Coronavirus 3 - Al Pacino's turn to mumble

[think positive]

Any state rivalry can go to hell, I wouldn’t wish this year on my worst enemy, if I was in Sydney I’d put a note out to the family that this Sunday is now Christmas Day! Because what is the chance this cleans up in the next few days? Sadly the odds are it get worse. I really hope not.

[stui magpie]

My daughter's partner has all her family in Sydney, they visited them a couple of weeks ago when the borders re-opened, I'd assumed that they would be planning on going back up in january.

I'm going back up to Toc after Christmas, if the border's shut and I can't get back to Melbourne, I won't lose any sleep about it.

[Dark Beanie]

We are having family Xmas in Shepp this year.
One of my sisters is coming down from Canberra. If a border closure is announced she and her husband are going to pack the car straight away and make a dash for it.

I know a few people who have booked holidays on the NSW coast after Xmas, they will be nervous especially those with kids (after all that home schooling they want a break)

[What'sinaname]

So dumb that aircrew weren't subject to strict quarantine rules.

[Dark Beanie]

My sister and hubby decided to drive down to Melbourne today to avoid border closure. They had organised a permit but didn’t want to take any chances. Staying with my nephew for a few days then up to Shepp on Wednesday.

[Pies4shaw]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/20/as-covid-death-toll-soars-ever-higher-sweden-wonders-who-to-blame

[Pies4shaw]

Hmmm: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-21/uk-new-covid-strain-detected-in-australian-returned-travellers/13002382

[David]

Oh good.

Any early suggestions on names for the next thread? Personally, I'm torn between Coronavirus 4: A New Hope and Coronavirus 4: Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

[Dark Beanie]

If NSW can't get their outbreak under control, I'd be going for the 2nd one.

[stui magpie]

I'd go for Coronavirus 4 - Lockdown Dan and the creeping assumptions.

I see the report for the hotel quarantine inquiry has been tabled, massive waste of time that it was. After all that apparently still no-one knows who made the decision to engage private security or why it was made, despite a shonky procurement process and millions being spent. But good ole Dan is still Captain Accountability.

[Pies4shaw]

^ Paragraphs 226 to 228 of Chapter 5 make it plain that, in the Inquiry's view, the Chief Commissioner of Police made the effective decision - in substance, it was Ashton's preference and the other public servants simply accepted that and ran with it.

"... I find that Mr Ashton expressed a
‘preference’ in the VSB meeting and in conversation with Commissioner Crisp that Victoria Police
not be the first tier of enforcement in the Program, consistent with Commissioner Crisp’s text
to AC Grainger at 5.20pm.320 In circumstances where Victoria Police was present at the SCC
meeting as the law enforcement agency for Victoria and where, under the Victoria Police
Act 2013 (Vic), only the CCP can make operational decisions about how police are deployed,
I find that this ‘preference’ carried considerable weight at the SCC meeting. The weight attributed
to this preference must be qualified by reference to the fact, as already stated, that there was
no evidence of a formal request being made to Mr Ashton or the Minister for Police and Emergency
Services for Victoria Police members to be deployed as the frontline of security in the Program.
Victoria Police was not formally asked and, therefore, did not formally refuse, but its view was
clearly articulated, and the likely outcome of any potential request clearly foreshadowed.
227. The Premier was asked to comment on the evidence from Minister Neville and Mr Ashton that
they had not been consulted in relation to the decision to use private security or the enforcement
model in general. The Premier said it would be very unusual or even unprecedented for a decision
of this type to have been made without consulting the Minister and/or the CCP. He said that,
ordinarily, he would expect the views of the CCP to be sought in relation to a decision about
enforcement, and that he would expect the CCP’s view to carry some weight.321 His expectation
accords with the conclusions I have reached based on the evidence set out above.
228. The effect on others at the SCC meeting when hearing of Victoria Police’s view was significant.
As soon as AC Grainger expressed the view and Commissioner Crisp asked who then would
organise private security, Ms Febey said she understood it was for DJPR to take it up. The meeting
moved on to other topics, with the decision now made, though those at the meeting do not appear
to have been aware that such a significant decision had been taken."

https://content.royalcommission.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-12/0387_RC_Covid-19%20Final%20Report_Volume%202_Chapter%205_Digital.pdf

[think positive]

[Tannin]

[roar]

Is anyone else concerned that the Australian Open is going ahead? I just can't see how it won't lead to a covid-out-of-control situation.

[Tannin]

Given the uber-responsible, hyper-cautious behaviour of tennis pros so far, roar (and not mentioning any names, especially not sub-moronic idiot ones such as Novak Djokovic) , it's a pretty fair bet that it will be a clusterfarrk practicing to be a full-blown disaster when it grows up.

Move it to Siberia. The weather there is nice at this time of year.