Covid 19 -

[zilo]

looks like the govt has changed its mind about face masks...suddenly they re a good idea...reduce transmission by 70%...blah blah blah

Oh...and the water droplets suddenly travel up to 8m now...so the 1.5-2m distancing is also BS


we are all stuffed.

[MercuryT]

Originally Posted by zilo

we are all stuffed.

Why don't the State leaders just say that?

[guzzis3]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

I always liked 'Victoria - Garden State', everything since seems just ego.

I'll never forget the 90's: On the move...

To queensland!

Originally Posted by PhilT2

You missed the point. Of course high density is a factor, Hong Kong overcame this by having a 99% compliance with mask wearing. If they managed to do it why couldn't other places? They didn't even have to wait for their gov to tell them what to do, they worked it out for themselves.

Now I've no idea what you are talking about. I said HD living is a factor and I also said (in several posts) that a disobedient population was a factor. Can you explain to me exactly what you think I'm wrong about ?

If this sounds like an attack it isn't meant to. I'm confused...

Those of you rubbing your hands together gleefully waiting for us old and sick to die off just remember viruses mutate. In 1918 the first wave only killed a few, then the second wave killed a lot of people and quickly. It was helped by public apathy after the first round "fizzled". I guess the young and fit then thought they were invincible, until they weren't...

As for bubonic plague it's never gone away. Most people in Europe and of European descent have genetic resistance to it, that's the only reason we don't have regular plagues. The Chinese seem not to be so lucky, but it's contained by rapid responses.

No doubt some of you are acquainted with the fate of the Native Americans just prior to colonisation.

[Tickford.]

NSW has done less testing than VIC, but has a higher % of positive cases.

Surely it's only a matter of time before NSW finds itself in a similar, or worse situation than VIC?


QLD have done 1/3 the number of tests compared to VIC. But are matching VIC % for positive cases!

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by Tickford.

NSW has done less testing than VIC, but has a higher % of positive cases.

Surely it's only a matter of time before NSW finds itself in a similar, or worse situation than VIC?


QLD have done 1/3 the number of tests compared to VIC. But are matching VIC % for positive cases!

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Fully agree with this, its just a matter of time and if NSW had half a brain they would go to particular socio-economic areas and test like mad.

[Franco Cozzo]

Looking at the Spanish Flu in Australia it killed 15,000 people out of a population of 5.3M in 1919

0.28% of the population.

That was with what terrible medical care they had back then.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Tickford.

NSW has done less testing than VIC, but has a higher % of positive cases.

Surely it's only a matter of time before NSW finds itself in a similar, or worse situation than VIC?


QLD have done 1/3 the number of tests compared to VIC. But are matching VIC % for positive cases!

Tick, tock, tick, tock.

Agree, but all capital the cities, all those protests didn't cause one outbreak. come on.
Would make anybody start to believe it is a hoax if that wasn't the case.

[russellw]

I'm not wasting my breath on smoo and his attitude toward the elderly - I'm sure the Karma bus will take care of that in time.

I actually think Daniel Andrews has done a decent job under trying circumstances and I'm far from being a supporter. He has always addressed the media and issues calmly and even though the quarantine fiasco has been almost as bad as the NSW Health Department handling of the Ruby Princess (just in case those in NSW having a dig have forgotten) the leader of the party can't be held responsible for every public service balls up otherwise we'd be swapping them on a daily basis.

Below is the comparison of total active case rates per 100k of population for NSW and Victoria over the last 3 months.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by russellw

I actually think Daniel Andrews has done a decent job under trying circumstances and I'm far from being a supporter. He has always addressed the media and issues calmly and even though the quarantine fiasco has been almost as bad as the NSW Health Department handling of the Ruby Princess (just in case those in NSW having a dig have forgotten) the leader of the party can't be held responsible for every public service balls up otherwise we'd be swapping them on a daily basis.

I think he did to, it's the people doing the wrong thing who have stuffed it up for Melbourne.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I think he did to, it's the people doing the wrong thing who have stuffed it up for Melbourne.

Bingo !!!
It’s amazing how self Entitled some of us are. Total lack of accountability, spill the milk and then cry for someone else to clean it up..... and of course blame everyone else but ourselves.
COVID-19 is a wake up call on how we all behave under extreme circumstances. Govts, social groups, employers, general public. There has been a lot of self serving and self entitled ugliness exposed. Sad to see how irresponsible and ****e parts of our community have become. All for one and ONE for ONE...

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by russellw

I'm not wasting my breath on smoo and his attitude toward the elderly - I'm sure the Karma bus will take care of that in time.

I actually think Daniel Andrews has done a decent job under trying circumstances and I'm far from being a supporter. He has always addressed the media and issues calmly and even though the quarantine fiasco has been almost as bad as the NSW Health Department handling of the Ruby Princess (just in case those in NSW having a dig have forgotten) the leader of the party can't be held responsible for every public service balls up otherwise we'd be swapping them on a daily basis.

Below is the comparison of total active case rates per 100k of population for NSW and Victoria over the last 3 months.

Disagree. This fiasco pretty much lies with Dan Andrews screw ups. First he was too ****weak in stopping the protests. He was saying on the radio this morning he told people it wasn't a good idea to do it, but if he had of gone in with a tough stance of we are banning anyone from protesting, and anyone caught will face the consequences, then there was a fair chance it wouldn't have happened. His weak approach basically emboldened the protesters because they knew they would get away with it.

Then the hotel security debacle also falls on him. He was offered ADF personnel to do security, but he refused that and instead hired untrained, dodgy private security who couldn't have possibly done a worse job. And even now, Dan refuses to say why he made this decision. Just used weasel words about how there is an enquiry into it now ie. drag that on for months and bury the outcome later on, to remove himself from blame.

The protests also had a physcological effect on the rest of the population, who saw what was going on and just said stuff it, why bother sitting at home in isolation when it's ok to attend mass gatherings which the government allowed.

It starts at the top, and he has made some stupid mistakes that have basically caused the current problems. And yes, he can and will be held to account for his mistakes. The media is already turning on him.

[russellw]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It starts at the top, and he has made some stupid mistakes that have basically caused the current problems. And yes, he can and will be held to account for his mistakes. The media is already turning on him.

You are entitled to your view but the last sentence sums it up doesn't it? I listened to Karl Stefanovic ripping in to Andrews this morning and it's a sad reflection on our society that a nobody who doesn't even have the credentials to be called a journalist (presenter or talking head being more accurate) has a platform from which he can help shape public opinion and pour scorn on someone else.

Under the old 'Westminster' rules you'd have been correct in saying that the titular 'head' should take responsibility for the actions of those below but the reality these days is (at worst) that would be the minister responsible for the actual department involved and (in practice) even that rarely happens.

Unless, of course, you'd like a dictatorship in which case then you'd be right.

It doesn't matter what you are running these days; a company, a State or an entire country.You take advice from those around you on policy and process decisions and then devolve responsibility for implementation of those to the people who are employed for their expertise. Of course, where that tends to fail in the (largely) protected public service is that it's a lot easier to hide not just incompetence but the individuals practising it.

I'm not saying that all the decisions even at the policy level have been right but nor are they as easy as they seem from the cheap seats. As you rightly pointed out the 'advice' to not ban the BLM protests was controversial at best although it's a balancing act when you know that (1) they are going to go ahead anyway and (2) your only option as a Government is to send in the police to arrest what could well have been 30k people. I can absolutely guarantee what public opinion (well to be accurate the media opinion) would have been if we'd seen an all-in stoush between protesters and police. Basically, it's a case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The quarantine fiasco is a different case. While the implementation got shunted off to some obscure Government department that we'd mostly never heard of, I'm sure the mandate came down to them with some provisos like (1) you can't use the police (2) it's got to be cheap given that we are paying for it and (3) it must be in situ yesterday. None of which is usually a great recipe for good decision making.

Let's not forget that NSW also used private security guards to police their hotel quarantine and that's also presently under scrutiny as well after their case numbers have started to climb again.

[Work Horse]

Personally I have found it a "breath of fresh air"(Covid free!), the way our political leaders have come together to deal with the pandemic in a bipartisan manner. Who would have thought a year ago, witnessing how tribal politics was becoming in this country(around the world), that our leaders state and federal would be meeting regularly and agreeing with each other on the best way forward for the country as a whole. The PM and Premiers of all stripes standing next to each other at press conferences to show support.

It has been pointed out from the beginning; we are all in this together, it's not over until we have a vaccine, eradication is very difficult/impossible (look at NZ), infection numbers would rise once lock down measures were relaxed.

Melbourne has again taken a bullet for the rest of the country. This is what can happen when there is a breach in hygiene protocols at quarantine hotels at the same time restrictions are relaxed. Other states are now restricting the number of daily arrivals from overseas. The public in the rest of Australian need to look at Melbourne and continue with; hand washing, social distancing and all the other measures asked of them to save them from the situation we find ourselves in Melbourne.

[FTE217]

OMG - some of the comments towards older gen is just pure selfishness and down right so wrong no wonder society is going down the toilet.
Every life matters (not just black) using the slogan.
I suppose you people have NO regard for your own older parents/grand parents/uncles/aunties.
Pathetic, think before you post and hear hear Russellw, Karma always makes its presence sooner or later.

[russellw]

169 new cases for Australia (mostly in Victoria) and 0 deaths so CMR drops to 1.207% and active cases rise to 1,194 (13.6%). Queensland recorded its first case in 11 days.

2 new cases and no deaths for NZ so CMR is 1.432% and active cases remain at 22.

The UK recorded 581 new cases and 155 deaths yesterday so the CMR rises to 15.502%.

Just under 50k new cases in the USA yesterday and 378 deaths sees CMR down to 4.374% and active cases down to 52.0% but the raw numbers are rising. Note that the USA is actually minus one day due to time differences.

Other notable points:
Global new cases were the 2nd highest recorded;
Qatar passes 100k cases;
Brazil completes 4M, India 10M and the USA 38M tests;
Africa passes 500k and Europe 2.5M cases;
Africa records a new daily high of 17,342 cases;

Venezuela (419), Algeria (475) - for the 6th day in a row; Venezuela (661), Israel (1,473), Argentina (2,979) and Colombia (4,213) recorded new daily highs, those in blue for the second consecutive day and those in red for a third or more consecutive day.

[Mulva]

I think it is the Footy Gods punishing VicGovCo, the AFL VFL and Eddie for doing that 50-year MCG grand final deal where no other state or interstate team knew it was being negotiated until after it was signed and announced.

Now they are looking at no footy in Vic, and looking at contingencies in case the GF would be played in front of 0 fans at the G

[Sprintey]

Just wondering if anyone wants to form a Victorian curling or bobsled team, so we can be safely shipped away to train in sunny Perth or QLD? lol @ sports

[LG17]

To any Victorian members affected by this latest recurrence, keep your chins up.
As difficult as it may seem, it shouldn't be forever.

[ford71V8]

Dont know if its possible to embed tweets in here, but I wanted to share Eric Bana's comment from yesterday - funny guy

[russellw]

I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually be trying to cross the Vic/NSW border but apparently business is booming for the police manning the crossings if media reports are anything to go by.

The list of permitted exemptions is very small so it's not going to be an easy thing for however long this restriction lasts - at least 14 days currently.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by russellw

I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually be trying to cross the Vic/NSW border but apparently business is booming for the police manning the crossings if media reports are anything to go by.

The list of permitted exemptions is very small so it's not going to be an easy thing for however long this restriction lasts - at least 14 days currently.

Seriously people have been trying to break the border
Love to see some of the footage, probably on news tonight and more so ACA.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by russellw

I find it hard to believe that anyone would actually be trying to cross the Vic/NSW border but apparently business is booming for the police manning the crossings if media reports are anything to go by.

The list of permitted exemptions is very small so it's not going to be an easy thing for however long this restriction lasts - at least 14 days currently.

At border towns, or crossings outside those areas?

I can understand if it was happening at the border towns like Echuca/Moama, Albury/Wodonga etc. It must be a massive pain in the **** for people in those towns. Imagine how many of their daily services/shops are being cut off.

No excuse outside those border towns though.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

At border towns, or crossings outside those areas?

I can understand if it was happening at the border towns like Echuca/Moama, Albury/Wodonga etc. It must be a massive pain in the **** for people in those towns. Imagine how many of their daily services/shops are being cut off.

No excuse outside those border towns though.

Unbelievable how stupid people are. I'm 30km south of the border in Chiltern ATM and I saw 2 caravans thinking they could sneak across the river at Howlong this morning. The army had them turned around quick smart.
There was a group of road cyclist I talked to yesterday who regularly ride from Albury to here thinking they were simply going to ignore direction and continue to do so.
Feel sorry for Moama residents as there are not many close bigger towns on the NSW side compared to Yarrawonga.

Myself I have jobs lined up in Newcastle later in the year but quite happy to stay working here in the North East at least until November. Just a matter of juggling jobs around.

[auxr]

I'm in WA currently staying behind locked borders - and plan to continue to do so.

I am thinking of you guys in the Eastern States with the current situation arising - stay safe - also hoping mass panic does not rear it's ugly head.

However, what we don't want over here is a Mr Palmer & his high hope that a Court challenge to re-open WA's borders will be successful - where people with these kind of ideas, particularly in this current climate come from beggars belief.

[Sprintey]

auxr most of the fam is in WA and very glad that is the case, particularly mum who was a bit rebellious when I was advising her to isolate "I just went down the shop to get some meat for the birds..."

Don't really want to do politics, but Mark McGowan has done very well protecting his people. Good on him. Everyone else seems to be trying and success will be getting those efforts ahead of where the virus is. Now mum is safe and the birds are fed and everything is pretty close to what normal was and people are safe.

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

auxr most of the fam is in WA and very glad that is the case, particularly mum who was a bit rebellious when I was advising her to isolate "I just went down the shop to get some meat for the birds..."

Don't really want to do politics, but Mark McGowan has done very well protecting his people. Good on him. Everyone else seems to be trying and success will be getting those efforts ahead of where the virus is. Now mum is safe and the birds are fed and everything is pretty close to what normal was and people are safe.

Totally agree - we are very lucky to have Mark McGowan who has stood firm.

You stay safe - glad to hear most of the family is in WA.

Cheers

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by auxr

Totally agree - we are very lucky to have Mark McGowan who has stood firm.

You stay safe - glad to hear most of the family is in WA.

Cheers

Thanks auxr, we've been keeping our heads down over school hols. Today, 1st surfcoast case in a long while... that's the school hols coming home to roost. Next 2 weeks we will see how many infections.

2 active in Geelong as of today, they popped up yesterday. The 'Weekly times' does a really good summary of cases in regional Vic:

https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/ne...ffa5ea10886444

It's freely available to see and they update it regularly.

[Franco Cozzo]

I note that WA is now trying to stop international arrivals landing in Perth.

[auxr]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I note that WA is now trying to stop international arrivals landing in Perth.

Correct - the government here is very touchy in regard to potential outside infection threats.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I note that WA is now trying to stop international arrivals landing in Perth.

I know they are citizens and all, but is it worth infecting one of our biggest cities again, locking it down and shutting down an entire state, to keep them flying in?