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and was genuinely remorseful.

He also said the community of Bruce Rock was supportive of Mason and there was a real risk that any further time in custody might undermine the positive steps he had taken to rehabilitate himself.

However, Judge Prior did make an order that Mason pay his brother $479,000 to compensate him for the damage that was caused to the hardware store.
'Surely there could be germs on these cartons'
Outside the court, Mason described what was happening in the lead up to the fire as "very bad."
"I was running a business and just seeing my shelves stripped bare. It was very hard to deal with," he said.
"People were driving 30 minutes from another town and they'd just come in and strip my shelves bare if their town was empty.
"That's where all the conflict began, because my customers couldn't understand why they couldn't get their regular items."

Mason said he was convinced he had coronavirus.
"Seeing different news reports and seeing how it could be transmitted and I thought, 'we're getting boxes coming out of the warehouses, boxes coming from China', and that's how I felt," he said.
"I felt surely there could be germs on these cartons."

He thanked those in the Bruce Rock community who had supported him and said he now planned to return to the town to "regroup and start again."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/covid-obsessed-bruce-rock-supermarket-owner-burnt-down-his-own-business-to-keep-customers-safe/ar-BB17mfjT?ocid=msedgdhp

Breaches
WA woman accused of breaching COVID-19 quarantine three times after trip to Melbourne
Police have laid two additional charges on a South West woman who allegedly left her house three times during home quarantine after returning to Western Australia from Melbourne.

The 29-year-old woman is accused of leaving her Eaton home on three separate days despite being issued a self-quarantine order requiring her to isolate at home for 14 days after arriving at Perth Airport.

The woman was initially charged for allegedly leaving her house on July 11 to attend a birthday party and socialising with other people, including some who were elderly.

Police now say the woman allegedly left her home on two other occasions in the days prior.

They will allege she also left her house on July 3 to go to a pharmacy at Eaton Fair shopping centre, and on July 10 to go to a children's playground with friends.

The woman now faces three counts of failing to comply with a direction, an offence that carries a maximum fine of $50,000.

She is due to face court on August 26.

Doctor calls for stricter quarantine rules
At the time of the alleged offences, all interstate arrivals were only required to self-quarantine at home.

Now, arrivals from Victoria — where a current outbreak is worsening — face stricter quarantine measures, having to stay in a hotel just like international arrivals.

Australian Medical Association WA president, Andrew Miller, said widening hotel quarantine to arrivals from all states would be an improvement on the current rules if appropriate monitoring took place.
"We certainly hear a lot of anecdotal reports of people not obeying the quarantine even when they're supposed to be in the hotel … because we know the police aren't sitting there guarding it," Dr Miller said.
"It does rely on people being prepared to do the right thing, but humans being as they are, some of them will decide that they're above the law and that is part of the risk that we take on as a society and the risk will be much worse if our border is not kept closed."

Dr Miller said as well as increasing surveillance by police and Defence Force personnel, tracking technology could be used.
"We could also look at technological means, for example the use of bracelets or the use of people's phones so the we know where they are," he said.

He warned Western Australians not to become complacent, despite no community spread being detected in the state.
"People might think this is a world away, but it's not; Melbourne's currently in the grip of a terrible outbreak and the same thing could easily happen here," he said.
"We can't rely on people doing the right thing, we can't even rely on people getting symptoms to stop this virus from spreading.
"It's not a matter of 'will we get an outbreak' it's a matter of when we get the outbreak — it will happen somewhere."

Police are doing regular checks
South West Police said they had been doing regular random checks of people under home quarantine and most people were doing the right thing.
"We're finding most people are very good, they're complying with the instructions that have been given to them and when we go to their house they're generally fronting up for us," Sergeant Dan Talbot said.
"We're not finding any complacency at the moment, thankfully."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/wa-woman-accused-of-breaching-covid-19-quarantine-three-times-after-trip-to-melbourne/ar-BB17nXPQ?ocid=msedgdhp

Premier declares Clive Palmer an 'enemy of the state'
Billionaire [ trumpophlle covidiot ] Clive Palmer has claimed the WA Government would destroy Western Australian lives for decades if its hard border restrictions continue.
In response, WA Premier Mark McGowan has said that easing border restrictions could increase infection risk for WA.
<< WA economy is still booming despite the pandemic , and much is this success is the way lockdowns are being handled >>
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/premier-declares-clive-palmer-an-enemy-of-the-state/vi-BB17p25H?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 JULY QLD

Queensland records one new coronavirus case, may be linked to Melbourne BORDER RUNNING trio
One person is diagnosed with COVID-19 overnight, a case which may be linked to three women charged over allegedly lying on Queensland border declaration passes.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the 27-year-old man from Bellbird Park, in Ipswich, is now in quarantine.
She said he was a relative of a man who went to the Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant in Sunnybank on July 23, which had been visited by one of the three women.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said of the three women that travelled to Melbourne, two had tested positive, while a third had returned a negative result.
"But we're just checking whether or not she's actually had it [COVID-19] and recovered," she said.
"It's too early to say whether of not we'll see on-going spread. We'll know over the next week or two.
"We have a gentleman who tested positive overnight, he is our fourth case in this cluster. He has been in contact with two relatives who were at the restaurant in Sunnybank on 23rd of July, when our first case in the cluster attended."

There are also concerns over an aged facility in Pinjarra Hills as the relative of the man who tested positive works there.
The relative who works at the aged care facility has not yet returned a result from his coronavirus test.
'Not out of the woods'
Ms Palaszczuk said there were now 11 active cases in the state, and 1,083 total cases since the pandemic began.
"If you have any concern, if you are feeling the slightest bit unwell you must go and get tested," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We're not out of the woods yet.
"We are going to keep a very close eye on what's happening, especially over the next few days but the response has been terrific and I want to thank all Queenslanders for doing that."
From Saturday 1:00am, 31 more local government areas in greater Sydney will be locked out of the state.
However, chief superintendent Mark Wheeler of Gold Coast district said people with valid border entry passes would still be scrutinised by police.
It comes after a driver was fined $4,000 after allegedly failing to declare they had been to a known hotspot at Campbelltown in Sydney.
Health Minister Steven Miles said "we broke records" with 9,076 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.That includes 2,498 tests in the Metro South region, where the three women live.
"In some cases that has overwhelmed our testing clinics," Mr Miles said.
Queensland Health releases new list of locations linked to new coronavirus case in Brisbane South, West Moreton areas
A public health alert has been issued for 15 locations in the Brisbane area linked to the one new case of COVID-19 confirmed in Queensland on Friday.

The new confirmed case of coronavirus in Queensland is a 27-year-old man from Bellbird Park in Ipswich who was at the Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant in Sunnybank last Thursday with five others.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the man was now in quarantine.
Queensland Health has urged anyone who visited the following locations in the Brisbane South and West Moreton areas to monitor their health closely.
Anyone suffering coronavirus symptoms has been urged to immediately get tested for the virus:
31july-qld-list.png

31july-qld-lista.png

All of the people the man dined with are being tested for coronavirus.

Precautions are also being taken at an aged care centre in Pinjarra Hills after the new case of coronavirus in Queensland was linked to two employees of the facility.

But Queensland Health said on Friday night tests for coronavirus for the two employees at the aged care centre returned a negative result.

New Queensland coronavirus case linked to aged care facility and trio who returned from Melbourne
Precautions are being taken at an aged care centre in Pinjarra Hills after today's new case of coronavirus in Queensland was linked to two employees of the facility, as well as the trio who recently returned from Melbourne. However, Queensland Health have since confirmed tonight that tests for coronavirus for the two employees at the aged care centre have returned a negative result.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said of the three women who travelled to Melbourne, two had tested positive, while a third returned a negative result.
"But we're just checking whether or not she's actually had it [COVID-19] and recovered," she said.
"It's too early to say whether or not we'll see on-going spread. We'll know over the next week or two.
"We have a gentleman who tested positive overnight, he is our fourth case in this cluster."

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said of the three women who travelled to Melbourne, two had tested positive, while a third returned a negative result.
"But we're just checking whether or not she's actually had it [COVID-19] and recovered," she said.
"It's too early to say whether or not we'll see on-going spread. We'll know over the next week or two.
"We have a gentleman who tested positive overnight, he is our fourth case in this cluster."
Dr Young said the man's wife and sister-in-law "probably have COVID-19", although they are yet to have their test results returned.

"The man's wife, and the wife's sister are now in quarantine and have been tested with results expected back this afternoon," Dr Young said.
One, or potentially both of the women work at the Bolton Clarke aged care facility at Pinjarra Hills, in Brisbane's south-west.
Bolton Clarke chief operating officer David Swain said "two team members" had had close contact with the man and both worked last on July 28.
Mr Swain said they self-isolated as soon as they realised they had been to the same restaurant as the Melbourne trio.
All staff are now wearing protective equipment and all residents are receiving care in their rooms, until further advice.
"In addition, our Pinjarra Hills community is not open to visitors," Mr Swain said.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/new-queensland-coronavirus-case-could-be-linked-to-aged-care-facility-and-melbourne-trio/ar-BB17o4oJ?ocid=msedgdhp

Queensland's Chief Health Officer declares list of restricted areas limiting access to aged care facilities
Queensland's Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, has declared a list of restricted areas across the Greater Brisbane and Ipswich regions that will limit the access to aged care facilities in those locations.
The restrictions came into effect from 8:00pm yesterday and will remain in place until further notice.
Under the Public Health Act visitors will not be permitted to enter aged care facilities if they have been in a hotspot 14 days previously or if they have returned to Australia from overseas.

Any visitor to an aged care home must also wear a face mask to be allowed entry.
There are also rules around the number of visitors allowed to attend at one time and residents are not permitted to leave the facility unless they are required to for medical reasons.

Dr Young said she approved the release of to "assist in containing the spread of COVID-19 in the community".
"They are areas that we're asking people if they have any symptoms at all or any concerns that they might have symptoms to get tested," she said.
"If they have a fever, or they've had history of a fever to immediately get tested and to isolate themselves until they get the results.
"And it's also the areas that I've asked aged care facilities to be particularly cautious because we know the risks in aged care are horrendous so we want them to be very, very cautious."

Queensland Health said in the last 24 hours 6,866 patients were tested for coronavirus with 8,251 tests carried out as some people had multiple tests.

'I fully support the lockdown'
Yesterday aged care provider Carinity banned visitors, unless on compassionate grounds, at all residential aged care centres in South East Queensland.

These include Cedarbrook, Colthup Manor, Karinya Place, Brookfield Green, Hilltop, Clifford House and Wishart Gardens.

Andy Coller's 61-year-old wife Julie has advanced early onset dementia and went into care at the Clifford House facility in Wooloowin on Brisbane's northside in May.

He normally visits her four times a week, and recently his grandchildren were able to have weekly visits with her.
"Even though Julie doesn't remember my name and even though she will forget that I am there, it is still good for her to have family come and visit her and its good for us to go see her," he said.
"We talk, we look at photos of the family. I usually take some chocolate in, she loves a Freddo frog and sometimes I even sing to her and she laughs at that.
"It's harder for my children and grandchildren because its only recently they've been able to go see grandma.
"I fully support the lockdown and not being able to let visitors in and we don't want to get COVID into our aged care facilities."

He said Julie could be in lockdown for weeks depending on the ongoing level of community transmission in Queensland.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/queensland-s-chief-health-officer-declares-list-of-restricted-areas-limiting-access-to-aged-care-facilities/ar-BB17obvA?ocid=msedgdhp

Queensland tests 20,000 people in 48 hours
Queensland aged care facility in lockdown
A Queensland aged care facility is in lockdown after the close contact of an employee tests positive to COVID-19.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-queensland-aged-care-facility-in-lockdown/vi-BB17oRgV?ocid=msedgntp

Qld confirms locally transmitted COVID-19 case
Queensland has confirmed a new locally transmitted case of COVID-19, which is linked to two cases reported on Thursday.
The man in his 20s is a relative of a person who went to the Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant in Sunnybank.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged anyone who attended the restaurant on July 23 to get tested for the virus immediately.

“It’s very important that if anyone was at that Korean restaurant, the Madtongsan Korean restaurant in Sunnybank, if you have any concern, if you are feeling the slightest bit unwell you must go and get tested," she said today.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/qld-confirms-locally-transmitted-covid-19-case/ar-BB17om76?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-queensland-test-20-000-people-in-48-hours/vi-BB17pcOF?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/queensland-health-releases-new-list-of-locations-linked-to-new-coronavirus-case-in-brisbane-south-west-moreton-areas/ar-BB17pI69?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/queensland-records-one-new-coronavirus-case-may-be-linked-to-melbourne-trio/ar-BB17o9vR?ocid=msedgntp

Border Breaches
Three Queensland women charged over alleged false border declarations
Charges have been laid against three women at the centre of a COVID-19 alert in South East Queensland, police say. They had been in Melbourne and returned to Brisbane via Sydney last week, but skipped quarantine.

Police said a 19-year-old woman from Heritage Park, a 21-year-old woman from Acacia Ridge and a 21-year-old woman from Algester have been charged with providing false and misleading border documents, and fraud. All three women are in quarantine.

Olivia Winnie Muranga and Diana Lasu have tested positive to coronavirus. At this stage, the third woman who travelled in the group has not tested positive to COVID-19. Police have alleged all three provided incorrect information on a Queensland border declaration pass.

Queensland Health is tracing where they had been in the eight days since they arrived back in the state. The women will face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 28.
Police said all three women are now cooperating with authorities.
Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said police would allege the trio deceived authorities in order to cross the border.
"They went to extraordinary lengths to be deceitful and deceptive and, quite frankly, criminal in their behaviour — and it has put the community at risk," she said.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police would allege the women "deliberately falsified records to get back into Queensland".
He said the women allegedly went to Victoria, went to a party with between 20 and 30 others, and then returned to Queensland. "Our focus now is working with those young women to identify everywhere that they have been since they have come back into Queensland," he said.

Police said 95,000 people have come through Queensland's air borders since restrictions were relaxed on July 10.
Queensland women face $13,000 fines and five years' jail over border fiasco
There are fears of a second wave in Queensland after three women flew back into Brisbane from Melbourne, via Sydney, with police alleging they lied on their border declaration forms.
The women are facing charges of providing misleading documents, which carries a maximum fine of $13,000. They are also facing a charge of fraud and face up to five years in jail.

The state’s Chief Health Officer shut down 94 nursing homes across South Brisbane as a precaution, as well as a number of venues – including schools and restaurants – the three women visited on their return to Brisbane.
Meanwhile, additional flights have been added to keep up with demand as Queenslanders race to return home before new hotspot restrictions come into effect.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Greater Sydney would be banned from entering the Sunshine State from 1 am on Saturday.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/queensland-women-face-13-000-fines-and-five-years-jail-over-border-fiasco/ar-BB17nUo8?ocid=msedgdhp

Investigation into movements of Queensland women allegedly visited Melbourne
Authorities are scrambling to confirm the movements of the three Queensland women who travelled from Melbourne and allegedly failed to quarantine.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-investigation-into-movements-of-queensland-women-allegedly-visited-melbourne/vi-BB17mgWA?ocid=msedgdhp

ABC drawn into row over naming Brisbane women accused of Covid-19 quarantine deception
The ABC has been criticised by some of its own journalists for identifying two Brisbane teenagers for allegedly lying on their border declaration forms to avoid quarantine after a trip to Melbourne. It follows widespread criticism of other outlets, including the Courier-Mail, for the tone of their coverage of the matter.

The Walkley award-winning foreign correspondent Sophie McNeill, who has left the ABC for Human Rights Watch, said she was “really disappointed” the women had been named and their photographs had been shown by the ABC online. “The different standards between who has been named & shamed and who hasn’t is very alarming,” McNeill said. The social affairs correspondent, Norman Hermant, said it was “demonisation” and the ABC journalist Josie Taylor agreed.

But it was the tabloids who went to town on the story, with huge photos on their front pages. The Courier-Mail branded the pair “Enemies of the state” and its News Corp stablemate the Herald Sun called the two 19-year-olds “Dumb and dumber” and “reckless”.
Aunty was not alone. The Daily Mail followed the News Corp tabloids’ example as well, exposing the women’s personal details on Thursday and referring to them as “coronavirus-infected teenagers”. Like many other outlets Guardian Australia is naming the pair in reports about their court appearance and charges.

The public humiliation unleashed a torrent of abuse against the women on social media, much of it racially based, some of it sexist, including comments that ridiculed their appearance, prompting the Queensland human rights commissioner, Scott McDougall, to release a statement expressing concern about the widespread publication of their personal details.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/abc-drawn-into-row-over-naming-brisbane-women-accused-of-covid-19-quarantine-deception/ar-BB17oBct?ocid=msedgdhp

Queensland residents angered by recent law-breakers
Queensland residents are flooding coronavirus testing clinics after three women allegedly deliberately breached quarantine restrictions, and are furious about the shameful behaviour this trio of thieving selfish border runners who snuck into the state from coronavirus-plagued Melbourne.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-queensland-residents-angered-by-recent-law-breakers/vi-BB17mopg?ocid=msedgdhp

Queenslanders queue for hours after fresh outbreak fears
Coronavirus testing clinics in Queensland are being inundated with patients after fresh outbreak fears were sparked by three alleged border jumpers.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-queenslanders-queue-for-hours-after-fresh-outbreak-fears/vi-BB17mn6r?ocid=msedgdhp

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/three-queensland-women-charged-over-alleged-false-border-declarations/ar-BB17m1nl?ocid=msedgdhp

Another airliner breach = A Plane of Jetstar passengers were allowed to leave without, this time in BRIS
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/plane-of-jetstar-passengers-were-allowed-to-leave-without-screening/vi-BB17nbeS?ocid=msedgdhp

Woman fined for checkpoint claim as border slows to crawl
A 25-year-old woman has been handed a $4003 fine for allegedly lying on her border declaration pass and failing to declare she had travelled from a hotspot in New South Wales.
Police became suspicious while checking her border declaration pass as she entered the checkpoint in Coolangatta about 4am today.
Police allege the woman eventually admitted to recently being in Campbelltown, Sydney.

Another passenger in the vehicle, a 53-year-old Fairfield man, who was wanted for other criminal matters was taken into custody."After the police did a very diligent job questioning the driver they became suspicious of her version," Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said.
It came as travellers looking to beat the looming Greater Sydney border lockdown became caught in significant traffic delays along the M1 approaching Tweed and Coolangatta.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk warned of lengthy delays and urged travellers to plan ahead.
"There will be delays at the border so think about your travel plans and think about where you need to go and think about the timing of those journeys," Ms Palaszczuk said.
I'm not making any apologies for those delays because our police have a very important job to do and I want to thank everybody for the work that they are doing on our boarders to keep Queenslanders safe."

Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police were well prepared ahead of the influx.
"We are in a position to be able to process them very effectively," he said.
"Our borders are working and I've listened with interest to some of the suggestions that are coming out there around what we should consider and in terms of how we do our borders."
Commissioner Gollschewski again touted the state's new alert system when it came time for people to renew their border declaration passes.
"Certainly those people that are coming out of the Greater Sydney hotspot, that have a border declaration pass will be getting push notifications telling them that there is changed circumstances and they need to update their passes," he said.
"That is just an example of some of the things we have done to try to streamline the system. High confidence there."

Earlier this morning a Queensland woman who travelled to a coronavirus hotspot was fined after she was busted allegedly lying at a Gold Coast border checkpoint while trying to get back into the state.

The woman was caught-out after police became suspicious while checking her border declaration pass as she entered the checkpoint in Coolangatta about 4am this morning.
"After the police did a very diligent job questioning the driver they became suspicious of her version," Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said.

On Wednesday, Greater Sydney was declared a hotspot effective from 1am tomorrow.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she had no prior warning of the decision. "There has been more outbreaks in other parts of Greater Sydney and that will now become a COVID declared hotspot taking effect from 1am on Saturday," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We have done this to ensure we give notice to Queenslanders who may want to return home.
"We are in extraordinary times at the moment and we have to do everything we can.
"Queenslanders should not be travelling to Sydney." Returning Queenslanders will be required to self-fund two weeks hotel quarantine when the new measures come into effect."

In the last 23 hour period NSW has recorded 21 new cases of COVID-19, with just two in hotel quarantine.
Health officials are yet to reveal the breakdown of the new cases and whether they are connected to existing clusters.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/woman-fined-for-checkpoint-claim-as-border-slows-to-crawl/ar-BB17ohPb

With Greater Sydney a declared coronavirus hotspot, what are the new rules for getting into Queensland?
From 1:00am on Saturday, Queensland closes its border crossing points to all of Greater Sydney, effectively preventing 5 million Australians from travelling into Queensland.

Given Victorians are already facing the same restrictions, this will mean a sizeable proportion of the nation's population is once more locked out of the sunshine state.

We've been contacted by a lot of people with questions about who can and can't enter Queensland — and how it will work.

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked border questions.

Who can come to Queensland?
The Queensland Government has already banned visitors from Liverpool, Fairfield and Campbelltown in New South Wales, along with all of Victoria.

As of 1:00am Saturday, that list of COVID-19 hotspots will further expand to include another 31 local government areas in and around the state capital (Greater Sydney, Paramatta and the Blue Mountains).

Queenslanders who've been in a COVID-19 hotspot are allowed to return, but will have to quarantine at a hotel at their own expense.

Non-Queensland residents who have been in one of these hotspots in the past fourteen days will be turned around at the border.

Few exemptions to this are being granted, but Queensland Health has spelt it out online.

Ultimately, if you live in Greater Sydney, are not an exempt person and want to come to Queensland, you will need to do so before the end of the day.

If you're driving, it's likely there will be severe delays at the New South Wales-Queensland road border, with cars displaying New South Wales registration plates likely to be intercepted.

If you miss that deadline, you'll have to spend a fortnight outside of any COVID-19 hotspots before you're permitted to enter.

Keep in mind, anyone entering Queensland (including Queenslanders) has to complete a border declaration pass before entering, which is valid for seven days.

Can I travel from Queensland to NSW?
Yes. The NSW border is not closed to Queensland and you don't need a permit or a pass to travel there.

But you will need to complete a border declaration on your way back into Queensland.

If you end up travelling into a COVID-19 hotspot, you'll need to declare it, then hotel quarantine at your own expense for a fortnight when you return.

Can FIFO workers enter Queensland from hotspots?
Short answer, likely no. Queensland Health says there are only a very small number of FIFO workers who will be classed as specialist workers.

Getting an exemption requires you to be a specialist worker, or a worker providing continuity of government services, infrastructure or utilities critical to Queensland.

You need to demonstrate those services cannot be obtained in Queensland, that the service must be provided without delay and that you must be physically present in Queensland to provide the service.

If in doubt, call Queensland Health on 134 268.

Can I move to Queensland?
We get it — life does look pretty great in the Sunshine State.

You're allowed to move to Queensland — provided you aren't moving from a hotspot.

If you live in a hotspot (Greater Sydney or Victoria) and want to move to Queensland, you need to apply to the Chief Health Officer for an exemption.

Can I fly to Queensland via Sydney?
If you're travelling from an area that is not a declared hotspot, directions from Queensland's Chief Health Officer say you can enter the state and don't have to quarantine — so long as you use private transport to travel directly to the airport and don't leave the airport or your vehicle while in Greater Sydney.

Similarly, you can enter Queensland if you're just transiting through a Sydney airport from another destination and don't leave the airport.

It's likely this is how two recent coronavirus cases entered Queensland flying from Melbourne via Sydney, with Queensland police alleging the women lied on their border declaration when entering Queensland.

Queensland's Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mander said the "honour system" of the border declaration needed to be tightened.
"We need to have more thorough examination of those declarations to determine whether people are telling the truth or not."

Can I visit Sydney residents in a different part of NSW?
You're technically allowed to do this, but must quarantine when you return to Queensland if you end up having contact with someone who has had COVID-19 in the past 14 days.

Queensland Health has strongly advised against travel to NSW for anything other than essential purposes, as further hotspots in NSW could be declared at any time.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Queensland Government would be monitoring developments in New South Wales closely but was ultimately waiting for evidence of further community transmission of coronavirus outside of the Greater Sydney area before considering a border closure to all of NSW.

Queensland expecting rush of Sydneysiders
Queensland is expecting a massive rush of people from Sydney today ahead of its border closure.
<< This is very hazardous as some of these Sydneysiders will likely be pre- or asymptomatic with Covid19 and this may cause a new wave of covid19 in QLD as they disperse all over the state ., similar to what happened in NSW when the Vic-NSW boarder was closed and when lockdowns were announced in Melbourne  added to the already started 2nd wave in NSW . >>
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-queensland-expecting-rush-of-sydneysiders/vi-BB17nKKU?ocid=msedgdhp

Tourism sector feels impact of ban of people from Sydney
Queensland's tourism sector is already feeling the impacts of the state's ban on people from Greater Sydney, which comes into place on Saturday.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/tourism-sector-feels-impact-of-ban-of-people-from-sydney/vi-BB17nSUT?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/brisbane/with-greater-sydney-a-declared-coronavirus-hotspot-what-are-the-new-rules-for-getting-into-queensland/ar-BB17nOKQ?ocid=msedgdhp



AFL fines Hawthorn, Carlton, North Melbourne and Richmond for coronavirus quarantine protocol breaches
Hawthorn was fined $50,000, with half of that amount suspended for the remainder of the season.

Carlton, North Melbourne and Richmond received $45,000 fines, $25,000 of which is suspended.

The Hawks' breach of the protocols occurred in Sydney last weekend, while Richmond, Carlton and North Melbourne were sanctioned for incidents while based in their Queensland hubs.

AFL General Counsel Andrew Dillion said there was no excuse for clubs committing protocol breaches.
"The protocols are in place to not only protect players, officials, staff, and now their visiting families, but also the wider community in which we have been given the opportunity to train and play," he said in an AFL statement. We all have to modify our behaviours in order for the competition to continue in a safe manner."

The Hawks were sanctioned for an incident that occurred during last Saturday's match against Sydney at the SCG where non-selected players entered a public area of the stadium.
"We are incredibly disappointed that we have breached the AFL protocols," Hawks president Jeff Kennett said.
"These protocols have been clearly outlined to all clubs and players, and we make no excuse for our breach.
"We expect much more of our players and the club, and we take full responsibility for the breach in question and accept the sanction which has been handed down.
AFL finalise penalties for COVID-19 breaches
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/afl-finalise-penalties-for-covid-19-breaches/vi-BB17nQ85?ocid=msedgdhp
Furious Eddie calls for removal of hub rule-breakers
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more-sports/furious-eddie-calls-for-removal-of-hub-rule-breakers/ar-BB17oi2l?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/more-sports/afl-fines-hawthorn-carlton-north-melbourne-and-richmond-for-coronavirus-quarantine-protocol-breaches/ar-BB17oSoX?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
31 july NT
NT declares Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan coronavirus hotspots for purposes of travel
Queensland cities Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan have been declared coronavirus hotspots for the purpose of travel to the Northern Territory.
From midnight on Friday, anyone travelling to the Northern Territory from these areas must enter two weeks of mandatory supervised quarantine at a government-approved facility.
The new hotspots join Victoria, Sydney, Eurobodalla Shire and Port Stephens on the NT Government's declared hotspot list.\

Queensland recorded one coronavirus case on Friday but Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the areas presented an "unacceptably high" health risk.
"While the numbers in Brisbane are still low, the Chief Health Officer has considered the data and advised that the risk of spread in these areas is unacceptably high," Mr Gunner said.
"These areas are a threat to the Territory, so our borders will close to them."
Earlier on Friday, a man was diagnosed with coronavirus during a flight to Darwin from Melbourne.

The man was informed of his positive diagnosis mid-flight and is now isolated at Royal Darwin Hospital.

The Northern Territory's borders remain open to arrivals from all other states and areas that are not zoned as hotspots.

The Northern Territory has recorded 33 cases of coronavirus.

On Friday morning, Northern Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles warned that "there will be more hotspots added" at a press conference.
Since the Northern Territory's borders reopened on July 17, nearly 19,000 people have arrived in the Territory — an average of 1,357 people every day.
Ms Fyles also flagged the Northern Territory's border controls and hotspot system could be in place for "possibly years".
NT Health Minister flags coronavirus border restrictions may stay in place for 'years'
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles has warned the Territory's strict border restrictions could be in place for "possibly years"

Anyone who enters the NT from a coronavirus hotspot — which includes Port Stephens, the Eurobodalla Shire, Victoria and Greater Sydney — must undergo two weeks of supervised quarantine upon their arrival at a personal cost of $2,500.

Ms Fyles said that in the two weeks since the NT reopened its borders, nearly 19,000 people have arrived in the Territory — an average of 1,357 people every day.

Ms Fyles said nearly 500 people were currently in mandatory quarantine in the NT: 400 in a former workers' village outside Darwin and 100 in Alice Springs.

The NT Election is scheduled for August 22, and the Territory is now in a caretaker period, which means the Government cannot make major policy decisions or enter into major contracts.

But Ms Fyles said NT Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie was monitoring the situation in Queensland and would be able to declare a new hotspot "at any time".
"If we need to add further hotspots for people to quarantine coming into the Northern Territory we will do so," Ms Fyles said.
"We're planning for this virus, or the risk of this virus to be in the Territory for at least another 12 months."

'There will be more hotspots added'
Ms Fyles warned Territorians against unnecessary interstate travel and said the NT's border restrictions could extend into the future, "possibly years".
"This is a reminder that coronavirus has not passed, is not passing," she said.
"I predict there will be more hotspots added where and when that will be, I don't know."

Since reopening borders on July 17, Ms Fyles said there had been an increase in testing, with more than 2,500 COVID-19 tests completed in the Territory this week alone.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the NT was carrying out about 400-500 tests a week, Ms Fyles said.
"We still have one diagnosed case in the Northern Territory, and that person remains in the care of the Top End Health Service and we wish them a speedy recovery."

Two arrested, seven more in isolation
To date, two people have been arrested for "falsely" declaring they had not been in a designated coronavirus hotspot upon their arrival in the NT.
"We have seen some people feel like they're above the law, but they've been caught," Ms Fyles said.

Northern Territory Police today launched a separate investigation into a suspected border control breach near Alice Springs.

In a statement, police said three men aged 26, 27 and 29, and a 28-year-old female travelled into the NT by road from Queensland on Monday, July 27.
Officers started investigating the group's previous movements after receiving a tip-off which indicated the men had travelled from a declared COVID-19 hotspot in the past two weeks.
All four people were found in Alice Springs and are now in isolation. Three others who had contact with the group in Alice Springs are also in isolation, and all seven have been tested for COVID-19.

Ms Fyles today announced the Government had created 100 new roles for 100 additional public health and environmental health officers, who would work with police at Territory airports and borders to ensure compliance with COVID-19 health measures.
To date, 31,473 compliance checks have now been completed and 146 fines issued.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nt-health-minister-flags-coronavirus-border-restrictions-may-stay-in-place-for-years/ar-BB17ouGG?ocid=msedgntp

In the NT, there's no legal requirement to physically distance outdoors to stop coronavirus spread
The Northern Territory is the only place in Australia where there is no legal requirement for people to physically distance when outdoors.

The NT's chief health officer Hugh Heggie revoked that order in June, prior to Darwin's Black Lives Matter protest and as contact sport returned.

But now the NT has opened its borders, will social-distancing laws be tightened again and why did they change in the first place?

Why is there no legal requirement to keep our distance?
In a COVID-19 direction dated June 11, Dr Heggie revoked the legal requirement for people in the NT to keep their distance while outdoors, and yesterday confirmed he was the only Australian chief health officer to do so.

"The Territory is the only jurisdiction to have removed the legal requirements in relation to outdoors physical distancing," he said.

The move came two days before Darwin's planned Black Lives Matter protest, but Dr Heggie said the direction had nothing to do with the event.

Instead, Dr Heggie said the timing related to stage three of the Territory's 'Road Map to the New Normal', which allowed contact sport to return from June 5.

"Had the directions for physical distancing outdoors not been revoked, anyone participating in sport would have been committing an offence," Dr Heggie explained.

"Changing the legal requirements around physical distancing outdoors was an important step in helping to normalise life in the NT. As I have said publicly on a number of occasions, the timing of the announcement was totally unrelated to the Black Lives Matter rally in Darwin."

Of course, Territorians are still being urged to keep 1.5m away from people they don't know at all times, in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

Indoors, it is slightly different.

Territory businesses need to lodge a COVID-19 Safety Plan before they can re-open. As part of that plan, businesses need to outline how they plan to make sure people are physically distancing.

These plans are legally enforceable, and businesses who don't stick to them can be fined.

Now borders are open, will the rules change again?
On July 17, the NT opened its borders, allowing most Australians to visit the NT and move freely without isolating first.

Anyone who enters the NT from a coronavirus hotspot — which includes Port Stephens, the Eurobodalla Shire, Victoria and Greater Sydney — must undergo two weeks of supervised quarantine upon their arrival at a personal cost of $2,500.

More than 16,000 people have crossed into the Territory since the NT reopened its borders and there are about 400 people in quarantine.

Dr Heggie was asked if the legal requirement to physically distance should return now interstate tourists were venturing north.
"Territorians must continue to observe the key principles which are good hand hygiene, physical distancing from people we do not know and staying home if we are showing symptoms as well as seeking a test if we are sick," he said.
"If we continue to apply these key principles we will continue to control the virus here in the Territory. If we do that there will be no need to reintroduce a legal requirement around physical distancing in public."

Territorians mingling with more people
Territorians are now interacting with, on average, 11.5 people a day who they don't live with — the highest rate of mingling in Australia. The Australian average is about eight people a day.

Dr Heggie says as long as Territorians keep following the "key principles" such as regular hand washing and being tested when sick, the NT will continue to control the spread of coronavirus
"The Northern Territory has been the most successful jurisdiction in the country in dealing with COVID-19," he said.
"Unlike other states and territories, we have had no cases of community transmission. Because of our success in dealing with the virus, Territorians have never had to endure the same levels of restrictions as people elsewhere in Australia.
"We have also been able to ease controls earlier than other states and territories which, naturally, has led to increased non-household contact."

Dr Heggie says the easing of controls has allowed Territorians and NT businesses to return to the new normal, but his team will keep monitoring the situation closely and will continue to base decision-making on the best available epidemiological evidence.

Until a vaccine becomes available, there is always the potential for the virus to spread, regardless of where people live, Dr Heggie says.
"Until we have a vaccine, our personal responsibility is to continue to apply the key principles," he added.

Prior to borders opening, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said one of his biggest concerns about coronavirus was "not if, but when" the NT recorded its next case.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/in-the-nt-there-s-no-legal-requirement-to-physically-distance-outdoors-to-stop-coronavirus-spread/ar-BB17nFLf?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/nt-declares-brisbane-ipswich-and-logan-coronavirus-hotspots-for-purposes-of-travel/ar-BB17prnx?ocid=msedgntp

Planes grounded due to coronavirus find new homes at Alice Springs airport facility
31july-nt-airliner-storage-BB17ogxt.jpg

Finding a place to park your car can be challenging, but for airlines around the world, finding a place to park their grounded aircraft is much more difficult.

Tom Vincent owns Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS), the only commercial aircraft storage facility in the Asia-Pacific region.
"Let's just say spots are definitely in demand," he said.
"As soon as extra spots for storage come online, there are aircraft filling those spots."

Alice Springs' dry climate makes it the ideal home for the business which aims to keep grounded aircraft in the best condition possible while airlines wait out the coronavirus pandemic.
"Lots of aircraft are stored in less ideal environments, dealing with humidity and corrosion," Mr Vincent said.

There are 44 aircraft currently in storage at the Alice Springs airport facility, with another 30 expected to land by the end of August.

Before the pandemic, APAS stored up to 18 aircraft at a time.

Yesterday, the NT Government announced it would invest a further $3.5 million in the storage facility, which Mr Vincent said would allow the company to store 100 aircraft by October.

This money is on top of a $1 million infrastructure grant the Territory Government provided to APAS earlier this year to help it expand.
"It's been a long time flying under the radar, we started in 2014," Mr Vincent said.
"Definitely we've seen a heighted demand, but on average though, through normal cycles, up to 8 per cent of the commercial fleet is stored at any given time."

Constant maintenance required
Mr Vincent said aircraft storage wasn't just about providing space for planes, it required constant maintenance in line with a number of international regulatory frameworks.

The aircraft are protected by a heat-resistant material to reduce cabin temperatures and protect against corrosion.

Once a plane has been set up for storage, it is subject to more than 100 maintenance checks in a 12-month period.
"It's a pretty complex job, huge volume of work and it keeps our engineers busy," Mr Vincent said.
"We have nearly 50 employees here full time maintaining the aircraft, ensuring they are in a condition where they can be returned to service, when we all desperately want to return to travel."

Mr Vincent said that number was expected to double as the facility's capacity increased.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner defended the Territory Government's $4.5 million investment, and said the industry would outlast the pandemic.
"I believe as people discover the quality of the work here in Alice Springs, this is a significant asset now, people do need their aircraft stored regularly, it's not just a coronavirus-related issue," Mr Gunner said.
"But obviously, right now more planes are grounded than are flying … once its proved up, lots of people will use it. This will be a facility that survives beyond coronavirus."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/planes-grounded-due-to-coronavirus-find-new-homes-at-alice-springs-airport-facility/ar-BB17obvy?ocid=msedgdhp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
1 AUGUST
1-AUG-TABLE.png


1aug-2nd-wave.png


1aug-australia-confirmed-daily-cases.png


DEMOGRAPHIC OF ALL AUSTRALIAN CASES
1aug-australia-confirmed-cases-demographics.png


DAILY CASES
1aug-daily-cases-by-state-1.png

1aug-daily-cases-by-state-2.png


AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY
1-AUG-australian-summary.png


HOSPITALS
1aug-hospitals.png


1-AUG-HOSPITALS-AND-ICU.png


DEATHS
1aug-australia-daily-deaths.png


DEATH DEMOGRAPHICS
1aug-deaths-by-demography.png


DEATHS BY CLUSTER
1aug-australia-deaths-by-cluster.png


AGED CARE
1-AUG-RESIDENTIAL-AGED-CARE.png
*
1-AUG-HOME-ASSIST-AGED-CARE.png
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
1 AUGUST VICTORIA

Victoria coronavirus cases rise by 397 with three deaths, community transmission a 'growing concern'
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says there is "growing concern" over community transmission of coronavirus, as the state records 397 more cases and three deaths.
Mr Andrews said the three deaths were a man in his 80s, a woman in her 80s and a woman in her 90s.
He said while 397 new cases was a reduction on the state's highest-ever daily tallies of 723 and 627, recorded in the past two days, the increase was still "very significant".
"While there is always a temptation to try and read trends into these numbers, there is a growing concern in relation to the number of community transmission cases within that data," he said.

He said in recent days, 49 cases had been recorded as "mystery cases" or community transmission, where health authorities could not track the "index case" where the chain of infection began.
"Forty-nine doesn't necessarily seem such a large number but 49 mysteries when it could be much more than that because you can't find who that original case was, that is a significant concern to us," Mr Andrews said.

He said of the 10,931 cases recorded since the pandemic began, at least 1,841 were cases where infection could not be traced back to the original source.
Mystery cases
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, says the rate of community transmission of coronavirus in the state is of growing concern, with 49 "mystery" cases detected in recent days.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/three-deaths-recorded-in-victoria-397-new-coronavirus-cases/vi-BB17rdL4?ocid=msedgntp


Victorian hospitals are treating 379 COVID-19 patients, 24 of whom are in ICU on ventilators.

2 of the 3 deaths recorded overnight are linked to the state's aged care outbreaks, which account for 1,008 active cases.

He said Victorian hospital nurses had covered 570 shifts across the state's aged care homes since they were brought in to help with infection control and resident care.
Australia's coronavirus fatalities reach 201 as Victoria records highest monthly death toll
1aug-hdifdw-melb-BB17r01r.jpg

High dependency infectious diseases ward in Melbourne, beds with non-invasive ventilation hoods
More than 200 people have died of coronavirus in Australia as the death toll continues to accelerate.
A man who was part of the Crossroads Hotel cluster in Sydney died overnight on Friday, while Victoria recorded three more deaths in the 24 hours to Saturday, taking the total to 201.

The latest deceased in Victoria were a man and woman in their 80s, and a woman in her 90s.

Premier Daniel Andrews said an increasing number of community transmission cases was causing concern.

There are currently 5,919 active cases of coronavirus in the state.

There are 1,075 cases among health workers, and the total active cases linked to the aged care sector is 1,008.

Mr Andrews says 379 patients were in hospital, 41 of whom were in intensive care.

It has taken Australia just five months to reach the grim milestone following the first coronavirus death of Perth man James Kwan on March 1.

That happened after the country's first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in January.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison activated the national coronavirus emergency plan in February.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/australia-s-coronavirus-fatalities-reach-201-as-victoria-records-highest-monthly-death-toll/ar-BB17r01v?ocid=msedgntp

The Premier also acknowledged that communication between families and residents in aged care homes battling outbreaks had been "by no means good enough", but said it was improving.

'Very detailed work' being done on further restrictions
Mr Andrews said today was "not the day" to announce any further restrictions, but the Government was "thinking through all those issues", including the significant cost of tougher measures.

He said what Victoria had done so far had prevented the state from dealing with thousands and thousands of new cases but "what we may be doing now may not be enough".
"We've got numbers that are too high, we've got every reason to believe that these current settings will not get the job done, that we'll need to do more," he said.
"We can't open up again at these sorts of levels and therefore there's very detailed work being done about what possible next steps might look like."

Why Victoria's coronavirus community transmission cases are causing concern
At Saturday's coronavirus briefing in Victoria, Premier Daniel Andrews stressed his "growing concern" over the rise in cases where authorities could not figure out how someone had caught the virus.
Classified by Victorian health authorities as "community transmission", they are cases where, despite the efforts of contact tracing teams over several days, or sometimes weeks, they can not trace the infection back to the "index case" or original source.
1aug-unknowns.png

Net daily change in the total number of locally acquired cases with an unknown source
Mr Andrews said 49 more such "mystery" cases had been added to the community transmission tally in the past day."49 doesn't necessarily seem such a large number but 49 mysteries when it could be much more than that because you can't find who that original case was, that is a significant concern to us," he said.

Of the 10,931 coronavirus cases recorded in Victoria since the pandemic began, 1,841 — about 17 per cent — have so far been classified as community transmission.
On Wednesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) afternoon update stated the number of probable community transmission cases was 1,418.

The next day, that had risen to 1,698, a jump of 280 cases, which suggested a large number of contact tracing investigations had been closed with the source of infection unknown.
And the number of cases classified as community transmission jumped by nearly 100 between Thursday and Friday.

Mr Andrews said one of the reasons these cases mattered so much was because when the infection couldn't be traced, it left open the possibility that somewhere, someone was unwittingly spreading the virus.
"That can mean there are many more than 49 out there that have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, they can be at the height of their infectivity, and be infecting other people unbeknownst to them," he said.
"That is the real challenge here. It is a silent enemy, it is a very cunning enemy as well."

It could be the main reason restrictions are tightened
And it's one of the reasons why the Government looks set to introduce further restrictions in Victoria beyond the six-week lockdown in Melbourne and the restrictions on visitors across the Geelong and Colac region.
Health experts have been poring over the state's coronavirus data, looking at population demographics to pinpoint where transmission needs to be driven down, in addition to already identified workplaces such as aged care homes, abattoirs and healthcare settings.

On Friday, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton acknowledged that tighter restrictions would create their own public health harm as they hit mental health, employment and businesses."These are impossible decisions in a number of ways," he said.

But on Saturday, Mr Andrews was clear: "Numbers are too high and there is a growing case for us to do more."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-01/victoria-coronavirus-community-transmission-cases-restrictions/12515190


Instead, he repeated a plea for all people to follow coronavirus restrictions.
"You need to think for a moment. Nurses and doctors and ambulance paramedics and others in our health team, they're stepping up and playing their part," he said.
"It's up to you to step up and play yours."

Aged care home outbreaks grow in number
In an afternoon update, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said there had been a number of coronavirus cases in six more aged care homes across Melbourne.

They are Uniting AgeWell in Kingsville, Twin Parks Aged Care Centre in Reservoir, Highwood Court Aged Care in Burwood, St Vincent's Aged Care in Eltham, Little Sisters of the Poor St Jospeh's Home in Northcote and Doutta Galla Yarraville Village.

The 10 biggest aged care outbreaks are the following:
St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner: 134 cases
Epping Gardens Aged Care: 118 cases
Estia's aged care home at Ardeer: 105 cases
Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth: 94 cases
Estia's aged care home in Heidelberg: 86 cases
Menarock Life's aged care home in Essendon: 63 cases
Glendale Aged Care in Werribee: 60 cases
Outlook Gardens aged care home in Dandenong North: 56 cases
Aurrum Aged Care in Plenty: 54 cases
BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee: 53 cases
Other key outbreaks include 184 cases linked to Al-Taqwa College, 134 cases linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown and 84 cases linked to JBS in Brooklyn.

Postcode data on Victorian hotspots released as restrictions loom
The Victorian Government is expected to announce further restrictions as soon as tomorrow after the revelation 1 in 4 people meant to be in self-isolation were not at home when doorknocked.

The Health Department also released new data overnight which breaks down the number of active coronavirus cases by postcode.There are 13 postcodes with more than 90 active cases, and 4 postcodes have more than 200 each.
https://prod.static9.net.au/fs/ec707fd3-57a1-4160-8a31-f743bd0bca63
The area with the highest number of active coronavirus cases is postcode 3029, which includes Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Truganina in Melbourne's western suburbs. It has 346 active cases.
The second hardest-hit was 3064 in Melbourne's north, including Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Donnybrook, Kalkallo and Mickleham, with 286 active cases.
The south-west town of Colac, postcode 3250, had the highest number of cases in a regional area, with 69 active infections. Most cases are linked to the Australian Lamb Company meatworks.

Previously the most detailed data available was broken down by local government area (LGA), but some LGA's contain dozens of suburbs.

Top 20 locations with highest number of active cases
3029 (Truganina, Tarneit, Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne) — 346 cases*
3064 (Melbourne, Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Mickleham, Kalkallo, Donnybrook) — 286 cases
3021 (St Albans, Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park) — 221 cases
3030 (Quandong, Cocoroc, Werribee, Point Cook, Werribee South— 217 cases
3023 (Caroline Springs, Deer Park, Ravenhall, Cairnlea, Burnside Heights, Burnside) — 177 cases
3076 (Epping and Epping Dc )— 146 cases
3020 (Sunshine West, Sunshine North, Sunshine, Albion) — 144 cases
3037 (Sydenham, Hillside, Delahey, Taylors Hill, Calder Park) — 119 cases
3031 (Kensington, Flemington) — 118 cases
3175 (Dandenong, Dandenong South, Dandenong North, Bangholme) — 112 cases
3024 (Wyndham Vale, Manor Lakes, Mambourin, Mount Cottrell, Fieldstone) — 94
3060 (Fawkner) — 91
3081 (Heidelberg West, Heidelberg Heights, Bellfield) — 79
3337 (Kurunjang, Melton, Harkness, Toolern Vale, Melton West) — 79
3250 (Colac, Elliminyt, Colac East, Colac West) — 69
3051 (Kunexion) — 68
3338 (Melton) — 66
3046 (Glenroy, Oak Park, Hadfield) — 65
3022 (Ardeer) — 64
3074 (Thomastown) — 60
* All data current at 9am August 1

New Zealand-style tightening of restrictions loom
Premier Daniel Andrews flagged "further steps" may need to be taken after the state recorded 627 new coronavirus cases on Friday, with the COVID-19 death toll rising by eight to 112.

During a call on Thursday night, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Mr Andrews discussed introducing tighter New Zealand-style lockdowns in Victoria to contain the escalating outbreak.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/postcode-data-on-victorian-hotspots-released-as-restrictions-loom/ar-BB17qRSA?ocid=msedgntp

Victoria's Muslim communities are celebrating a distanced three-day Eid al-Adha festival, which began on Friday, amid the pandemic. Usually a time for families to come together, Melbourne's Islamic community is encouraging one another to demonstrate the meaning of sacrifice tied to the festival by forgoing time with family.

Melburnians driving into regional Victoria to buy hamburgers, get 'fresh air'
Police Minister Lisa Neville said police were still encountering some people "blatantly" breaching health directives.
1aug-adf-and-vic-cops-on-patrol-BB17o5m0.jpg

ADF Medics and MPs on patrol with Vic Police in Melbourne

Ms Neville said recent examples included someone driving from Melbourne to Wodonga "to have a Big Mac", another person driving from Melbourne to Ballarat for "fresh air" and someone travelling across Melbourne from Werribee to Springvale for groceries. "Those people all received very stiff fines yesterday," she said.
"[That is] behaviour that is appalling and unacceptable and does need to stop. We all have a role to play in this."

Around 3,500 coronavirus cases are still under investigation by health authorities, which Opposition health spokesperson Georgie Crozier said highlighted a "shambolic" contact-tracing program.
"The reality is the contact tracing hasn't been done and the teams haven't been there. Victoria hasn't been prepared," she said, adding that she believed the public had lost confidence in the Government's ability to manage the crisis.
'Very serious and confronting': 360 of 397 new cases 'still under investigation'
Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed 397 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and three new deaths, bringing the state’s total virus death toll to 116.

The Premier said 37 of the 397 new cases were linked to known outbreaks and 360 were still under investigation.

He said there were 5919 active cases in the state, 379 in hospital, 41 in intensive care and 24 of those on ventilators.

Premier Andrews conceded the situation in the state’s aged care system was “very serious and confronting”, revealing there were now 1008 cases in aged care and 1075 among health workers.

The Premier also revealed 49 new cases were ‘mystery cases; cases where we cannot simply track back”.
“That can mean there are many more than 49 out there that have very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all who could be at the height of their infectivity and infecting other people unbeknownst to them,” he said.
<< most likely because these people are lying about their movements and contacts >>
“It is a very silent enemy and a very cunning enemy."
<< It is widely believed some covidiots are actively setting out to sabotage the performance of the mitigation measures because of
 Political reasons
 Because they want to see Victoria go for natural herd immunity >>

Premier Andrews said he could not rule out further steps being taken to curb the spread of the virus.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/very-serious-and-confronting-360-of-397-new-cases-still-under-investigation/ar-BB17qTzp?ocid=msedgdhp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/postcode-data-on-victorian-hotspots-released-as-restrictions-loom/ar-BB17qRSA?ocid=msedgntp#image=1
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/victoria-coronavirus-cases-rise-by-397-with-three-deaths-community-transmission-a-growing-concern/ar-BB17qY6p?ocid=msedgntp/quote]

Aged care catastrophe
46 deaths linked to aged care homes in Victoria
Professor Joseph Ibrahim is the Head of the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Monash University and he says there are 'clear failures' within the aged care sector.
Why are there are more COVID-19 cases in private aged care than the public sector?
The tragedy unfolding in Victoria's aged care homes, as coronavirus claims the lives of more older Australians, has prompted questions about the embattled sector.There are currently 928 active cases linked to aged care in Victoria, including residents, staff and close contacts.

There have been a total of 61 deaths to date tied to aged care in Victoria, including four of eight deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

Yet the overwhelming majority of infections have been in private and not-for-profit aged care homes, not public facilities.
There are just five active cases in one publicly run facility — Bill Crawford Lodge in Ballarat.

The private-public divide was thrust into the spotlight after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews responded to a journalist who asked whether he would want his mother in a private aged care home.

"Some of the stories we've seen are unacceptable and I wouldn't want my mum in some of those places," he said.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck described that as "a really unfortunate comment" and said the public versus private comparison was "a furphy".

So why are there more COVID-19 cases in non-government facilities, and is it a fair distinction to make?
One in 10 beds are state-run
One reason there are more coronavirus cases in private and non-profit aged care is that most residences in Victoria are not run by the state.
There are 800 aged care facilities in Victoria, comprising 56,000 beds.
Of those, 622 facilities are privately run and not-for-profits — regulated by the Commonwealth — and 178 are run by the Victorian Government.
About 10 per cent of all aged care beds in the state are publicly-owned.
Another key factor is geographical location.

The vast majority of aged care facilities in metropolitan Melbourne are run by the private and non-profit sector, whereas most of the state's aged care homes are in regional areas.
The majority of COVID-19 cases in Victoria are centred in the city — of the 10,577 cases recorded since the pandemic began, 595 are from regional Victoria.

Joseph Ibrahim, head of the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit at Monash University, told ABC Radio Melbourne that "a lot of public homes are in regional areas where the private providers will not go". Professor Ibrahim said many government-run centres often had older infrastructure with more shared rooms, which could foster transmission if the virus got in.
"So in a sense it doesn't make sense looking at just structure why those outbreaks would be greater in private, it makes sense when you look at the staffing and staffing qualifications," he said.

In Victoria, state-run facilities have mandated nurse-staffing ratios.

In high-care residential aged care wards, there needs to be one nurse to seven residents and one nurse in charge for the morning shift, and one nurse to eight residents in the afternoons with one nurse in charge.

On night shift, it's one nurse to every 15 residents.

Privately run centres don't have to abide by the same ratios, but Ian Yates, chief executive of COTA Australia — a peak advocacy body for older Australians — pointed out some institutions had enterprise agreements with nurse-to-resident staffing requirements.
"You will find that larger providers, whether they're not-for-profit or for-profit, do have ratios in their industrial agreements with the unions," he said."So they're not law in that sense, but they are actually requirements in their agreements with the unions."

Mr Yates warned staffing levels didn't always guarantee better quality of care, and said there were good and bad providers across all systems.

There were also fewer casuals hired in government-run centres, he added.

'Not a useful comparison'
Mr Yates said the bulk of aged care was run by non-profits who would object to being called "private". Many facilities were run by church organisations, he said, or Aboriginal health groups in remote areas.He said distinguishing the sector along private and public lines was "just not a useful comparison"."I know some major for-profits where the owners are investing heavily in the business to grow it and are producing quality outcomes, and are more transparent about what they're doing than some non-profits," he said.

Tim Hicks, policy and advocacy general manager at Leading Age Services Australia (LASA), a national association of aged care providers, said comparing state-run aged care facilities with non-state facilities was "unnecessary"."It has been disappointing and hurtful for many aged care providers and their dedicated staff who are working tirelessly around the clock to protect residents," he said in a statement this week.

He pointed out the state-run facilities made up a fraction of aged care providers in the city. "The Premier's comments about not wanting his own mother in some of the affected homes was unhelpful and will deepen fears, when local providers, state and federal authorities and the Australian Defence Force are working so hard to save lives," he said.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said he didn't "take to this concept of 'private aged care'"."It is aged care across the board, there is no difference between any form of facility as to the infection rate in Victoria at the moment," he said.

'The failures are at the senior level'
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Australian Defence Force had been sent in assist aged care centres, particularly supporting Epping Gardens in Victoria.

More than 200 residents have been evacuated out of aged care centres and into hospitals."Aged care around the country has been immensely prepared," Mr Hunt said, saying the Victorian outbreak was affecting a range of workplaces, including meatworks and schools.

Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT) nurses, who are normally sent to disaster zones overseas, arrived in Victoria on Thursday to help with the coronavirus response.

Joe Buffone, the executive leader of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre which has been set up at the State Control Centre, said they would support aged care facility owners to ensure residents were looked after.
"They will bolster our rapid intervention so that when we have these complex outbreaks that escalate quickly, we have the leadership team, the multidisciplinary team to help stabilise the situation," he said.

Professor Ibrahim said the aged care sector was not prepared to manage any crisis, and there were problems with operations that prioritised free-market principles and lacked accountability."So much has gone wrong it's difficult to put it in a sentence," he said.
"My fear is twofold — one, we forget how we got to this train wreck, and [two], once the train wreck is over, we don't investigate and look into it.
"The heart and soul of aged care sits with the workers and the nurses … the failures are at the senior level."
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/why-are-there-are-more-covid-19-cases-in-private-aged-care-than-the-public-sector/ar-BB17qNpI?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/46-deaths-linked-to-aged-care-homes-in-victoria/vi-BB17qXeG?ocid=msedgntp

Victorian coronavirus outbreaks in aged care homes swell as St Basil's in Melbourne evacuated
Health authorities are moving every resident from St Basil's aged care home into hospital in a bid to save lives and deliver better care, as the biggest aged care home outbreak in Victoria continues to spread.
The St Basil's home in Fawkner is now linked to 124 cases, including 78 residents, 35 staff and 11 other contacts.

The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, a joint state and federal task force, said the decision to fully evacuate the home was made after six staff brought in to help manage the outbreak were infected in recent days.
"The decision was made to transfer residents to hospitals due to a reduction in staff numbers at St Basil's," the centre said in a statement.
"Six staff at St Basil's have tested positive for COVID-19, and as a precautionary measure all staff have been instructed to be tested and self-isolate for a mandatory period."

Australia's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said the decision had not been made lightly and acknowledged there were risks with moving residents, particularly those with dementia."But it was felt that it was time that we do this for the safety of the residents," she said.
"It highlights the challenges we face in managing this outbreak. So it was staff that came to help in that difficult time 10 days ago and have now unfortunately tested positive."

Federal and state health teams are aiming to move the remaining 30 residents out of the home by the end of Friday.

There have been 94 outbreaks in aged care homes, which have been linked to 61 deaths.

The 10 active aged care outbreaks with the highest number of cases are the following:

St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner: 124 cases (78 residents, 35 staff and 11 other)
Epping Gardens Aged Care: 115 cases (76 residents, 22 staff and 17 other)
Estia's aged care home at Ardeer: 104 cases (49 residents, 53 staff and 2 other)
Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth: 87 cases (44 residents, 34 staff and 9 other)
Estia's aged care home in Heidelberg: 82 cases (23 residents, 44 staff and 15 other)
Menarock Life's aged care home in Essendon: 63 cases (19 resident cases, 25 staff and 19 other)
Glendale Aged Care in Werribee: 58 cases (29 residents, 20 staff and 9 other)
Outlook Gardens aged care home in Dandenong North: 55 cases (18 residents, 23 staff, 14 other)
BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee: 52 cases (27 residents, 25 staff)
Arcare's aged care home in Craigieburn: 45 cases (25 residents, 20 staff)
Professor McMillan said face masks and face shields were now being handed out to every aged care home in the state.She said additional training would be provided to ensure the personal protective equipment (PPE) was being properly used.

Families suffering regret and grief, isolated from parents
Australian Medical Assistance Teams (AUSMAT), usually deployed to overseas disasters, have been sent into at least two other aged care homes.
It comes as families with relatives in homes struck by outbreaks continue to struggle to support their loved ones and chase up information from overwhelmed workers.

John Jasinski said his 95-year-old father Stanislaw, a resident at Epping Gardens, was admitted to hospital on Friday after testing positive to coronavirus.
He said he spoke to his father over the phone on Sunday and could tell something was wrong, but staff told him "he's just got a bit of a cold"."That worried me from there on … the communication we had, it was so bad … this place will not pick up the phone," Mr Jasinski said.
Mr Jasinski became emotional when he described his regret at putting his father into the centre."I put him in January, I'm sorry I did it … now I could lose him," he said.

Heritage Care, which operates Epping Gardens, told families earlier this week that it had advocated for residents to be taken to hospital in the early stages of the outbreak.

Victorian health authorities have relied upon a "case-by-case" assessment of whether a resident who tests positive to coronavirus can be isolated and cared for in the aged care home, or must be transferred to hospital.

Menarock Life aged care and St Basil's are believed to be the only two aged care homes which have been entirely evacuated of residents due to coronavirus outbreaks.
Presbyterian Church describes 'crazy' evacuation at Kirkbrae aged care home after mounting coronavirus cases
1aug-Kirkbrae-aged-home-evac-12513102-3x2-xlarge.jpg

Key points:
Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes is one of six Victorian aged care homes at risk of losing Federal funding
The aged care watchdog has issued notices to six homes with Victoria's largest COVID-19 clusters
The watchdog wouldn't comment why only some aged care facilities with large clusters received notices
As ambulances arrived at Kirkbrae nursing home in Melbourne's outer east to evacuate residents this week, staff at the home asked the drivers a question: where, exactly, were they taking them?
Soon, there were barely even any staff left to ask the question.

The operator says that of about 140 workers, 41 tested positive for coronavirus and 97 were told to self-isolate, leaving only four remaining to care for about 80 residents.

The Kilsyth centre shut to visitors immediately after a staff member had a positive test confirmed on July 19.

Earlier this week, Eastern Health were brought in to help operate the centre, but were given little guidance about what to do.

"We were told there was no adequate handover," Colin Morrow, the head of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, which owns the home, told the ABC."But we were damned if we did and damned if we didn't. The department told us our staff had to isolate."

Eastern Health did not answer detailed questions about its involvement at Kirkbrae, but confirmed it had stepped in earlier this week after a request from the Victorian Government.

Premier concedes communication 'by no means good enough'
At a coronavirus briefing on Saturday, Premier Daniel Andrews acknowledged that some families of aged care residents who had been moved still did not know where their relatives had been taken.

But he said urgent efforts were being made by the federal and state governments to improve call centre issues and improve the situation."We're not worried about who runs aged care," he said, in reference to recent discussion over public and private homes.

Stay up-to-date on the coronavirus outbreak
Download the ABC News app and subscribe to our range of news alerts for the latest on how the pandemic is impacting the world
"We're just worried about those residents, their families and getting this job done." He said nurses were using phones and video calls to try to connect families."I think that's better today than it was. It's by no means good enough yet but we'll all keep working hard," he said.

Uncertainty over where residents were taken
Mr Morrow said the logic behind the evacuations was "crazy".

The home's 80 residents were all expected to be transported to hospital, but in the end, only 29 people were moved.
He said it had been difficult explaining to some families that they didn't actually know where their loved ones had been taken.
Some of those who had tested positive were evacuated, but others were taken from the home despite testing negative.

Three residents died, including one who passed away at the nursing home, but the evacuations have now stopped, and the cluster is deemed under control, despite 87 people being infected.
"I don't have more details about the resident who died at the home but it was very distressing, I know, for the team and for their family," Mr Morrow said.
37 Kirkbrae residents have tested positive to coronavirus.

Funding under threat
Kirkbrae is now one of six Victorian homes at risk of having Commonwealth funding removed unless they comply with wide ranging conditions imposed by the industry's quality watchdog.

This week, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission issued "notices to agree" to the operators of the aged care homes with the largest clusters in Victoria: St Basil's in Fawkner (124 cases), Epping Gardens (115), Kirkbrae (87), Menarock Life in Essendon (63), and Estia's homes in Ardeer (104) and Heidelberg West (82).
Under the notices, operators agree to a range of conditions, including appointing an eligible advisor, not admitting new residents, daily meetings with the commission until all positive cases linked to the centre are cleared, weekly written reports to the commission, and compliance with Victorian health authorities.
An Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment on why only some of the homes with significant clusters in Victoria had been issued with notices.
An ABC analysis has also found that one in three of the Victorian nursing homes with clusters of more than 50 cases were found to be non-compliant with at least one quality standard during their most recent audit by the commission.

Kirkbrae was "unable to demonstrate effective use of chemical restraint" after an audit in March this year found a resident had been subject to restraints without appropriate assessment and monitoring processes.

Glendale Aged Care, in Werribee, where there have been 59 cases, was found to not meet three of eight aged care quality standards following an audit last September.

The standards that were not met included ensuring residents had safe and effective personal and clinical care, demonstrating effective management of risk and minimising infection risks.

Baptcare in Wyndham, which has 52 cases, was subject to an audit on January 16 that resulted in a decision to issue a notice of non-compliance on February 17, but no further information was available about the assessment.
Total confirmed cases in Victoria As of yesterday, there had been 61 deaths and 1088 infections linked to the recent aged care outbreak, the vast majority of which were recorded in privately-operated homes.

73 aged care facilities were classified as having open outbreaks, meaning it had been less than 28 days since the last case entered isolation or was admitted to hospital.

In a submission to the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into the COVID-19 response, Aged Care Crisis, an independent community-based group, argued that the widespread privatisation of the aged care system resulted in worse outcomes for residents.
The submission was made in early July, before the crisis fully took hold in Victorian nursing homes.

Church leader prays for end to crisis
But given the recriminations that broke out between the Andrews and Morrison governments this week about who to blame for the bungled handling of some clusters, it provided a prescient recommendation: responsibility for the sector should be handed to the states, as had first been recommended after a wide-ranging review of the sector in 1982.
"Responsibility for management, oversight and regulation should be transferred from the Commonwealth to the states and funded like health care," submission authors Dr Michael Wynne and Lynda Saltarelli wrote.

Mr Morrow, who is also a pastor in Mildura, is praying for a way out of the crisis. And he is praying for our politicians
He recoiled this week when Mr Andrews said that he would not want his mother in some of the homes suffering outbreaks.
"People wanting to lay blame, my thought at the moment is: sort the problem first," he said."Then we can come back later and learn."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-01/presbyterian-church-describes-crazy-aged-care-covid-evacuation/12512968
'Dehydrated and malnourished' St Basil's aged care residents evacuated from facility
Residents living in a virus-affected aged care home have been found dehydrated and malnourished with potentially just hours to live.

A report revealed the conditions St Basil's aged care residents were exposed to before their emergency medical evacuation last night.

At least 30 people have been transferred from the facility to private hospitals for specialist care.

At least 10 aged care homes - including St Basil's - are now being investigated over concerns workers have been also put at risk while attempting to deal with coronavirus outbreaks.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/dehydrated-and-malnourished-st-basil-s-aged-care-residents-evacuated-from-facility/ar-BB17qroj?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victorian-coronavirus-outbreaks-in-aged-care-homes-swell-as-st-basil-s-in-melbourne-evacuated/ar-BB17oVPQ?ocid=msedgdhp

South Australian coronavirus vaccine candidate shows positive results in phase one human trials
1-AUG-STAGE-1-TRIAL-VACCINE-12515162-16x9-xlarge.jpg

COVAX-19 has shown positive results during phase one human trials in Adelaide
Key points:
A potential COVID-19 vaccine developed in Adelaide has been shown to be safe and to induce antibodies
The next stage of trials will include elderly patients in aged care homes
Victorian aged care homes have been the site of multiple devastating outbreaks

The vaccine candidate, COVAX-19, was developed by Adelaide-based company Vaxine, which has laboratories at Flinders University.
1-AUG-COVAX-12414886-3x2-xlarge.jpg


Volunteers between the ages of 18 and 65 in Adelaide have been injected with two doses of either COVAX-19 or a placebo in the phase one trial.

One of the volunteers for the phase one Adelaide trial was SA Best MP Frank Pangallo.
"I feel great — I had my second dose of the vaccine today and no side-effects for me," Mr Pangallo said on Friday.
"I'm really buoyed by the positive results."

Lead researcher Professor Nikolai Petrovsky said the vaccine candidate had been shown to be safe and to induce antibodies that attack the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. "We've had no major side-effects in any of the subjects," said Professor Petrovsky.

He said the vaccine had also shown positive results in trials on animals in the United States in protecting them from COVID-19 infection. "That makes us more confident that this is actually going to work and that we might have a successful vaccine on our hands," he said.
If the vaccine candidate passes subsequent trials, it could be ready by year's end, he said."We can now test the vaccine in nursing home patients and show that it's effective in inducing the right type of immune responses and hopefully, ultimately, show that it's effective in preventing them getting infected," Professor Petrovsky said.
"Based on the safety of the vaccine in that [phase one] group, we're now actually going into the elderly, which is very relevant given the problems we're seeing in Victoria."
Vaccine trials coming to aged care homes
The developers of the vaccine are offering their trial to Victorian aged care facilities, where COVID-19 has taken a devastating toll, among other facilities.
"Under our existing approval for our trials, there's no reason those trials can't be extended to Victoria," Professor Petrovsky said.
"We would just need to identify sites in Victoria that wanted to be part of the trial."

There have been 94 outbreaks of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 in Victorian aged care homes, linked to 61 deaths.
Those who have recovered from COVID-19 are also candidates for the phase two trial — which will also aim to test whether the drug might help prevent reinfection.

If the vaccine candidate also passes phase two, the final phase would involve testing on a large population with a high incidence of COVID-19 transmission overseas.

From there, Professor Petrovsky said, it would require approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration before becoming available for distribution in Australia.

Victorian aged care residents could be included in SA vaccine trials

Victorian aged care residents could be included in the next stage of a COVID-19 vaccine trial being developed in South Australia.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/victorian-aged-care-residents-could-be-included-in-sa-vaccine-trials/vi-BB17qEmW?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-01/sa-potential-coronavirus-vaccine-passes-first-phase/12514988
Coronavirus returns to Cedar Meats in Melbourne
There's been another case of coronavirus identified in a staff member at Cedar Meats, the abattoir at the centre of a previous Victorian cluster.
The company released a statement confirming the infection, in which it said all staff members were isolating and the meatworks at Brooklyn in Melbourne's west was closed for deep cleaning.
In April and May, the Cedar Meats facility was linked to 111 virus cases among workers and close contacts.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/coronavirus-returns-to-cedar-meats-in-melbourne/ar-BB17qwCx?ocid=msedgntp

Victoria considers NZ-style virus lockdown
Australia's coronavirus death toll has risen to 197 after eight more people lost their lives in Victoria where authorities are considering tougher restrictions.
Andrews refuses to rule out further restrictions across Vic
Tougher restrictions are in force for about 350,000 Victorians living south-west of Melbourne, as health authorities grapple with rising regional outbreaks.

Premier Daniel Andrews warned further restrictions were on the table as he announced a mask mandate for all Victorians, even those living in the state's regions.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/andrews-refuses-to-rule-out-further-restrictions-across-vic/ar-BB17qEoG?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/video/news/victoria-considers-nz-style-virus-lockdown/vi-BB17oJEc?ocid=msedgntp
 

kingofnobbys

BD.org Sicko
Original Poster
1 AUGUST NSW
1 death connected to Crossroads Hotel cluster , 17 new cases in NSW
In NSW, an 83-year-old man, who had COVID-19 linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster, has died.
He is the first person to die from the virus since an 80-year-old woman died on May 21. He is the 52nd COVID-19 fatality in NSW.
There have been 57 cases connected to the hotel in Sydney’s south-west. NSW Health said the man died early this morning and extended condolences to his family.

The woman who died in May was the 50th death. Following that, however, an earlier death of an 85-year-old man in April was reclassified as COVID-19-related in late June, bringing the previous total to 51.

The health authority has reported 17 new cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday. 2 cases attended the Apollo restaurant, bringing the Potts Point cluster to 24.

NSW has now recorded 3,567 confirmed cases.
NSW Department of Health has announced 17 new cases in Sydney overnight.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/one-death-connected-to-crossroads-hotel-17-new-cases-in-nsw/vi-BB17qWjX?ocid=msedgntp
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/sydney/man-83-dies-from-covid-19-after-being-infected-from-crossroads-hotel-cluster/ar-BB17qQLV?ocid=msedgdhp

Sydney's The Australian Club closed after worker tests positive to coronavirus
The nation's oldest and most exclusive private gentlemen's club has been forced to close for deep cleaning.
Sydney's The Australian Club was closed after a staff member tested positive for coronavirus. A spokesperson said management made the decision out of an "abundance of caution".
The worker was at the club on Monday, July 27 after visiting the Apollo Restaurant in Potts Point, the centre of the suburb's coronavirus cluster.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/sydney/private-gentlemen-s-club-closed-after-worker-tests-positive-to-coronavirus/ar-BB17qPcP?ocid=msedgdhp

Masks recommended in Sydney transmission hotspots
New venues in Crows Nest, Cabramatta and Surry Hills have been linked to COVID-19 clusters as six mysterious cases remain under investigation in NSW.
CHO and NSW Premier are recommending wearing masks when away from home if it’s not easy to social distance.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/masks-recommended-in-sydney-transmission-hotspots/vi-BB17qVbc?ocid=msedgntp

Emergency 500-bed hospital to deal with coronavirus patients planned for Sydney's Olympic Park might be dusted off.
Leaked plans show NSW health authorities prepared for a coronavirus worst-case scenario with a makeshift hospital at Sydney's Olympic Park.

The plans, obtained by the ABC, show the detailed layout of the makeshift facility. The building, known as The Dome, and Exhibition Hall 4, at Sydney Showgrounds, would be turned into a 552-bed ward.
The two buildings, which are attached, would have a long corridor running through the middle, and dozens of beds on each side for patients. Stage one of the plans would see 264 beds created, while stage two would add another 288 beds.

But the hospital was never needed.
"In the event of a major increase in cases, NSW Health has undertaken planning to ensure it is able to respond as quickly as needed," it said in a statement.
"NSW Health put in place plans to increase capacity in public hospitals, increase capacity in private hospitals, and considered locations for temporary hospitals.
"The latter was not pursued as projected bed capacity was already achieved in existing public and private hospitals," it said.

The plans look similar to photographs from 1919, when Spanish Flu gripped Australia, and prominent buildings were converted into hospitals.
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, which leases the land and buildings, confirmed it was approached by NSW Health about the contingency plans in March when "the situation was unknown". But it said it had since not had discussions about the plan.

Despite the recent increase in community transmission in NSW, it is understood the plans for the showgrounds are still on ice, as they were created for worst-case scenario in the early days of the pandemic.
"We are preparing our public hospitals to have additional intensive care and bed capacity, and have partnered with the private hospitals to ensure that they are available to provide services to support the public system," NSW Health said.
"NSW is working toward capacity of around 2,000 ICU beds, currently there is capacity of well over 1,500," it said.

The Dome is described as a "spectacular timber structure" on its website, and has space for a 6,000-person cocktail party.
It is air conditioned, and usually used for events including hosting stalls during the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
<< Being airconditioned and very open it’s probably a very poor choice for treating covid19 patients , but might be more suitable for overflow of non-covid19 patients if the major Sydney hospitals and region hospitals were overwhelmed >>
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/emergency-500-bed-hospital-to-deal-with-coronavirus-patients-was-planned-for-sydney-s-olympic-park/ar-BB17qD8a?ocid=msedgntp

Breaches
Melbourne resident fined for travel to NSW border to 'buy a Big Mac'
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville has revealed a police fine was issued on Friday to someone who had flouted coronavirus laws by travelling from Melbourne to Wodonga - at the NSW border - to buy a Big Mac.
Man fined after driving 300km 'for a Big Mac'
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/melbourne-resident-fined-for-travel-to-nsw-border-to-buy-a-big-mac/ar-BB17raoW?ocid=msedgdhp

Police officer punched by man with outstanding warrants at NSW-Victoria border crossing
Police say an officer was punched at a NSW-Victoria checkpoint by a man who provided false information while trying to cross the border on Saturday morning.
NSW Police said 3 police officers and 2 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel were manning a border crossing at Federation Way at Corowa when a car with 3 people on board was stopped about 4:50am this morning.

Authorities said the 22-year-old female driver and a 25-year-old female passenger in the front seat had valid permits and ID, but a 21-year-old man in the back seat "provided false information".
Officers said checks on the man revealed he had seven outstanding warrants, including a revocation of parole warrant.
He attempted to run from the vehicle and allegedly punched a senior constable in the face and knocked him to the ground. Police and Defence Force officers arrested the man after a short struggle.

He was taken to Corowa Hospital after authorities found drug paraphernalia in the car and was concerned about "the effects of suspected drug ingestion". The driver was given a roadside drug test and returned a positive result for methamphetamine. She had her license suspended for 24 hours, with further action pending after a secondary test.

NSW Police said it was waiting for the 21-year-old man to be released from hospital. The senior constable was treated for facial swelling and bruising before being released from hospital.
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/police-officer-punched-by-man-with-outstanding-warrants-at-nsw-victoria-border-crossing/ar-BB17reNo?ocid=msedgdhp
 

Members online

Latest resources

Latest posts

Latest profile posts

I miss you so much, Amaris 💔
What is a quick way to warm up a cold beardie? His heating element went out overnight and now he's very cold.
Pearl Girl wrote on moorelori1966's profile.
i feel so sad reading your about me 😢
Clapton is acclimating okay I think. He's quick as lightning so I'm not sure how much I should bring him out of his house yet. He's not at all interested in his salad though. I wonder if I should change what I'm giving him. Least he's eating his crickets.

Things to do:
Buy calcium powder
Material to raise surface for basking spot
Scenery decals for back of tank

Forum statistics

Threads
155,899
Messages
1,255,687
Members
75,965
Latest member
williamyoung
Top Bottom