Australian Response

Many Irish are in Australia, you may know someone there.

Australian doctors have issued an urgent plea to governments to immediately change course in their response to COVID-19.

• The doctors warn of an Italy-style disaster in Australia unless stricter measures are enforced
• The pleas are made in an open-letter circulating online among doctors
• The letter has almost 4,000 signatories, the author says

They argue that under current preparations, Australia will be "in a worse position than Italy is currently in".

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/australia-doctors-coronavirus-letter-pleading-government-action/12062368

A few days ago at a press conference Australian PM said he had been on the phone to Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister spoke to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.

The two leaders updated each other on their countries’ respective responses to the virus and agreed on the need to take a science based approach to mitigate its impact.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-call-with-prime-minister-of-australia-scott-morrison-14-march-2020

At the same press conference his chief medical officer said closing schools would 'interefere with herd immunity'.
The state chief medical officers were more amenable to closing schools.

Murphy said there were “very few reports of symptomatic infection in children” and authorities don’t know “whether children are getting infected but just don’t get symptoms [and] they can still spread it or they’re not getting infected”. “The former is probably more likely.”

Murphy also suggested children getting infected may contribute to herd immunity.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/15/australian-government-says-a-coronavirus-general-lockdown-remains-an-option


This was like a bad comedy. At this press conference the PM said they would 'recommend' no more gatherings of 500+ from Monday (press conference was last Friday). But that he was going to to the football match on Saturday and Church on Sunday. Then just after the press conference one of his ministers came down with Covid19 and off to hospital he went.

As with most other places the handling has been spotty at best.

Australia at 452
https://www.news.com.au/topics/coronavirus

530 now

Coronavirus Australia live updates: Indoor gatherings over 100 banned, all overseas travel discouraged
Scott Morrison has declared a biosecurity emergency, banning all indoor gatherings of more than 100 people and announcing blanket "do not travel" advice for the first time in Australia’s history.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-live-updates-tougher-crowd-measures-expected-as-virus-cases-surpass-450/live-coverage/8111dfa0aa77a938681d17c79839e383

The West Australian AMA president, Andrew Miller, spoke to the ABC a few moments ago.

He believes Australia is headed to a “reduced school model”:

We have a reduced school model. Kids that need to be there for educational reasons or for family reasons, the children of critical workers or people who need to stay in the workplace have no one else to help, that’s the sort of thing that would still keep going to school.

We need to avoid getting to the stage of Italy or Wuhan, where they had to have complete lockdown, which causes chaos at the other end.

That’s why you’re seeing people panicking and provisioning a bit because they’re worried, they’re intelligent and watching what’s going on overseas and they so the numbers here are now starting to kick up on exactly the same gradient as the curve did in other countries.

We’ve had some effect but we need to get on with it because of the nature of the maths here.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/mar/18/australia-coronavirus-live-updates-test-kits-covid19-nsw-victoria-qld-schools-latest-news-update

VinLieger

Morrison is fcking clueless hes banned gatherings of over 500 but is keeping schools open many of which are 1000+, also he asked that all school children be kept 1.5 metres apart at all times.... The mans living on another planet

Two primary schools in Melbourne’s inner west have reported confirmed cases of COVID-19 in their communities, but will remain open.

A parent at Kensington Primary School, and a parent at Newport Gardens Primary, have both tested positive to the virus.

However, parents have been told the schools will stay open, based on the advice of the Department of Health and Human Services.

“DHHS has advised that there is no need for our school to close or for staff or students to take any further precautionary action,” parents and carers at Kensington Primary were told.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/national/victoria/second-victorian-public-school-shuts-after-staff-coronavirus-case-20200319-p54bn1.html

Another country throwing itself into the fire. Disaster in the making

Noo

I'm in australia, where they've put in a ban for gathering of more than 100 people...

"Schools, universities, airports, public transport, medical and emergency services facilities, aged care homes, jails, courts, parliaments, supermarkets and many workplaces are exempt."

....so business as usual then. Nothings really changing day to day, just larger events are cancelled.

They're telling Australian citizens to return home asap. I've been in touch with an aussie friend in Japan would is trying without much luck to get back. I told her when she does eventually get back to be in for a shock....because life is no different (apart from the 2 weeks self isolation she'll have to do). It really is "as you were" here. It's a joke.

Was seemingly in discussion with Boris Johnson so can see where he got his original direction but UK now seem to be changing tack.

Wonder what it will take for him to change direction now ?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a travel ban on all non-residents coming to Australia, to go into effect tomorrow night.

Anyone who is not a citizen, resident, or close family member of a citizen or resident will be denied entry into the country.

It comes after the Reserve Bank drastically slashed Australia’s official interest rate to a new historic low in response to the coronavirus pandemic.Australia now has 637 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 307 in New South Wales, 150 in Victoria, 94 in Queensland, 37 in South Australia, 35 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, three in the Australian Capital Territory and one in the Northern Territory.https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/e4c1494a3a61b3e55faf27804d3f6ca4

Peregrinus

Emmett Nice Underarm wrote: »

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a travel ban on all non-residents coming to Australia, to go into effect tomorrow night.

Anyone who is not a citizen, resident, or close family member of a citizen or resident will be denied entry into the country.

It comes after the Reserve Bank drastically slashed Australia’s official interest rate to a new historic low in response to the coronavirus pandemic.Australia now has 637 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 307 in New South Wales, 150 in Victoria, 94 in Queensland, 37 in South Australia, 35 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, three in the Australian Capital Territory and one in the Northern Territory.https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/e4c1494a3a61b3e55faf27804d3f6ca4

And the 637 (known) cases already in Australia mean that the travel ban, on its own, isn't going to do much to prevent the ramping up of the epidemic. It needs to be matched by much, much more vigorous domestic social distancing measures than we have yet seen.

Scotty from Marketing doesn't enjoy much in the way of public confidence as a national leader in a time of crisis. I suspect that a profound scepticism about the ability of a government led by him to deal effectively with something like this contributes to the air of panic that leads to absurd panic-buying of toilet paper, etc.

Limits on asthma puffers and children’s Panadol as panic buying hits pharmacies

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-asthma-puffers-sold-out-as-panic-buying-hits-pharmacies/news-story/20d91bfba7948f6d7464d2c2d36fa2d9

Anyone else feel like they are living a nightmare?

Emmett Nice Underarm

Emmett Nice Underarm wrote: »

Anyone else feel like they are living a nightmare?

Not really feeling the nightmare.

I’ve been out and about a few times this week and barring a lot of empty supermarket shelves you wouldn’t know anything was wrong.

The shelves have been getting replenished but are quickly being emptied unfortunately.

Example, the local Coles and Woolies were very product empty yesterday (or day before) but we’re pretty full today. Looked a lot more normal.

Peregrinus

The nightmare is that you're out and about and you wouldn't know anything was wrong. All kinds of social distancing measures that should be taken aren't being taken.

Peregrinus

Peregrinus wrote: »

The nightmare is that you're out and about and you wouldn't know anything was wrong. All kinds of social distancing measures that should be taken aren't being taken.

My nightmares look a lot worse than that.

I’m not underplaying it, at all, but things could be a lot worse.

Peregrinus

My nightmare is that your nightmare is coming.

Thirty five people linked to a wedding south of Sydney have tested positive for coronavirus, as wedding industry vendors become increasingly anxious about being exposed to the illness.

NSW Health confirmed 31 people who attended a wedding at Tumbling Waters Retreat in Stanwell Tops on March 6 have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, including five people who live interstate.

Another four NSW residents who were close contacts of the guests have also been diagnosed with COVID-19.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/vendors-anxious-as-35-coronavirus-cases-linked-to-wedding-20200319-p54by4.html

The Tasmanian government has declared a state of emergency and placed tough new restrictions on mainland Australians seeking entry.

Introducing the toughest border control measures in the country, Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Thursday that anyone seeking entry to Tasmania from anywhere else in Australia from midnight Friday would now be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

“Only essential travellers will be allowed into Tasmania without going into quarantine,” he said.

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-australia-tasmania-shuts-down-c-752281

Remote outback place of a few hundred people 500km from the nearest town (and hospital, which actually diverts patients to the coast):

Burke Shire Council has announced tough travel restrictions in the isolated shire on the Gulf of Carpentaria near the NT border and banned meetings of more than 10 people.

With limited facilities at the local hospital to deal with an outbreak, and with Mount Isa 500km away by bitumen roads, the Shire's Disaster Management Committee has taken drastic measures to keep COVID-19 out of the community.

They said Rex Airline would stop flying to Burketown from March 21 and the Burke Shire would enter lockdown for non-essential travel.

https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/6686965/burke-shire-imposes-non-essential-lockdown-travel-restrictions/

Two weeks ago - Pitjantjatjara (pronounced 'pit-mun-jarra') Aboriginal lands close up

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-06/apy-lands-moves-to-restrict-visitor-due-to-coronavirus-fears/12030642

Why? Because the truly remote aboriginal lands are third world like in conditions. Huge numbers of co-morbidity, kidney disease, diabetes, lack of fresh food etc. Life expectancy is far lower in these areas.

For the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population born in 2015–2017, life expectancy was estimated to be 8.6 years lower than that of the non-Indigenous population for males (71.6 years compared with 80.2) and 7.8 years for females (75.6 compared with 83.4).Jul 17, 2019

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths/contents/life-expectancy

In 2016, nearly three in four (71 per cent) Indigenous deaths were from chronic diseases (including circulatory disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory disease). These diseases accounted for 79 per cent of the gap in mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Smoking prevalence for Indigenous Australians (aged 15 years and over) has declined significantly (a reduction of 9 percentage points) between 2002 and 2014-15, from 51 to 42 per cent

https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/reports/closing-the-gap-2018/healthy-lives.html

This is a side to Australia that a typical backpacker or Aussie themselves rarely see. These places are so off the beaten track. Just google the APY Lands and see where it is. Its no along any tourist route and to get into it would require a lot of driving on dirt tracks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anangu_Pitjantjatjara_Yankunytjatjara

Hopefully the virus doesnt get into any of the indigenous communities. They have no hospitals really. They rely on flying doctors who simply fly patients to coastal hospitals which we expect to be full soon. Mining flies people in and out for their work and is a possible transmission route for the virus to enter these areas but even so these mining camps are often self contained and remote from communities (exceptions like relatively big mining towns like Mount Isa in Queensland and some towns in the Iron ore region in the Kimberley). So airports are the likely mingling point.

Graphs and charts (any country can be selected):
https://nucleuswealth.com/coronavirus-covid19-dashboard-charts-and-data-every-country/australia

Teacher unions want governments to facilitate work-from-home arrangements for vulnerable teachers
There have been reports of teachers being abused by parents because schools are staying open
Governments say they are following medical advice in refusing to close schools

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/e434489f660d0a1ff557ba83d9e3a378

Australia now has 710 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 307 in New South Wales, 150 in Victoria, 144 in Queensland, 42 in South Australia, 52 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, four in the Australian Capital Territory and one in the Northern Territory.

rossie1977

It's usually the counties with strongly conservative governments that are slowest to react. Australia being another prime example.

I can imagine the talking heads on nightly TV calling whole thing a overhyped hoax a few weeks ago. Some of the Aussie right wing commentary would give Fox News and far right youtube stuff a run for its money

Thought it was ironic to hear the PM talking about listening to scientists and acting on their advice.

Wonder is it the same few scientists that don’t believe we have climate change.

Australia having a fairly rough time of it.

The droughts. The fires. The floods. And now this.

garyskeepers

Noel Gifted Earache wrote: »

things could be a lot worse.

yeah hang of for a sec

J_1980

rossie1977 wrote: »

It's usually the counties with strongly conservative governments that are slowest to react. Australia being another prime example.

I can imagine the talking heads on nightly TV calling whole thing a overhyped hoax a few weeks ago. Some of the Aussie right wing commentary would give Fox News and far right youtube stuff a run for its money

Such nonsense.
Both Italy and spain have centre-left/populist left governments. No 1 and No2 basket cases in the world.

J_1980

Noel Gifted Earache wrote: »

Australia having a fairly rough time of it.

The droughts. The fires. The floods. And now this.

Their currency is also doing funny moves.

Four people aboard a cruise ship that berthed in Sydney on Thursday morning have tested positive for coronavirus, and other passengers who may have been exposed have disembarked.

   https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/minister-says-four-people-aboard-a-cruise-ship-that-berthed-in-sydney-test-positive-20200320-p54c9n.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true 


Federal PM wants to do a suburb by suburb lockdown as needed

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://amp.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-faces-being-locked-down-suburb-by-suburb-20200320-p54cba.html&ved=2ahUKEwiBka6F9KjoAhVTVisKHbMYA1sQFjAAegQIBxAC&usg=AOvVaw39NMbgvEOdSbLbpA_EdQJN&ampcf=1

Madness