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

[kingofnobbys]

12 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 210 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 35 < Pt2 NSW >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

12 January 2022 NSW

To Monday 10 January across NSW, 95.1 % of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.7 % have received two doses.
Of the people aged 12 to 15, 81.6 % have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.1 % have received two doses.
Of people aged 5 to 11, 1.8 % have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Immunocompromised and have had your 3 primary doses of a COVID-19 vaccine? You can now get a booster 4 months after your third dose.
From 31 January, the booster interval will change to 3 months after your third dose.


NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 21 people with COVID-19;
17 men
and 4 women.

7 of these deaths have been included following the conclusion of coronial investigations – four since 23 December 2021, one from September 2021 and two from October 2021.
1 person was aged in their 30s,
1 person was aged in their 40s,
2 people were aged in their 50s,
4 people were aged in their 60s,
6 people were aged in their 70s,
4 people were aged in their 80s,
2 people were aged in their 90s
and 1 person was aged 100+.

Of the 21 people who died;
12 were vaccinated,
8 were not vaccinated
and 1 person had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

4 people were from south western Sydney,
4 people were from the Northern Beaches,
4 people were from south eastern Sydney,
1 person was from Inner Sydney,
2 people were from western Sydney,
2 people were from the Newcastle area,
2 people were from the Wollongong area
and 2 people were from northern Sydney.

NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones.

There are currently 2,242 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 175 people in intensive care, 54 of whom require ventilation.

There were 134,411 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day's total of 71,325.
NSW recorded 34,759 new cases of COVID-19 detected by PCR testing in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. As increasingly people follow NSW Health's advice to use rapid antigen tests for diagnosing COVID-19, the number of PCR tests will underestimate the true number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

118 COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 535,836.
Of the 34,759 cases reported to 8pm last night,
7,350 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD),
5,394 are from Western Sydney LHD,
3,911 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD,
3,410 are from Hunter New England LHD,
3,237 are from Northern Sydney LHD,
2,522 are from Sydney LHD,
2,169 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD,
1,345 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD,
1,054 are from Central Coast LHD,
962 are from Northern NSW LHD,
809 are from Western NSW LHD,
681 are from Murrumbidgee LHD,
467 are from Southern NSW LHD,
452 are from Mid North Coast LHD,
37 are from Far West LHD
and 959 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

MADATORY TO REPORT POS RARTs = NSW, Australia, to report all positive rapid antigen test (RAT) or face a $1,000 fine.

State premier Dominic Perrottet has said it is mandatory to report a positive rapid antigen test (RAT) and there will be a $1,000 fine for those who fail to report their positive RATs result.

Perrottet said anyone that has tested positive since 1 January will need to register their positive test.

“This health order has been signed off this morning and in terms of enforcement if someone fails to register a positive rapid antigen test there will be a $1,000 fine and there will be a grace period”, the premier said.

NSW PCR POSITIVITY = 25.86%

GREATER SYDNEY LHAs & SATELLITE LHAs

G-SYDNEY PCRs only

SATELLITES PCRs only

HNE LHD
12/1/2022 HNE
3,410 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England region.
There are 27,168 active cases in the District.
101 active cases are being cared for in our hospitals, 10 are in ICU.

Of the 3,410 recorded cases:
- 828 are from Newcastle LGA +
- 680 are from Lake Macquarie LGA+
- 488 are from Maitland LGA++
- 322 are from Port Stephens LGA+
- 309 are from Mid Coast LGA+
- 211 are from Tamworth Regional LGA+
- 204 are from Cessnock LGA ++
- 72 are from Inverell LGA*
- 70 are from Moree Plains LGA*
- 57 are from Singleton LGA +++
- 39 are from Gunnedah LGA**
- 36 are from Armidale Regional LGA++++
- 33 are from Muswellbrook LGA+++
- 25 are from Dungog LGA+
- 13 are from Upper Hunter LGA+
- 7 are from Uralla LGA++++
- 6 are from Liverpool Plains LGA**
- 5 are from Narrabri LGA**
- 2 are from Glen Innes LGA*
- 2 are from Walcha LGA++++
- 1 is from Gwydir LGA**

HNE are reporting the death of 2 men from the Hunter region.
A man in his 80s from the Port Stephens area
and a man in his 50s from the Lake Macquarie area.

TOTAL FOR HNE = 45672

WNSW LHD

12/1/2022 WNSW

Confirmed cases remain high across the region but it's likely there are more undiagnosed cases. Regardless of the confirmed number in your town, plan what your COVID-safety measures are and practice them at all times.
From 12 January, you can report your positive Rapid Antigen Test via the Service NSW app. If you don't have access to the app, you can report results on the Service NSW website or call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Do not attend a service centre.
Get your vaccinations. Wear a mask indoors. Wash and sanitise your hands frequently. Practice physical distancing and avoid crowds or gatherings where you are aren't able to. Use QR codes. Be particularly careful around older people, or people with health conditions.
Plan ahead - have a plan ready for if you, or someone in your household, needs to self-isolate with COVID-19, or while waiting for test results.
Many roads and bridges remain cut off or damaged and impassable even by 4wd and 6wd vehicles by recent floods and many hamlets, towns and settlements remain flood isolated.

Up to 8pm last night there were 809 new cases identified in the Western NSW Local Health District, in the following local government areas (LGA):
Bathurst - 210 (inc 71 Kelso)*
Blayney - 18 (inc 4 Milthorpe)*+++
Bogan – 2*+
Bourke – 2++
Brewarrina - 11 ****
Cabonne - 17 (inc 4 Molong)
Cobar – 5*+
Coonamble – 12+
Cowra – 21*+++
Dubbo - 249 (inc 13 Wellington)+
Forbes – 12+++++
Gilgandra – 12+
Lachlan - 5 +++++
Mid-Western - 6 (inc 4 Mudgee, 1 Gulgong)+++
Narromine – 19*+*
Oberon – 7*
Orange – 128*+++
Parkes – 33***
Walgett – 14++++
Warren – 4*+
Warrumbungle - 19 (inc 13 Coonabarabran)+
Weddin - 3 (inc 2 Grenfell) *+++

TOTAL FROM WNSW = 8766

OTHER REGIONAL NSW (PCR ONLY)

 

[kingofnobbys]

12 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 210 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 35 < Pt3 VIC >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

12/1/2022 VIC
VIC recorded 40127 new +ve PCRs & RATs, VIC local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE is now 465126 cases.
VIC recorded 21 delta deaths..

Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in Victoria as it is in NSW.

Density limits are in place in Victoria .
Vic Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported.


VIC PCR POSITIVITY = 35.2%

CALC EFFECTIVE VIC POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 21693
+VE RATs = 18434
+VE PCRs = 0.352x21693 = 7636
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 18434 + 7636 =26070
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 21693 + 18434 = 40127
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 26070/ 40127 = 65.0 %

VIC LOCAL DAILY BACKDATED RAT CASES

3 doses (18+): 18%
2 doses (12+): 93%
Doses yesterday: 24,547
Doses total: 5,188,774

Hospital: 946
ICU: 112
Ventilated: 31
Lives lost: 21

New cases: 40,127
(Rapid antigen test cases: 18,434
PCR test cases: 21,693)

PCR tests: 61,630
Active cases (all): 209,715
VIC Cases over the past 14 days by LGA

Metro: 174864
Regional: 22615

Top HOTSPOT LGAs:
Casey: 12733
Melbourne: 10865
Wyndham: 10206
Brimbank: 10177
Hume: 8136
Melton: 7380
Moreland: 7007
Whittlesea: 6645
Greater Dandenong: 6619
Port Phillip: 6141
Monash: 6035
Stonnington: 5974
There are 946 COVID-19 cases in hospital in Victoria – with 69 active cases in ICU and 43 cleared cases in ICU, and 31 people on a ventilator.

5,188,774 vaccine doses have been administered by Victoria’s state-commissioned services, with 24,547 administered yesterday at state-run centres.

94.6 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over have now had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 93.1 per cent have had two doses. This excludes the most recent Commonwealth data.

18.6 per cent of Victorians aged 18 and over have had three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Victoria was notified of 40,127 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. This includes:

18,434 who tested positive on a Rapid Antigen Test and who reported the result to the Department
21,693 who returned a positive result on a PCR test
Of those who reported a positive result on a Rapid Antigen Test yesterday:

Approximately 50 per cent were from tests undertaken yesterday, 11 January.
Approximately 20 per cent were from tests undertaken 10 January.
With the remainder from tests undertaken over the previous five days.
Sadly, the Department was notified yesterday of 21 deaths of people aged in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s. This brings the total number of deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 1,614.

Of today’s 21 deaths, ten were recorded as occurring in the last two days. Two occurred in late December. Deaths are reported to the Department by different sources including VICNISS, the Victorian Death Index, and Local Public Health Units.

There are 209,715 active cases in Victoria.

61,630 PCR tests were processed yesterday. The total number of PCR tests performed in Victoria since the pandemic began is 18,139,076.
If you test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test you must report your result to the Department of Health.
Tell us your result online at http://coronavirus.vic.gov.au/report
or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. For translations, call the hotline number and press 0.
More vaccinators
The Victorian Government will train up to 1,000 new vaccinators, helping first-year health students, retired nurses and more join an expanded workforce to be deployed across state-run centres and boost our vaccination efforts.


VIC LOCAL DAILY PCR CASES

CODE BROWN IN VIC = Victoria faces healthcare worker crisis
Victoria’s health system is under significant pressure with 6,600 health staff unable to work due to COVID-19.
Case increases have seen more healthcare workers forced to isolate after contracting the virus or being identified as a close contact.
The government has warned individual hospitals could call a code brown as it looks at whether a system-wide approach is needed to address some of the issues.

 

[kingofnobbys]

12 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 210 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 35 < Pt4 QLD >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 QLD

QLD recorded 22069 +ve PCRs & RATs , QLD local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 137227 cases.

QLD recorded 0 delta deaths..

QLD PCR POSITIVITY = 31.39%

CALC EFFECTIVE QLD POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 18084
+VE RATs = 3985
+VE PCRs = 0.3139x18084 = 5677
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 3985 + 5677 = 9662
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 18084 + 3985 = 22069
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 9662/ 22069 = 43.8 %

QLD LOCAL DAILY CASES

The Gold Coast LHD is QLD's worse Omicron Hotspot.

Queensland paramedics group calls for more resources amid Omicron TSUSAMI.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has dismissed claims that the executive of the state's ambulance service is "missing in action" as one paramedic group warns the service is "on its knees" amid the Omicron wave.

The Australian Paramedic Association Queensland branch on Tuesday criticised the Queensland Ambulance Service leadership team, demanding Commissioner Craig Emery return from a month's leave early.

In a letter published on Tuesday, the APA claimed that the ambulance service was "on its knees" with paramedics working shifts in excess of 12 hours, asked to cancel leave, attend call-outs alone, and deal with PPE shortages at stations.

APA executive Kim Fazackerley told ABC Radio Brisbane that there had been wait times of up to six hours for urgent ambulance call-outs and up to 18 hours for less urgent calls.
"What we're hearing from paramedics on the front line is that shifts are going unfilled, they cannot get their breaks on shifts, they're going 12 hours without any sort of meal break or rest pause break," he said.
"We need more resources on the front line to help deal with this pandemic."

Mr Fazackerley said the APA wanted Mr Emery to cut short his leave and return early to give paramedics leadership and transparency through the coming weeks, and recruit student paramedics and more qualified paramedics to fill the gaps.

'Not adequately resourced'
United Workers Union national ambulance coordinator Fiona Scalon said that while the "optics are not great" for Mr Emery to be on leave, he "has been available whilst on leave, taking any of our calls during this period and doing what needs to be done".
"We're less concerned about the person sitting in the top job and more concerned with advocating for more resources in ambulance and health needed on the ground now," she said.
"The health system is not adequately resourced; it was already struggling and now this extra layer we've seen with COVID is really putting things under pressure."

Ms Scalon said the union had been warning authorities for 18 months that the system needed more resources.
"Ambulance staff are well prepared in what is being described as a rolling multi-casualty incident, but what we know is the system is struggling," she said.
"Our members are tired and feeling the strain, with the peak not due until late January to mid-February and having worked in surge conditions for the past year and a half with the way the health system has been coping."

Palm Island authorities desperate to evacuate aged care residents as COVID cases climb.North Queensland Aboriginal community is desperate to evacuate its vulnerable residents and is pleading with state and federal governments to help as local COVID-19 cases climb to more than 50.

Palm Island Mayor Mislam Sam said the council wanted nine aged care residents to be temporarily relocated to Townsville while case numbers increased.
"The water is rising fast," he said.
"We need to evacuate them off the island as quick as possible because we've had a number of [aged care] staff that have tested positive to the virus.
"It's a matter of time before the worst-case scenario happens."

Palm Island recorded its first six cases of the Omicron variant less than a fortnight ago while vaccination rates were sitting < 50% .

Cr Sam said he had been in discussions with the Townsville District Disaster Management Group since New Year's Eve about the situation but said he felt help was unlikely.
"To say I'm confident is definitely not the case," he said.
"We will continue to ask the questions for assistance."

Queensland's Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she was aware of the issue, but as the home was a council-run facility, it was a matter for the federal government.
"I understand the Commonwealth are working with them to possibly be able to relocate them to another private facility at the moment," Ms D'Ath said.
"I'm just not sure what the plan is from the Commonwealth perspective to support these aged care facilities."

Federal Member for Herbert Phillip Thompson said the federal health minister had been informed of the issue.
"I've spoken with Minister [Greg] Hunt's office, and I understand his department is working with Queensland Health in discussion with the facility to explore options to relocate residents," he said.

Housing challenge
Cr Sam said overcrowded accommodation was another challenge during the Omicron wave.
"Some of the local health care workers said they found one house that had 17 residents staying in it, and all unvaccinated," he said.

While case numbers were currently at 56, Cr Sam said with housing arrangements, he felt certain there were "hundreds" of residents infected.

Low vaccination uptake had also been a concern for the duration of the pandemic despite a door-to-door service offered.
"[We] have to try and convince them to all get vaccinated," he said.

On January 8, Palm Island was sitting at 47.7 per cent fully vaccinated, lagging the state's current average of 88 per cent, double dosed.
"We would like to get to 100 per cent, but we just have to keep progressing," Cr Sam said.

Queensland's Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said he was concerned about the vaccination rates in some First Nation communities.
"We are actively pursuing measures to increase the rates," he said.

Infections rising
On Palm Island, Cr Sam said they were bracing for more COVID-19 cases, with Queensland projected to reach its peak of the Omicron outbreak during the last week of January or early February.
"We're just taking it day-by-day," Cr Sam said.

The council was so concerned about an outbreak, a temporary morgue was set up on the island earlier this month.

Palm Island police officer-in-charge, Senior Sergeant Dave Rutherford, said rapid antigen testing was offered to travellers at the ferry, barge station, and airport.
"The main intent is to give the opportunity for people who aren't residents to test before they get here," he said.

Senior Sergeant Rutherford said he felt those measures were easing residents' concerns of cases arriving undetected.

Senior Sergeant Rutherford said there had been no issues with the community adhering to social distancing, mask-wearing, and quarantine requirements despite low vaccination rates.
"COVID coming to our community has made it even more real," he said.

 

[kingofnobbys]

12 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 210 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 35 < Pt5 WA & SA >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 WA

WA recorded 5 +ve PCRs , WA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 79 cases.
WA recorded 1 INTL case.
WA recorded 1 MYSTERY LOCAL case.
WA recorded 0 delta deaths..

WA PCR POSITIVITY = 0.1%

Western Australia may have undetected community COVID-19 transmission after a woman contracted the virus from an unknown source.
Authorities are investigating where the woman may have been exposed to the virus and genomic sequencing is underway to determine the variant.
"The woman was infectious in the community but did not attend work and there are likely a limited number of potential exposure sites," WA Health said on Wednesday.
"Exposure sites will be released as soon as possible, once confirmed."

A second local case reported on Wednesday is connected to a cluster of cases involving an infected security guard at Perth's Hyatt hotel.
This person has been in quarantine throughout their infectious period.

WA is the only state or territory yet to experience significant spread of the Omicron strain, although the McGowan government's plan to reopen borders from February 5 means it is only a matter of time before such an outbreak occurs.

4 new local cases were announced on Tuesday, including a person believed to have been infected with the Omicron variant while in the community.

The person, identified as Case 1244, had close contact with a confirmed Omicron case who recently returned from Tasmania.

They subsequently spent several days in the community in Perth, with genomic sequencing expected to confirm they have the Omicron strain.

"There's a strong possibility there's been community spread of Omicron," Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson told reporters on Tuesday.

"This is just part and parcel of managing a really aggressive strain of this virus."

Case 1244 travelled to the airport on January 2 to pick up a family member who had returned from Tasmania.

They are believed to have worn a face mask at the airport and followed all other rules.

Perth's supermarket shelves were noticeably bare on Wednesday after Coles introduced national purchasing limits on some items.

WA has categorised Northern Territory to "extreme risk" status from Thursday (same status as NSW, Vic, Tas, ACT, SA, and QLD), meaning travel to WA from anywhere in Australia will be blocked except under extraordinary circumstances. <== WA is effectively ISOLATED from ALL of EASTERN & CNTL Australia to preserve WA's flourishing economy , their CovidZERO status and to give WA time to get max primary and booster jabs into arms and to get as many 5-11yr olds vaxxed.


The West Australian Government has launched a new COVID app which combines proof of vaccination and QR codes.The app also contains the state G2G system which is required for all domestic arrivals.

Service WA has already been downloaded over 6,000 but will not replace SafeWA.
The app will also provide information to assist residents when interstate borders open.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 SA

SA recorded 3715 +ve PCRs , SA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 50044 cases.

SA recorded A ALL TIME HIGH 7 delta deaths..

SA PCR POSITIVITY = 19.2%

CALC EFFECTIVE SA POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 19398
+VE RATs = 737
+VE PCRs = 0.192x19398 = 3724
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 737 + 3724 = 4461
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 19398 + 737 = 20135
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 4461/ 20135 = 22.2 %

SA Reff = 1.15

SA LOCAL DAILY CASES

'Hybrid' school return for SA students.
Some South Australian students will return to the classroom on schedule with others to learn online for at least two weeks under changes for the new school year. Under the plan, influenced by the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases, schools will open on schedule on January 31 for children of essential workers and for students considered vulnerable.
tudents in reception, years 1, 7, 8 and 12 will then return on February 2 with other years resuming face-to-face learning from February 14.

Students facing the longer delay will learn online for the first two weeks of term one.

Premier Steven Marshall said a range of options was considered but the strong advice from education officials supported the "hybrid" model.
"We know there was always going to be disruptions for the start of term one," Mr Marshall said on Thursday.
"We want to get as many people into the classroom as possible but we've also got to be mindful of making sure it's safe for students, for our staff and, more broadly, the entire state," he said.
"The reality is there were no easy solutions. There was no simple, clear-cut way of doing this.
"This is a solution which gets the balance right."

Mr Marshall said SA did not intend to close schools should there be infections among staff or students.

The changes for the school year came as SA reported another 3669 new COVID-19 infections and four more deaths, two men in their 80s and two women in their 70s.

The latest deaths take the toll since the start of the pandemic to 30 while SA has 32,516 active infections.

SA Health said 225 people were in hospital with the virus, including 26 in intensive care and seven on ventilators.

Mandatory RAT +ve Reporting in SA .
Also on Thursday, South Australia introduced new rules for close contacts of cases to have rapid antigen tests rather than a PCR swab.
Anyone who tests positive will be required to report the result through an online system, and failure to report could result in a $1000 fine.
Mr Marshall on Wednesday said mandatory reporting was about getting as much real data into the system as possible to help model the likely trajectory of the current outbreak.

That latest modelling is due to be released on Friday.
Close contacts will be provided with two free RATs which they should use on days one and six while isolating.
The tests will initially be provided through one site established in the Adelaide parklands but more locations will follow. The parklands site has the capacity to handle about 13,000 people a day and quickly attracted a long queue on Thursday.

Limestone Coast medical chief warns health system starting to 'buckle' amid climbing COVID cases.
Limestone Coast Health Network executive director of medical services, Dr Elaine Pretorius, previously warned the health system could become overrun if COVID cases continued to double in the Limestone Coast.

She said she believed the number of cases was far higher than what was being reported on the Limestone Coast.

Figures show there are now nearly 1,500 active COVID cases across the Limestone Coast, which has been a popular destination for tourists in recent weeks.
"The numbers have dropped but I'm not convinced the numbers are correct," Dr Pretorius said.
"I think there has been far less testing than there was before. We also aren't capturing people who have those rapid antigen tests."

This follows a COVID outbreak at Teys Australia's Naracoorte abattoir where workers were required to present to work even if they had tested positive.

At the abattoir, 140 people have now tested positive.

Dr Pretorius said the belief that Omicron was a mild disease was leading to carelessness and facilitating its spread.
"Although the hospitalisations are only about 1 per cent, 1 per cent of an enormous number is a very big number," she said.
"Our health system is already buckling under what we are seeing at the moment."

Rapid tests crucial
Climbing case numbers are also placing pressure on support sectors including disability care.

Chief executive officer of disability care organisation Miroma Incorporated, Annelise Bates, said the number of cases was impacting on care.
"As more COVID cases are coming into the Limestone Coast it is going to be very problematic for organisations to be able to provide a continuous duty of care to the participants that we currently support," Ms Bates said.

She said disability support staff were finding it difficult to maintain distance from the clients who were "very vulnerable" due to their compromised health.

Ms Bates said the organisation was taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its staff and clients.
"You can't really keep a safe distance from our participants, but we do what we possibly can," she said.
"And we support our staff as much as we possibly can in that requirement.
"We provide free masks, we provide as much sanitiser as we possibly can, and we've got PPE all ready to go."

With Miroma having two workers testing positive for COVID, Ms Bates said their carers were being split into smaller teams as a precaution.
"Our risk management response is that if we were to have a positive COVID result within one of our team, we would reduce that team as much as we possibly can to minimise the impact of our support workers working across sites," she said.

Ms Bates said the government should provide rapid antigen tests to disability carers to ensure their tests were done.
"At this particular time, they're still doing their PCR tests, however, I am told that that will soon change to the rapid antigen test system," she said.
"That's problematic as well … I have ordered 150 rapid antigen tests, but they're not due until late this month."

>

 

[kingofnobbys]

12 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 210 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 35 < Pt6 ACT . TAS , NT >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 ACT

ACT recorded 1078 +ve PCRs , ACT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 15215 cases.
RAT +ves recorded = 0.

ACT recorded 0 delta deaths..

ACT POSITIVITY = 23.87%

ACT LOCAL DAILY CASES

RAT's next to impossible to buy anywhere in ACT.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 TAS

TAS recorded 1583 +ve PCRs & RATs , TAS local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 13447 cases.

TAS recorded 0 delta deaths..

TAS PCR POSITIVITY = 29.7%

CALC EFFECTIVE TAS POSITIVITY
BASIS IS DIFFERENT IN TAS ==> 0.297PCR = 738 ==> PCR = 738/0.297 = 2478
+VE RATs = 847
+VE PCRs = 736
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 847 + 2478 = 3325
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 847 + 736 = 1583
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 1583/ 3325 = 47.6 %

TAS LOCAL PCR DAILY CASES

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
12/1/2022 NT

NT recorded 352 +ve PCRs , NT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 3795 cases.

NT recorded 0 delta deaths..

NT PCR POSITIVITY = 5.20%

CALC EFFECTIVE NT POSITIVITY
BASIS IS DIFFERENT IN NT
PCR = 2470
+VE RATs = 155
+VE PCRs = 352-155 = 197
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 352
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 2470 +155 = 2625
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 352/ 2625 = 13.4 %

NT LOCAL DAILY PCR AND RAT CASES

NT COVID-19 update
12 January 2022
There were 352 new cases of COVID-19 recorded in the Northern Territory until 8pm on 11 January 2022. Of these, 155 were positive cases from a Rapid Antigen Test.
This takes the number of active cases in the NT to approximately 2,700.
There are currently 28 patients in hospital, with 16 classified as acute hospital admissions including two in ICU. Only one patient is in ICU for treatment of COVID-19.
2,470 COVID-19 PCR tests were processed across the NT yesterday.

Yuendumu and Yuelamu.
The lockout for Yuendumu and Yuelamu remains in place until at least midday, Saturday 15 January 2022.
There are now a total of 24 cases from Yuendumu. All cases and identified close contacts are in isolation, and further contact tracing is underway. NT Health teams are working to undertake testing across the community and provide the COVID-19 vaccination. 25 residents were vaccinated in the region yesterday.
Public Health Measures
To slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and reduce the rate of transmission, the following public health measures are in place across the Northern Territory:
• The Territory Vaccine Pass requires all people in the Northern Territory to show proof of their vaccination status to attend a range of businesses, venues, places and events.
• A Territory-wide indoor mask mandate.
• A lockout in Yuendumu and Yuelamu.
The remote communities of Yuendumu and Yuelamu, about 295km northwest of Alice Springs, remain in lockout until Saturday with another six people testing positive overnight.


Meanwhile, a Darwin business that was shut down for failing to comply with COVID-19 health directions had been fined $25,120.
5 people have also been fined $5024 each for breaching health directions at a protest over the order to close the business and by visiting the business after it was shut down.
About 70 people gathered at the business premises on Monday while a territory-wide lockout of unvaccinated people was in place.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

12 January 2022 = NEW ZEALAND DELTA WAVE Day & OMICRON OUTBREAK

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

12/1/2022 NZ

NZ recorded 27 LOCAL cases , NZ local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 11270 cases.
0 mystery cases.
65 repats from o/seas. again
NZ recorded 0 delta deaths.

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PCRs remain restricted in who can access them to test for covid.
RATs remain very hard to get hold of , further reducing the reliability of reported known VOC cases in all states with the exceptions of WA and NT where case loads are VOC case numbers remain low.
National kiddie vax rollout started today and has already hit huge snags , childrens' doses are not arriving at GP Vax Clinics except in dribs and drabs and many thousand of child vaxx appointments have had to be rescheduled.


VERY BRIEF SUMMARY NEW CASES & DEATHS OVERNIGHT

AUS + 89225 excluding NSW +ve RATs ==> 1306886 *

including backdated NSW +ve RATs AUS +144340 BUT NOT REALLY A DAILY NUMBER AS IT INCLUDES BACKDATED +ve RATs ==> 1368265

NSW + 30877 PCRs ==> 563418 PCRs ! , HIGHEST EVER 22 DEAD , PCR ONLY RECORDED ,
+ve RATs are now RECORDED IN NSW

VIC + 37169 ==> 502295 * , 25 DEAD , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN VIC
QLD + 14914 ==> 152141 * , QLD's deadliest day of the pandemic 6 DEAD , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN QLD
WA + 13 (local) ==> 82 ! , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN WA
SA + 3669 ==> 53713 * , 4 DEAD . PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN SA
ACT + 1020 ==> 16235 * . PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN ACT
TAS + 1100 ==> 14547 * , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN TAS
NT + 550 (local) ==> 4345 ! , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NT

NZ + 26 (LOCAL) ==> 11296 !, PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NZ , NO RESTRICTIONS ON PCR TESTING NZ <== ACCURATE CASE NUMBERS.

* not considered reliable numbers because in NSW +ve RATs are not being mandated to be reported and access to PCR tests is restricted ONLY to those ordered to be PCR tested and those who are symptomatic.
The concensas is the case numbers in ! are under-reporting actual case numbers to a significant degree , perhaps low by 2x fold or more.

Health experts are calling for a mandate for all RAT test results ( negative or positive ) to be reported and for free access to RATs for ALL Australians ON DEMAND.

COMBINED DELTA & OMICRON WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

1/1/2022 = 35319 up 7% **
2/1/2022 = 32354 **
3/1/2022 =37205 up by 5% **
4/1/2022 = 47017 up by 26% **
5/1/2022 = 64774 up by 38.8% **
6/1/2022 = 72401 up by 11.8% **
7/1/2022 = 78168 up by 8.0% **
8/1/2022 = 116024 up by 14% **, !
9/1/2022 = 99654 ** , #
10/1/2022 =71254 **, #
11/1/2022 = 90838 up by 27% **, #
12/1/2022 = 103689 up by 14% **,#
13/1/2022 = 89255 PCR , INCL BACKDATED +ve RATs = 144340 but not reliable

** Rules for getting official PCR test in effect today , many fewer people can now show up and demand a PCR test unless told to by their state's health department or they are sick + very long delays getting PCR test results ( > 4 days in NSW )
! positive RATs included in Vic daily cases from today.
# concensus is unreporting because ! are NOW under reporting by at least 2 fold ( ie NSW case numbers are no longer reliable ).

NATIONAL VAXX ROLLOUT

ADULT AND HIGH SCHOOL (Y7 to Y12) STATUS

CHILDREN (Y2 to Y6) STATUS

DELTA DEATHS TODAY

Australia = 57
NSW = 22, ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 743
Victoria 25, ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 828
SA = 4 ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 25
QLD = 6 ==>QLD total in this DELTA WAVE = 11
ACT total in this DELTA WAVE = 13
NT total in this DELTA WAVE ( and for entire pandemic ) = 1

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36 < Pt2 NSW >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

13 January 2022

Across NSW, 95.1 % of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.7 % have received two doses to Tuesday 11 January.
Of people aged 12 to 15, 81.7 % have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.2 % have received two doses.
Of people aged 5 to 11, 4 % have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

NSW Health is today reporting the deaths of 22 people with COVID-19; 13 men and 9 women.
1 person was aged in their 60s,
8 people were aged in their 70s,
7 people were aged in their 80s,
5 people were aged in their 90s
and 1 person was aged 100+.

Of the 22 people who died; 14 were vaccinated and eight were not vaccinated.
7 people were from south western Sydney,
7 people were from Northern Sydney,
3 people were from south eastern Sydney,
2 people were from Inner Sydney,
1 person was from the Eastern Suburbs,
1 person was from the Central Coast
and 1 person was from the Cessnock area.

There are currently 2,383 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 182 people in intensive care, 60 of whom require ventilation.

There were 88,164 COVID-19 PCR tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 134,411.

NSW recorded 30,541 new cases of COVID-19 detected by PCR testing in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. 204 COVID-19 cases have been excluded following further investigation, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 566,164.

There were 61,387 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) reported yesterday (Wednesday), the first day of the new reporting system. These test results are from 1 January, with 50,729 of these positive tests from the last seven days. Please note there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.

Anyone who tests positive using a RAT is now required to register their result with Service NSW via the website or app under a Public Health Order. Registering your RAT result enables NSW Health to provide you with advice on self-isolation and managing COVID-19 symptoms at home, to connect high risk people to clinical care services and to help inform the ongoing public health response.

Of the 30,541 cases reported from PCR tests to 8pm last night,
6,080 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD),
4,929 are from Western Sydney LHD,
3,655 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD,
2,873 are from Sydney LHD,
2,841 are from Northern Sydney LHD,
2,491 are from Hunter New England LHD,
1,506 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD,
1,424 are from Central Coast LHD,
1,396 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD,
776 are from Northern NSW LHD,
653 are from Murrumbidgee LHD,
552 are from Western NSW LHD,
472 are from Mid North Coast LHD,
229 are from Southern NSW LHD,
20 are from Far West LHD,
13 are from correctional settings,
2 are from hotel quarantine
and 629 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.

Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in NSW.
Density limits are in place in NSW .
NSW Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported.

NSW PCR POSITIVITY = 35.02%

GREATER SYDNEY LHAs & SATELLITE LHAs

G-SYDNEY PCRs only

SATELLITES PCRs only

HNE LHD

13/1/2022 HNE * pcr only
2,491 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England region.
There are 29,196 active cases in the District. 105 active cases are being cared for in our hospitals, 13 are in ICU.
HNE reporting the death of a man in his 60s from the Cessnock area.

Of the 2,491 recorded PCR cases:
• 558 from Lake Macquarie LGA +
• 465 from Newcastle LGA+
• 301 from Maitland LGA++
• 234 from Port Stephens LGA+
• 220 from Cessnock LGA++
• 175 from Mid Coast LGA+
• 142 from Tamworth Reg. LGA+
• 105 from Armidale LGA++++
• 64 from Inverell LGA+++++
• 40 from Moree Plains LGA+++++
• 38 from Singleton LGA+++
• 27 from Narrabri LGA*
• 26 from Gunnedah LGA*
• 17 from Muswellbrook LGA+++
• 17 from Tenterfield LGA+++++
• 14 from Walcha LGA++++
• 13 from Glen Innes Severn LGA+++++
• 12 from Upper Hunter LGA+
• 11 from Dungog LGA+
• 10 from Liverpool Plains LGA*
• 2 from Uralla LGA++++

TOTAL FOR HNE = 48163

WNSW LHD

13/1/2022 WNSW
Confirmed cases remain high but it's likely there are more undiagnosed cases. Regardless of the confirmed number in your town, plan and practice your COVID-safety measures.
From 12 January, you can report your positive Rapid Antigen Test via the Service NSW app. If you don't have access to the app, you can report results on the Service NSW website or call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Do not attend a service centre.
Get your vaccinations. Wear a mask indoors. Wash and sanitise your hands frequently. Practice physical distancing and avoid crowds or gatherings where you are aren't able to. Use QR codes. Be particularly careful around older people, or people with health conditions.
Plan ahead - have a plan ready for if you, or someone in your household, needs to self-isolate with COVID-19, or while waiting for test results.
RAT results for each District is currently not available.

Up to 8pm last night there were 552 new cases identified by PCR testing in the Western NSW Local Health District, in the following local government areas (LGA):
Bathurst – 130+++++
Blayney - 6 (inc 2 Milthorpe)****+
Bogan – 2***
Bourke – 2++
Brewarrina - 1 **
Cabonne - 11 (inc 2 Molong, 2 Canowindra)****+
Cobar – 9***
Coonamble – 2+
Cowra – 3****+
Dubbo - 155 (inc 15 Wellington)+
Forbes – 15++++
Gilgandra – 1+
Lachlan - 7 ++++
Mid-Western - 7 (inc 3 Mudgee)+++
Narromine – 12***++
Oberon – 10+++++
Orange – 137****+
Parkes – 24*
Walgett – 5++++
Warren – 2***
Warrumbungle - 8 (inc 3 Coonabarabran)+
Weddin - 3 (inc 2 Grenfell)****+

TOTAL FROM WNSW = 9338

OTHER REGIONAL NSW (PCR ONLY)

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36 < Pt3 VIC >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

13/1/2022 VIC
VIC recorded 37169 new +ve PCRs & RATs, VIC local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE is now 502295 cases.
VIC recorded 25 delta deaths..

Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in Victoria as it is in NSW.

Density limits are in place in Victoria .
Vic Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported.

BACKDATING OF +ve RATs IN VICTORIA

VIC Reff = 1.40

VIC PCR POSITIVITY = 26.99%

CALC EFFECTIVE VIC POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 16843
+VE RATs = 20326
+VE PCRs = 0.2699x16843 = 4546
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 20326 + 4546 =24872
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 16843 + 20326 = 37169
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 24872/ 37169 = 66.9 %

VIC LOCAL DAILY PCR CASES

13/1/2022 VIC
the Department was notified yesterday of 25 deaths of people aged in their 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and 100s.

Of today’s 25 deaths, 18 are recorded as occurring in the last two days. Seven are historic cases that occurred in December. Deaths are reported to the Department by different sources including VICNISS, the Victorian Death Index, and Local Public Health Units.
New exemptions to isolation requirements for critical workers
From 11.59pm on Tuesday 18 January, a range of critical workers in emergency services, education, critical utilities, custodial facilities, transport and freight, will join workers in the food production sector as being eligible for exemption from quarantine as close contacts of people diagnosed with COVID-19.

This exemption is limited to leaving home to undertake work, and a range of conditions will be required to reduce the risk of being at work while infectious, including mandatory mask use and daily rapid antigen testing for five days.

‘Code red’: Melbourne businesses say Omicron wave more damaging than STAGE 4 lockdowns. Staff shortages have ravaged Australian business, smashing apart the supply chains that supermarkets rely on to keep food on the shelves, cutting the supply of chicken, grounding planes, and crushing tourism and hospitality businesses throughout Tasmania, Victoria, NSW, SA, ACT and QLD.
“This is a code red for retail right now.” Retail Traders' Grp was in contact with the Victorian minister for small business, Jaala Pulford, on Wednesday afternoon to ask for a return to the $750-a-week disaster payment that Melburnians were eligible for during the city’s sixth lockdown late last year.
The group has also written to the federal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, asking the Morrison government to stump up half the money needed.
She said opening up was a “double edged sword” and businesses in the area were better off during the lockdowns when they were getting some financial support, even if it was minimal. “Right now, where we’re open and pretending everything’s fine, we get no support.”

Maus recognised that there was a crisis in healthcare staffing, but said the situation was even worse in retail and hospitality. “Melbourne is absolutely standing up and screaming, ‘please, please help us like you have for the last 22 months.’”

Victorian COVID-19 hospitalisations rise to 953, as 25 more deaths are recorded. The number of COVID-19 patients in Victorian hospitals has risen to a new record high of 953, as the state reports a further 25 deaths of people with the virus.
Of those in hospital, 111 patients are in ICU, 29 of whom are on ventilators.

There are more than 221,726 active COVID-19 cases in Victoria, causing significant disruption to essential industries and sending the number of available workers in the healthcare system to dangerous lows.

The state has recorded a further 37,169 cases of the virus, but the figure is less than the true number of new infections due to an overwhelmed testing system. The new cases were reported from 16,843 at-home rapid antigen tests and 20,326 PCR tests.

The state government is urging all Victorians who are eligible for a third vaccine dose to seek one immediately through state hubs, GP clinics or pharmacies in order to curb the wave of Omicron infections.

About 20 % of Victorian adults have received three doses of a vaccine.

The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 828, and the overall COVID-19 deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began to 1,639.

Australian Open crowds to be slashed as Omicron COVID-19 variant wreaks havoc. Australian Open crowds will be cut to 50 % as the Omicron COVID-19 wreaks havoc around Melbourne and Victoria.The limit on fan attendance will be enforced by Victoria's State Government, as the state recorded 37,169 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths on Thursday.

Tennis fans who have already bought Australian Open tickets need not worry, with all tickets already sold to be honoured, regardless of any capacity restrictions.
However, all future sales of tickets for the showpiece event will be limited to keep capacity to a maximum of 50 %.
Fans will have to wear masks at all times within the Melbourne Park precinct, except when eating or drinking.
It will be the second successive year that the Australian Open has been marred by COVID restrictions, with the 2021 event moved to February because of the pandemic.
Last year's Australian Open also had five days without fans after a snap lockdown was commissioned by the Victorian State Government.
Once fans were able to attend, the event was restricted to around 30,000 supporters per day.
It was originally planned that the 2022 Australian Open would have full capacity of fans before the Omicron variant emerged.

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36 < Pt4 QLD , WA >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
13/1/2022 QLD

QLD recorded 14914 +ve PCRs & RATs , QLD local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 152295 cases.

QLD recorded the state's deadliest day of the entire pandemic = 6 delta deaths..

QLD PCR POSITIVITY = 35.75%

CALC EFFECTIVE QLD POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 12102
+VE RATs = 2812
+VE PCRs = 0.3575x12102 = 4327
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 2812 + 4327 =7138
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 12102 + 2812 = 14914
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 7138 / 14914 = 47.9 %

QLD LOCAL DAILY CASES[/ig

Queensland has reported 6 COVID-19 deaths overnight in what Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has described as a "quite upsetting" development.
The people were all aged between their 70s and 90s and take the state's death toll to 17.
"That is the largest number of people that Queensland has lost during the pandemic," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters in Brisbane on Thursday.

The state reported 14,914 new infections on Thursday, with 582 people now in hospitals and 26 of those in intensive care — 10 of which on ventilators.

QLD STATE BORDER IS REOPENED - border to open as state records deadliest day of pandemic. Queensland will tear down its border checkpoints and roadblocks from Saturday – a move announced alongside news that the state had recorded its deadliest day since the start of the pandemic.
The border restrictions have been in place for six months. The measures to protect “Fortress Queensland” have been popular within the state, successful in suppressing Covid outbreaks and hardline towards people caught on the wrong side of the border from their families, their homes and their livelihoods.
With the state poised to reach another vaccination milestone – 90% double-dose coverage in the adult population – authorities say the border is no longer needed.
As Omicron spreads through Queensland – which recorded 14,914 cases and six deaths on Thursday – police said the sentry duty is no longer the best use of their time.

From 1am on Saturday, people will be allowed in without requiring a border pass, evidence of a negative Covid test, or evidence of vaccination.“The border restrictions have served their purpose, which is to allow every Queenslander access to a vaccine,” the Queensland chief health officer, John Gerrard, told reporters on Thursday. “And now the virus, as expected, is spreading through Queensland.”

The health minister, Yvette D’ath, said border restrictions were becoming “less important by the day”. “It was important throughout 2021, [when] we controlled those people coming from hotspots and had restrictions around that,” D’ath said. “[Now] we don’t want to spend our time looking at whether we need to be declaring and changing hotspots. We should assume that anyone travelling around Australia domestically could have the virus and so it is a lot less important to worry about where people are coming from around Australia and much more importantly about where they are going.”

Local restrictions preventing unvaccinated people from accessing certain public venues, such as cafes, will remain in place.

The police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, said the change would free up resources. “I welcome this announcement today,” Carroll said. “Since the establishment of the first border checkpoint in March 2020, this has been a significant operation for the Queensland Police Service. “This change … will enable us to reprioritise, get back to business as usual and make sure that now we prepare for the peak over the next couple of weeks.”

Carroll said police performed 3.68m vehicle checks at the borders during the past two years; turned around 35,902 vehicles and met almost 30,000 arriving flights.

Queensland has 26 Covid-positive people in intensive care, with 10 on ventilators. Another 530 people with Covid-19 are in hospital wards.

The increasing case numbers have led to today’s 6 deaths – all people aged over 70 – the most recorded by Queensland since the start of the pandemic. The relatively few Covid deaths in the state – just seven prior to the recent reopening of the borders, compared with more than 2,000 elsewhere – had been the key measure of success of the isolationist policy that separated communities along the border.

Queensland and health authorities are bracing for a PROJECTED peak of cases early next month. Surging case numbers in Queensland continue to put stress on thousands of medical workers while anger over the lack of rapid antigen tests is continuing to grow ( in QLD as in the rest of the hotspot states where it's literally impossible to lay your hands on a RAT and many people "frustrated" by having to queue for several hours (w/out toilet breaks and poor access to public toilets in their cars in the summer heat ( which is of heatwave levels w/ tropical levels of RH in NSW & QLD).

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
13/1/2022 WA

WA recorded 13 +ve PCRs , WA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 92 cases.
WA recorded 3 INTL case.
WA recorded 0 MYSTERY LOCAL case.
WA recorded 0 delta deaths..

WA PCR POSITIVITY = 0.35%

Western Australia warned COVID-19 supply chain issues will persist in supermarkets after February 5 SCHEDULED reopening.he panic buying West Australians saw at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic is starting to re-emerge as an ongoing supply chain crisis empties supermarket shelves.

Supply issues are cleaning out shelves nationwide due to a worsening spread of Omicron cases amongst workers in the country's east.

Woolworths stores in WA will introduce product limits on items from today, amid "surge buying" over the past two days in the state.
State general manager Karl Weber said toilet paper and painkillers will be capped at two packs per transaction.
A limit of either two kilos or packs, whichever is relevant, will be in place for mince, chicken and sausages.

Mr Weber said he wasn't worried about shortages but wanted to make sure continuity of supply was in place."We've some supply issues and it's been well-documented in the press," he said. "Although in the last 36 hours – Tuesday and Wednesday – we've seen some surge buying in Western Australia in certain categories like toilet rolls, painkillers, some meat."

Coles recently introduced a two-package purchasing limit for chicken, mince and sausages products in every state apart from WA.
However, a national cap on medical products including paracetamol, Ibuprofen and Aspirin and a one-unit limit on toilet paper applies across Coles stores in WA.

'Herd mentality' driving up demand for products
Pierre Sequeira, who runs the Preston Street IGA in Perth's southern suburbs, said while his store was well stocked, he was not sure what would happen when the state's border reopened next month.
He said he had noticed people starting to stock up on essentials.
"We're trying to tell people not to panic buy because, I think, that just ends up with a few people buying too much," he said.

Mr Sequeira said while Western Australia remained relatively free of COVID-19, the state government needed to clarify how businesses should manage future outbreaks.
"That's where we want to get the definition of a close contact, how we manage that and how many days they've got to isolate because that's going to be a tricky thing to manage," he said.

Mr Sequeira also wants to see rapid antigen tests for employees supplied to businesses.

COVID-19 to drain WA supermarkets of staff
WA Independent Grocers Association president John Cummings said the new wave of panic buying was exacerbating grocers' capacity to restock some items.
"That's causing some orders to go up from stores, which is putting delays on deliveries from the warehouse and putting pressure on the supply chain," he said.

Mr Cummings said he believed the pandemic-induced shortage of manpower to stock shelves in the eastern states would most likely occur in Western Australia once COVID-19 became rampant in the community and people fell sick.

He said the industry had already been struggling with a workforce shortage over the past two years but he expected it would soon worsen."We tend to pool from the same workforce in hospitality, in cafes and all those areas … a lot of our workforce is casual as well, so we're all competing for the same market," Mr Cummings said.
"I think it's a combination of rapid antigen testing, of looking at who's actually a close contact, who can go to work [and] who can't go to work."

Freight industry already struggling
The freight industry has been hit hard by sickness, with many positive cases often being workers in that sector due to the nature of their job.
Western Roads Federation head Cam Dumesny said the entire freight industry was under immense pressure.
"Road, we're short drivers,.
Rail is short of train drivers.
We've got shipping disruptions and we've got reduced air freight capacity … we're already starting to see the flow through into Western Australia of what's happening over east," he said.


Mr Dumesny said about 30 to 40 % of the workers in the east coast were not turning up due to the Omicron outbreak.

He said Western Australia had not seen the worst of it just yet and he was encouraging people to refrain from panic buying. "Twice in the last two years we've been [cut] off from the east coast by all road access by the floods and simultaneous bushfires, yet we've kept stuff on the shelves," he said.
"We have one of the best logistics systems in the world in Western Australia … have confidence in it.

"Yes, there'll be some things you can't get, but it'll be back there [in the] next couple of days. Don't panic."

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36 < Pt5 SA >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
13/1/2022 SA

SA recorded 3669 +ve PCRs , SA local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 53713 cases.

SA recorded 4 delta deaths..

SA Reff = 1.08

SA PCR POSITIVITY = 18.29%

SA LOCAL DAILY CASES

Rapid antigen testing regime change kicks in across South Australia. Here's how it will work.
South Australia's new rapid antigen test (RAT) regime kicks in today, with new requirements for those making use of them.

However, with the added responsibility comes extra availability.

In recent weeks, health authorities have moved towards RATs as an alternative to the traditional PCR tests, which have become increasingly reserved for people deemed most likely to have contracted COVID-19.

South Australia was the second-last state to make RATs generally available, but now the state government is looking to expand access to them, and has set up what is expected to be the first of about a dozen hubs.

Here's a look at the changes, and how they'll work.

What is happening?
South Australians who are deemed a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case will now be able to receive two free RAT kits from SA Health.


Mr Marshall said people could be issued with a fine of up to $1,000 if they did not abide by the rules.
"It is a [public health] direction and, of course, there are penalties if people don't do the right thing," he said.
"There are expiation notices which can be given to the individual and, in extreme situations, we can take them to court.
"There are always ways people can work around a system, but I'm absolutely convinced the people of South Australia want to do the right thing."

How is it going to help?
It's hoped the new system will ease pressure on PCR testing sites, where people have waited for hours in line since the Omicron variant swept through South Australia.
"We want to get people out of that PCR testing line. We want to preserve that for people [who] have got symptoms. We want them to be able to turn up and get through very quickly," Mr Marshall said.

Several testing sites were shut for hours earlier this week because of hot weather.

Mr Marshall said he did not think that was impacting case numbers.

South Australia reported 3,715 new cases on Wednesday, up from 2,921 on Tuesday.
"We still have a very high PCR testing rate, and we've also got a low positivity rate," Mr Marshall said.
"I don't think we do have under-ascertainment in South Australia.
"There may be a day or two lag, especially through these hot conditions, in people going and having that PCR test."

Teys Australia abattoir that told COVID-positive staff to keep working amid outbreak announces temporary shutdown.
A South Australian meatworks where COVID-positive employees were instructed to continue working has temporarily closed its doors.

The Teys meatworks at Naracoorte in the state's South East has been the site of a major outbreak, with 140 people infected.

On Sunday, the abattoir's general manager wrote to staff requiring them to turn up to work on Monday even if they had tested positive to COVID-19, unless they were feeling unwell.

SA Health later confirmed that in order to preserve food security, "a small group of critical staff" at the plant who had COVID-19 but were asymptomatic had been approved to continue working in an isolated area.

The exemption to continue operating with COVID-positive staff reflected a similar exemption granted to a disability services provider.

The company said none of its workers had been forced to work, and that they had been specifically instructed not to work if unwell.

On Thursday afternoon, a Teys spokesman confirmed the company had shut down the Naracoorte plant with a view to reopening it on Monday.

One meatworker, who tested positive, said the decision to keep the plant operating had been "insane". "The other staff that I've spoken to, they're bloody angry about it," the worker told the ABC on the condition of anonymity.
"There's a lot of workers that have family here, you know, young kids and all that, nobody feels that they want to be the one going on and making someone sick just because work told them to.
"They have a duty to us, to keep us safe, and I feel they've failed to do that for us and everyone else in the company."

Naracoorte-Lucindale Council has 432 active COVID cases, according to SA Health data. The council area has an estimated population of 8,574 people.

Close contacts approved to work across critical industries
The meatworks closure came as the South Australian government changed rules to allow close contacts of COVID cases to continue working across a range of critical sectors.

The changes apply to a range of industries and sectors, including defence, energy, agriculture, airports, courts and civil construction.

Permission to use the arrangements will only be triggered when alternative options are exhausted.

The critical workers approved to continue working must be fully vaccinated, free of all symptoms and have returned a negative PCR test before returning to work.

They must also maintain their seven-day quarantine when not at work, undertake daily rapid antigen tests before their shifts, and eat alone.

Premier Steven Marshall said the new regime went further than the arrangement agreed by all government leaders at national cabinet on Thursday.


Riverland General Hospital to treat only COVID-positive patients if hospitalisations rise.The Riverland's largest hospital could be made available only to COVID-positive patients if local infections and hospitalisations increase greater than expected.

The plan would involve the Riverland General Hospital in Berri being used exclusively to treat COVID patients while others needing medical care would be treated at smaller facilities like those in Barmera and Renmark.

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) chief executive Wayne Champion said streaming patients based on their COVID status would only be considered if local Omicron case numbers escalated beyond current expectations.


Riverland General Hospital's specialised COVID ward has four negative-pressure rooms and eight isolation rooms, with each room containing one bed.

The Riverland's largest hospital could be made available only to COVID-positive patients if local infections and hospitalisations increase greater than expected.

The plan would involve the Riverland General Hospital in Berri being used exclusively to treat COVID patients while others needing medical care would be treated at smaller facilities like those in Barmera and Renmark.

Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) chief executive Wayne Champion said streaming patients based on their COVID status would only be considered if local Omicron case numbers escalated beyond current expectations.

"We're planning for a peak of the wave in about a week-and-a-half," he said.


Riverland General Hospital's specialised COVID ward has four negative-pressure rooms and eight isolation rooms, with each room containing one bed.

Mr Champion said the hospital had not had more than two COVID-positive patients at one time.

Barmera shut to inpatients
Mr Champion's comments came after the RMCLHN announced on Wednesday that new inpatients would be turned away from the Barmera Hospital due to decreasing patient demand for non-COVID care.

Resources will instead concentrate on the co-located aged care facility in Barmera.

Current inpatients and people seeking treatment will be redirected to either the Renmark Hospital or the Riverland General Hospital in Berri.

"It's about being sensible about the allocation of resources within Barmera and allocating resources in the region based on demand," Mr Champion said.

"We were already short staffed before the current Omicron wave because we already had people trying to vaccinate the world, on testing lines for COVID swabbing on top of the day-to-day service delivery."

The hospital's emergency department has been closed since April 2020 to protect the co-located aged care facility from COVID infections.

Three hospitals under the RMCLHN's jurisdiction are running with reduced services, including birthing at the Waikerie Health Service and the Karoonda Hospital emergency department.


Barmera shut to inpatients
Mr Champion's comments came after the RMCLHN announced on Wednesday that new inpatients would be turned away from the Barmera Hospital due to decreasing patient demand for non-COVID care.
Resources will instead concentrate on the co-located aged care facility in Barmera.

Current inpatients and people seeking treatment will be redirected to either the Renmark Hospital or the Riverland General Hospital in Berri.

The hospital's emergency department has been closed since April 2020 to protect the co-located aged care facility from COVID infections.

3 hospitals under the RMCLHN's jurisdiction are running with reduced services, including birthing at the Waikerie Health Service and the Karoonda Hospital emergency department.

Shows 'lack of preparedness'
Nursing and Midwifery Foundation SA chief executive Elizabeth Dabars said the changes to Barmera Hospital reflected wider shortages in the region's health system.
"We are very disappointed that it's come to this but it's certainly understandable that they are making these arrangements," she said.
"But it does demonstrate the fragility of the country workforce. It also demonstrates a lack of preparedness.

 

[kingofnobbys]

13 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 211 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 36 < Pt6 ACT , Tas, NT >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

13/1/2022 ACT

ACT recorded 1020 +ve PCRs , ACT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 16235 cases.
RAT +ves recorded = 0.

ACT recorded 0 delta deaths..

ACT POSITIVITY = 21.4%

ACT LOCAL DAILY CASES

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

13/1/2022 TAS

TAS recorded 1100 +ve PCRs & RATs , TAS local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 14547 cases.

TAS recorded 0 delta deaths..

TAS Reff = 1.32

TAS PCR POSITIVITY = 10.49%

CALC EFFECTIVE TAS POSITIVITY
BASIS IS DIFFERENT IN TAS ==> 0.1049PCR = 253 ==> PCR = 253/0.1049 = 2412
+VE RATs = 847
+VE PCRs = 253
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 847 + 2412 = 3259
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 847 + 253 = 1100
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 1100/ 3359 = 32.7 %

TAS LOCAL DAILY CASES

Tasmania is adopting a more staged approach to easing coronavirus isolation requirements for essential workers than the directive outlined by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Tasmania is towing the national cabinet line in allowing exemptions for workers in areas including emergency services, power, and freight and logistics relating to supplies of essential goods.

"Workers in these categories ... will be allowed to continue to work if identified as close contacts, as long as they have no symptoms and produce a negative RAT," Mr Gutwein said.

The island state is not following the national cabinet position in applying the rule to teachers, childcare staff and other industries including media.

Mr Gutwein said businesses would need to apply for exemptions and prove absenteeism is having a "critical impact" on services.

Tasmania recorded 1100 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, the state's lowest daily figure since January 6.

With 1895 people released from isolation in the past day, the state's recorded active cases fell from 8764 to 7969.

Ten people are in hospital receiving treatment specifically for COVID-19, while another 13 people with the virus are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.

"What we are experiencing now is not living with COVID, what we are experiencing now is transitioning to live with COVID," Mr Gutwein said.

"Things will get better and they will become much more normal.

"We will get to a point where we are no longer responding to a pandemic and we will deal with the virus in the same way we deal with the flu or other common respiratory diseases."

The state government is changing the way RATs are distributed to symptomatic close contacts.

From Friday, people will have to register with public health to collect a rapid test from distribution centres rather than simply turn up. Tests will be couriered to homes in remote areas.

Mr Gutwein was adamant the start of the school year on February 9 would not be pushed back.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
13/1/2022 NT

NT recorded 550 new local cases , NT local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 4345 cases.

NT recorded 0 delta deaths..

NT PCR POSITIVITY = 15.3%

CALC EFFECTIVE NT POSITIVITY
BASIS IS DIFFERENT IN NT
PCR = 2594
+VE RATs = 214
+VE PCRs = 550-214 = 336
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 550
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 2594 +214 = 2808
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 550/ 2808 = 19.6 %

NT LOCAL DAILY PCR AND RAT CASES

NT COVID-19 update
NT government mandates reporting of positive RAT results, as the Territory records 550 new COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations fall to 24.
Key points:
There are 550 new COVID-19 cases in the NT and about 3,000 active cases
The Amoonguna community has been sent into a five-day lockout after recording 16 cases
The NT government has expanded the use of rapid antigen testing and will mandate reporting of positive RAT results.
There are currently 24 people with COVID-19 in hospital in the NT, down from 28 yesterday.

18 have been classified as acute cases, and 1 is requiring intensive care.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the NT had recorded 550 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.

Of those, 214 new cases – or nearly half – were positive results from rapid antigen tests.

There are now about 3,000 active cases of COVID-19 in the NT.

Across the Territory, 2,594 PCR tests were processed yesterday.
The outbreak in Yuendumu, in Central Australia, remains at 24 cases.

Mr Gunner said there had been a "modest increase" in vaccinations in the community over the past few days.

Mr Gunner said he believed the growth in the Northern Territory's case numbers was "fairly controlled".

"Though it is highly unlikely that we have reached our peak," he said.

"We do not have a high proportion of severe cases, which indicates our high vaccination rate is doing its job.

"And our testing numbers are high, so we believe we are catching a large proportion of positive cases."
Mandatory RAT reporting, changes to testing procedures
Mr Gunner said a new public health order would be issued today, making it compulsory to report positive COVID-19 rapid antigen tests through the government's website.

Once the order comes into effect, failure to report a positive result will be a breach of Chief Health Officer directions and result in a $5,000 fine.

Yesterday the NSW government introduced a similar rule, which authorities believe led to a major spike in reported case numbers.

Mr Gunner also said the government would expand the use of rapid antigen testing in the Northern Territory.

From today, people in the NT will no longer need to get a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid antigen test.

Positive cases in isolation will also no longer need to take a final PCR test to finish their isolation period as long as they are no longer symptomatic.

Close contacts are now only required to take a rapid antigen test in the first three days of isolation.

Acting Deputy Chief Health Officer Marco Briceno said the NT had reached a stage where getting results back fast was the priority for authorities.

"We need to know, as soon as possible, if you have a COVID-positive test or not, and be able to offer you the care that you need in a high prevalence environment like we have today," he said.

"Rapid turnaround of results is more important than the superior accuracy that we were seeing on PCRs, which is particularly important in low prevalence settings."

Mr Gunner said expanding rapid antigen testing for a faster turnaround in results would give authorities "an advantage over Omicron".

"Territorians don't have to wait as long to get tested, they don't have to wait as long for results, and our health experts can get a qu
Amoonguna community sent into lockout
Mr Gunner said 16 cases had been recorded in the Amoonguna community south-west of Alice Springs, which he labelled "concerning".

Amoonguna will enter a five-day lockout from noon today to help contain the spread of the virus.

That means unvaccinated residents in the community can only leave home for four reasons.

These are: medical treatment including testing and vaccination, for essential goods and services, for one hour of exercise while wearing a mask, and to provide care and support to family member or person who cannot support themselves.

NT Police Acting Commissioner Michael Murphy said the police and welfare support worker presence on the ground in Amoonguna would be ramped up to ensure residents had access to provisions and movement was limited.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

13 January 2022 = NEW ZEALAND DELTA WAVE Day & OMICRON OUTBREAK

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

13/1/2022 NZ

NZ recorded 26 LOCAL cases , NZ local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 11296 cases.
0 mystery cases.
13 repats from o/seas. again
NZ recorded 0 delta deaths.

 

[kingofnobbys]

14 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 212 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 37

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
PCRs remain restricted in who can access them to test for covid.
RATs remain very hard to get hold of , further reducing the reliability of reported known VOC cases in all states with the exceptions of WA and NT where case loads are VOC case numbers remain low.

National kiddie vax rollout started today and has already hit huge snags , childrens' doses are not arriving at GP Vax Clinics except in dribs and drabs and many thousand of child vaxx appointments have had to be rescheduled.


VERY BRIEF SUMMARY NEW CASES & DEATHS OVERNIGHT

AUS + 105716 excluding NSW +ve RATs ==> 1412597 *

NSW + 38689 PCRs ==> 602106 PCRs ! , HIGHEST EVER 29 DEAD , PCR ONLY RECORDED ,
+ve RATs are now RECORDED IN NSW

VIC + 34836 ==> 537121 * , 18 DEAD , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN VIC
QLD + 23630 ==> 175771 * , 3 DEAD , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN QLD
WA + 8 (local) ==> 98 ! , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN WA
SA + 5679 ==> 59392 * , SA's HIGHEST EVER COVID DEATHS OVER NIGHT = 6 DEAD . PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN SA
ACT + 1125 ==> 17360 * . PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN ACT
TAS + 1201 ==> 15748 * , PCR & +RAT ONLY RECORDED IN TAS
NT + 546 (local) ==> 4891 ! , PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NT

NZ + 17 (LOCAL) ==> 11313 !, PCR ONLY RECORDED IN NZ , NO RESTRICTIONS ON PCR TESTING NZ <== ACCURATE CASE NUMBERS.

* not considered reliable numbers because in NSW +ve RATs are not being mandated to be reported and access to PCR tests is restricted ONLY to those ordered to be PCR tested and those who are symptomatic.
The concensas is the case numbers in ! are under-reporting actual case numbers to a significant degree , perhaps low by 2x fold or more.

Health experts are calling for a mandate for all RAT test results ( negative or positive ) to be reported and for free access to RATs for ALL Australians ON DEMAND.

COMBINED DELTA & OMICRON WAVE IN AUSTRALIA

/1/2022 = 35319 up 7% **
2/1/2022 = 32354 **
3/1/2022 =37205 up by 5% **
4/1/2022 = 47017 up by 26% **
5/1/2022 = 64774 up by 38.8% **
6/1/2022 = 72401 up by 11.8% **
7/1/2022 = 78168 up by 8.0% **
8/1/2022 = 116024 up by 14% **, !
9/1/2022 = 99654 ** , #
10/1/2022 =71254 **, #
11/1/2022 = 90838 up by 27% **, #
12/1/2022 = 103689 up by 14% **,#
13/1/2022 = 89255 PCR , INCL BACKDATED +ve RATs = 144340 but not reliable
14/1/2022 = 105716 PCR , NOT INCLD BACKDATED +ve RATs AS not reliable

** Rules for getting official PCR test in effect today , many fewer people can now show up and demand a PCR test unless told to by their state's health department or they are sick + very long delays getting PCR test results ( > 4 days in NSW )
! positive RATs included in Vic daily cases from today.
# concensus is unreporting because ! are NOW under reporting by at least 2 fold ( ie NSW case numbers are no longer reliable ).

POSITIVITIES

DELTA DEATHS TODAY

Australia = 56
NSW = 29, ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 772
Victoria 18, ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 846
SA = 6 ==> total in this DELTA WAVE = 31
QLD = 3 ==>QLD total in this DELTA WAVE = 14
ACT total in this DELTA WAVE = 13
NT total in this DELTA WAVE ( and for entire pandemic ) = 1

 

[kingofnobbys]

14 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 212 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 37 < Pt2 NSW >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

NSW
14 January 2022

Across NSW, 95.2 % of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 93.8 % have received two doses to Wednesday 12 January.
Of people aged 12 to 15, 81.9 % have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 78.2 % have received two doses.
Of people aged 5 to 11, 6.5 % have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Of the 29 people who died; 19 people were vaccinated against COVID-19 and 10 people were not vaccinated.
3 people were aged in their 40s,
5 people were aged in their 60s,
5 people were aged in their 70s,
11 people are in their 80s
and 5 people are in their 90s.

10 people were from south-western Sydney,
5 people were from northern Sydney,
5 people were from south eastern Sydney,
3 people were from western Sydney,
2 people were from Sydney's Inner West
2 people were from the Tweed Heads area,
1 person was from Wollongong
and 1 person from the Lake Macquarie area.


There are currently 2,525 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, including 184 people in intensive care, 59 of whom require ventilation.

There were 63,018 positive test results (cases) notified to 8pm last night – including 37,938 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 25,080 positive PCR tests.
Of the 37,938 positive RAT results, 24,329 of these positive tests were from the previous seven days. Please note there may be some cases included in these numbers where people have reported positive RATs on multiple days and/or where people have also had a positive PCR test during the same reporting period.

The 25,080 positive PCR results were returned from 109,057 PCR tests.
623 COVID-19 cases detected by PCR tests have been excluded following further investigation
.
Of the 25,080 cases reported from PCR tests to 8pm last night,
4,599 are from South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD),
4,280 are from Western Sydney LHD,
3,173 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD,
2,480 are from Sydney LHD,
2,157 are from Northern Sydney LHD,
1,554 are from Hunter New England LHD,
1,289 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD,
1,249 Nepean Blue Mountains LHD,
1,094 are from Central Coast LHD,
905 are from Northern NSW LHD,
747 are from Murrumbidgee LHD,
527 are from Mid North Coast LHD,
261 are from Western NSW LHD,
180 are from Southern NSW LHD,
11 are from Far West LHD,
21 are in correctional settings,
1 is in hotel quarantine
and 552 are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in NSW.
Density limits are in place in NSW .
NSW Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported. BUT data available at the present includes duplicate +ves (RATs and PCRs , and even duplicate +ve RATs for some people and the daily cases for NSW again includes backdated +ve RATs).

BREAKDOWN OF +VE RATs TODAY

HOSPITALIZATION

NSW PCR POSITIVITY = 23.0%

EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY FOR NSW
PCRs = 109057
+RATs TODAY ONLY = 12709
==> +PCRs = 0.23x109057 = 25083
+PCRs + +RATs = 25083 + 12709 = 37792
TESTS = PCRs + +RATs(14JAN) = 109057 + 12709 = 121766
==> EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = 37792/121766 = 31.0 %

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

GREATER SYDNEY LHAs & SATELLITE LHAs

G-SYDNEY PCRs only

SATELLITES PCRs only

14/1/2022 HNE

1554 recorded COVID-19 cases in the Hunter New England region. Total for Delta Wave = 49717

With the centralisation of rapid antigen reporting at a state level, our local case numbers are no longer an accurate reflection of COVID-19 across the Hunter New England region – and from today we’ll cease providing a local case update.
However, HNE LHD will continue to report daily hospitalisation, ICU numbers and other important public health messaging to protect you and your loved ones from COVID-19.
The NSW Government and NSW Health continue to lead the pandemic response and provide comprehensive COVID-19 data. Here’s where to find it:
- For daily case numbers go to: News - 2022 media releases from NSW Health
- For the total number of active cases go to: https://bit.ly/NSWHealthCOVID-19Update
- For cases and tests by local health district and local government area go to: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) - Locally acquired COVID-19 cases and tests in the last four weeks - up to 8pm 14 January 2022
- For the breakdown of positive PCR versus RAT registrations go to: COVID-19 data and statistics
- For vaccination rates by postcode go to: COVID-19 data and statistics

None of these sites provide uptodate daily cases by either postal code or LGA. So here on NSW residents are flying blind and no longer ( except in a the cases of a few LHDs , ie WNSW , ISH , FWNSW ) have "LOCAL CASE" updates on a daily basis , so I'll pause reporting / graphing local LGA cases .

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
14/1/2022 WNSW

Confirmed cases remain high but it's likely there are more undiagnosed cases. Regardless of the confirmed number in your town, plan and practice your COVID-safety measures.
From 12 January, you can report your positive Rapid Antigen Test via the Service NSW app. If you don't have access to the app, you can report results on the Service NSW website or call Service NSW on 13 77 88. Do not attend a service centre.
Get your vaccinations. Wear a mask indoors. Wash and sanitise your hands frequently. Practice physical distancing and avoid crowds or gatherings where you are aren't able to. Use QR codes. Be particularly careful around older people, or people with health conditions.
Plan ahead - have a plan ready for if you, or someone in your household, needs to self-isolate with COVID-19, or while waiting for test results.
RAT results for each District is currently not available.

Delta Wave total = 9599

Up to 8pm last night there were 261 new cases identified by PCR testing in the Western NSW Local Health District, in the following local government areas (LGA):
Bathurst - 12
Blayney - 8
Bogan - 7
Cabonne - 14 (inc 4 Molong, 5 Canowindra)
Cobar - 5
Coonamble - 2
Cowra - 15
Dubbo - 22 (inc 1 Wellington)
Forbes - 6
Gilgandra - 4
Lachlan - 1
Mid-Western - 6 (inc 2 Mudgee, 2 Rylstone)
Narromine - 4
Orange - 143
Parkes - 2
Warrumbungle - 5 (inc 2 Coonabarabran)
Weddin - 5 (5 in Grenfell)

PAUSING WNSW CHARTS 1 and 2 ( DETAILED LGAs DATA )

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
OTHER NSW REGIONAL

 

[kingofnobbys]

14 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 212 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 37 < Pt3 VIC >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

14/1/2022 VIC
VIC recorded 34836 new +ve PCRs & RATs, VIC local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE is now 537121 cases.
VIC recorded 18 delta deaths..

Omicron VOC is the dominant strain in Victoria as it is in NSW.

Density limits are in place in Victoria .
Vic Health has mandated that RAT +ves must be reported.

VIC Reff = 1.16

VIC PCR POSITIVITY = 30.6%

CALC EFFECTIVE VIC POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 62445
+VE RATs = 15440
+VE PCRs = 19396
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 15440 + 19396 = 34836
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 62445 + 15440 = 77885
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 34836/ 77885 = 44.7 %

VIC LOCAL DAILY PCR CASES

Medihotels being set up as Victoria records 34,836 new COVID-19 cases. 2 medihotels are being set up in Melbourne to ease the pressure on hospitals as Victoria has recorded another 34,836 new COVID-19 cases today and 18 deaths.
The number of infected patients requiring treatment has also risen, with 976 people currently being cared for in hospitals. Of those, 112 are in the ICU, while 30 require ventilation.
There are now some 230,000 active cases of the virus across Victoria.
Victoria's Acting Health Minister James Merlino announced 2 Melbourne quarantine hotels will be converted to medihotels in "a sensible next step" to support healthcare workers in dealing with COVID-19 cases.
Mr Merlino said COVID-19 patients who needed less complex care would be taken from hospital to the medihotels.
"All patients will be medically assessed by the hospital before transfer," he said.
The first patients will be transferred to the medihotels from Monday.
The medihotels will have capacity to provide care for over 300 patients at a time in partnership with Northern Health and Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The Pullman Melbourne on Swanston Street and the Mantra Epping will be used as the medihotels.

Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced the sectors of emergency services, education, critical utilities, custodial facilities and transport and freight would join the food production and distribution industries in exempting critical workers from seven-day isolation as of next Tuesday.
"Those sectors will join the food sector in a broad sense," Mr Andrews said.
"They will be exempt if they are playing a critical role, from having to do home isolation.
"They will need to take a right test for five days and if that is negative they can proceed to do that critical work."

COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar warned the loosened isolation rules were not an "open slather" for all workers within those sectors to dodge isolation, with only those performing a critical work function permitted to go to work.
"They need to be treated with significant care," he said.
"From the Omicron wave, we know that around quarter or half of close contacts will ultimately become infected."

The state recorded 37,169 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, and 25 deaths.
Booster shots could also be made mandatory for additional industries, as extra vaccine supplies are rolled out.
Mr Andrews said a supply of booster vaccines will be given to Woolworths and Coles so they can set up booster clinics to help get staff vaccinated.
"We will provide them with the supply and they will most likely engage a private provider to administer the vaccine," he said.

Allied health workers asked to fill in as nurses at hospitals feel strain of Omicron surge.Bendigo Health is looking at new ways to support short-staffed departments as it responds to having a significant number of its workforce furloughed with COVID-19.

There are about 50 Bendigo Health staff furloughed each day, approximately 75 per cent of whom are nurses.

The shortage has prompted the hospital to turn to allied health workers for support.

Jacob Moresi, who has been a physiotherapist at Bendigo Health for six years, has recently started doing something he's never done before —working shifts as a nurse.

"I was a little bit nervous to be honest on my first shift," he said.

"We've got a very good working relationship, we work with them every day, so they helped orientate me pretty quickly."

Bendigo Health has started putting regular call-outs to its allied health workers, asking if they wanted to do extra shifts as nurses.

Mr Moresi jumped at the opportunity to help his colleagues in a time of need.

"Seeing their profession needing a bit of extra assistance and help, I was more than happy to step up and help," he said.

"I think nurses are fundamental to how hospitals work and without them, it would come crashing down pretty quickly."

Melinda Charlesworth, acting director of Allied Health, said her staff could not replace nurses and had different training, but were providing skilled help.

"We're not trying to be the nurses and we are not able to do all the things they do.

"It's often that they're [allied health staff are] doing a little bit extra on a weekend or on a day they wouldn't normally work."

More workers doing double shifts
The nursing shifts are usually on top of their usual hours; for some, it turns an 8-hour day into a 13-hour day.

But Mr Moresi isn't worried about burnout.

"We are quite mindful about not doing two [extra] shifts back to back," he said.

"We know work-life balance is very important."

On nursing shifts, allied health workers can do a variety of tasks, like take vital signs and help transport patients.

"[We can] transport someone to their toilet if there are issues with their mobility," Mr Moresi said.

"We can help feed them if they have issues with their upper arms."

Bendigo Health says it has also onboarded nursing graduates early and is redeploying staff to areas of highest need.

"We've also had students and new graduates in all sorts of areas who've stepped in to support as well," Ms Charlesworth said.

Shortages all across the system
Nurse-practitioners and doctors aren't the only members of the health workforce who are struggling with staffing.

"It's a challenge for all of our health staffing and the nurses are helping the allied health out as well," Ms Charlesworth said.

"There has been a bit of internal shuffling at times."

Dale Fraser, chief executive of Grampians Health, which covers health services from Ballarat to the SA border, said there was a great deal of pressure on the hospital system in regional areas.

"Hospitals have been working under a code structure for the last 18 months or more now.

"What that has done is it has created an incident management process that ensures we're allowed to be flexible and dynamic to meet changing circumstances as they arise.

"COVID has certainly presented some opportunities where that has been the case.

"That just heightens the importance of people being aware the system is under strain and that they need to be getting their booster shots and wearing masks."

A spokesperson for Horsham Hospital said about 20 staff were currently furloughed.

 

[kingofnobbys]

14 JANUARY = DELTA WAVE Day 212 & OMICRON TSUSAMI Day 37 < Pt4 QLD >

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>14/1/2022 QLD

QLD recorded 23630 +ve PCRs & RATs , QLD local total for DELTA - OMICRON WAVE now 175771 cases.

QLD recorded 3 delta deaths..

QLD Reff = 1.47

QLD PCR POSITIVITY = 30.6%

CALC EFFECTIVE QLD POSITIVITY
PCR TESTS = 43918
+VE RATs = 10182
+VE PCRs = 13446
==> +VE (RATs + PCRs) = 10182 + 13446 =23668
==> TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 43918 + 10182 = 54100
EFFECTIVE POSITIVITY = +VE (RATs + PCRs) / TESTS ( PCRs + +ve RATs) = 23668 / 54100 = 43.7 %

QLD LOCAL DAILY CASES

Queensland Indigenous communities experience rapid COVID-19 spread, as health authorities work to secure food deliveries.There has been a rapid spread of COVID-19 in First Nations communities in Queensland, with the virus infecting dozens of households in the Far North Queensland town of Yarrabah in just four days.

Doctors are worried about getting food delivered to isolating families, because non-government associations do not extend their services to the community, which is located about 40 minutes south of Cairns.

Local health officials said COVID cases at Yarrabah, a community of about 2,500, had skyrocketed from three at the start of the week to 75 across 30 households.

The growing Yarrabah cluster comes amid a rapid rise in COVID cases in overcrowded First Nations' communities across Queensland that is worrying health experts, given high rates of chronic disease.

During the current Omicron wave Cherbourg, about 250 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, has detected 100 infections, Palm Island, off Townsville, has recorded 74, and Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, has confirmed 31.

Lockhart River, about 800 kilometres north of Cairns, has handled 29 cases, and Bamaga, about 40km south of the tip of Cape York, has recorded 14.

Across the state, Queensland Health data shows 3,647 cases of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been recorded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders during the pandemic, mostly during the Omicron wave.

Yarrabah-based Aboriginal primary healthcare physician Jason King said the community, Australia's largest Aboriginal community, was "in the middle of a serious outbreak".

"We're thankful that due to the combined effect of vaccination and Omicron being the circulating variant, the presentations to date have been of a lower severity," he said.

"However, it's still very early and not yet at day five so we'll see how it pans out."

Dr King, the director of clinical services at the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service, said yesterday there had been "intense discussions" in the past 24 hours to ensure families could get food without having to leave the community.

"Food security is a big concern at the moment and we're working with all levels of government to ensure families get food," he said.

"The problem is that non-government associations don't extend their services to Yarrabah so the logistics of delivering food [is a challenge].

"This means we have to work on plans on re-routing our own health workers to deliver food supplies."

Dr King, a Yued/Whadjuk Noongar man, said plans that had been worked on since the beginning of the pandemic, had needed to change due to workforce shortages within the health service because of COVID-19.

In the space of a week, a dozen staff members — out of a 110-strong workforce — had either been infected themselves or had to isolate because of being a close contact of a case.

"We have a diminishing workforce and an increasing workload," Dr King said.

Vaccination rates in some Indigenous communities trailing
About three-quarters of Yarrabah residents aged 15 years and older have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The latest Federal Government data shows 63.7 per cent of the Cherbourg population aged 15 and older are double dosed, as are 65 per cent of those on Palm Island and 78.1 per cent at Lockhart River.

That compares to 88.35 per cent of Queenslanders aged 16 and older having received two doses.

Professor James Charles, the director of Griffith University's First Peoples Health Unit, was worried about low rates of COVID-19 vaccination among overcrowded First Nations' communities, given many Indigenous Queenslanders experience high rates of chronic disease, such as diabetes.

"I do have massive concerns," Professor Charles said.

"How do you isolate when you're in a house built for four or five people and you've got 10 or more? It's very difficult, very challenging. That's what is really concerning.

"Once it gets in, it will really spread like wildfire.

"This is potentially a big problem and I hope it doesn't turn out the way that many of us are worried that it will.

"Obviously, it's going to create an environment where there's a high risk of people dying from COVID. It's scary."

Professor Charles said he was also worried about food security across rural and remote Queensland, including in Indigenous communities.

"If we can't get food and other household essentials in supermarkets in Brisbane, how on earth are we going to guarantee that they're going to be out on the shelves in smaller rural and remote communities?" he said.

"We need to fix that."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there had been a "big drive" in Indigenous communities to get residents vaccinated.

"We've had the likes of Johnathan Thurston … encouraging people to get vaccinated … and people have gone door-to-door," she said.

"I mean, I don't know what else we can do?"

When asked if she was aware of the food security concerns in Yarrabah, Ms Palaszczuk said she would follow it up.

"We have had discussions at national cabinet about making sure that supplies can get through," she said.

"But if there are any particular concerns, we will deal with those issues of those particular communities."