Coronavirus 3 - Al Pacino's turn to mumble

[Pies4shaw]

In Victoria, there were no new local cases. There were 2 new overseas-acquired cases (presently in Hotel Quarantine). There are now 23 active cases. 10,546 test results were reported.

[David]

[stui magpie]

I disagree.

I think most people took it from a position of self preservation. We closed the border to India to stop a highly infectious version of the virus getting into the country. If people were going to take a back door to get in during that time, they're basically putting other Australians at risk. The threat of fines and/or jail was intended as a deterrent and clearly worked.

Individual rights don't override the desires of the rest of us not to let this mutant version into the community and kill more people. That shouldn't be a question of left or right.

[David]

^ How was anyone going to get in the back door? And how do you know whether anyone was actually deterred from doing so in the end?

[stui magpie]

by going somewhere else then flying into Australia.

The whole thing about fines and jail were a direct response to the 3 cricketers who left the IPL and flew back to Aus but came via Dohar, Bangladesh. That was accidental as it was the first flight they could get and they were in the air before the ban was announced, but it opened up the loophole.

As far as how many were deterred by the threat, how many people only started shrieking after that part was announced?

[Pies4shaw]

In Victoria, there were no new local cases. There was 1 new overseas-acquired case (presently in Hotel Quarantine). There are now 21 active cases. 12,918 test results were reported.

[think positive]

and in four three two one.....wait for it

[Pies4shaw]

^ I presume you mean this, TP:

Victorian health authorities are urgently investigating how a returned traveller who completed his hotel quarantine in South Australia became infected with COVID-19.

The man, who is aged in his 30s, completed his hotel quarantine last Tuesday and flew directly back to Melbourne before returning to his home at Wollert that day, health authorities said.

He developed symptoms on Saturday, got tested on Monday and returned a positive result this morning, the Victorian health department said in a statement.

"Further testing has been urgently arranged to confirm the diagnosis," the department said.

"Until that time, the Department is treating this as a positive case and acting accordingly."

The Victorian government will provide an update at 3:15pm.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-11/ ... /100131038

[stui magpie]

Meanwhile in the UK

Coronavirus deaths have fallen to zero in England for only the second time since the pandemic began, as new research suggests Britain’s world-leading vaccine rollout slashes the risk of dying from COVID-19 by up to 97 per cent.

In a dramatic reversal of fortunes, the United Kingdom now has the lowest rate of daily deaths of any major country in Europe and will reopen more sections of its economy from next week.

First time they've had zero daily deaths since June 2020.

So, lets celebrate by reducing restrictions.

We are taking a step towards that moment when we learn to live responsibly with COVID ... when we cease to rely on government edicts and make our own decisions.”

From next Monday, people in England will be allowed to mix in homes, dine indoors at pubs and restaurants and stay overnight in hotels. Cinemas, theatres and museums will reopen and university students will return to in-person teaching. Up to 4000 people will be allowed to attend outdoor events, caps on funerals will be removed, and people will be able to hug their relatives again.

All sounds good, but what do you mean about living responsibly with the virus?

The UK is recording about 2000 confirmed COVID-19 cases per day compared to the peak of nearly 70,000 in early January.

OK, Opening stuff up when you're still getting 2000 cases per day is a little different to how we operate here. Thankfully.

https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/ ... 57qo0.html

[stui magpie]

and in four three two one.....wait for it

To be fair, they've done better than I expected. Back on page 90 I guessed we'd be back in lockdown by Yesterday

[Pies4shaw]

It appears that the working hypothesis is that this fellow caught the virus in HQ in SA (the person in the next room tested positive on 4 May). Whatever else comes from this incident, it suggests - yet again - that hotel quarantine doesn't work. It's predicated on the notion that 14 days will do it - which is only remotely plausible if we are certain that infection can't be transmitted in HQ. That's plainly a nonsense. This seems to happen every couple of weeks somewhere in the country and it is only good luck that things haven't (yet) gone seriously awry again.

[think positive]

^ I presume you mean this, TP:

Victorian health authorities are urgently investigating how a returned traveller who completed his hotel quarantine in South Australia became infected with COVID-19.

The man, who is aged in his 30s, completed his hotel quarantine last Tuesday and flew directly back to Melbourne before returning to his home at Wollert that day, health authorities said.

He developed symptoms on Saturday, got tested on Monday and returned a positive result this morning, the Victorian health department said in a statement.

"Further testing has been urgently arranged to confirm the diagnosis," the department said.

"Until that time, the Department is treating this as a positive case and acting accordingly."

The Victorian government will provide an update at 3:15pm.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-11/ ... /100131038

I hope its that one. someone I know got a phone call

[Pies4shaw]

^ Initial exposure sites include:

Tier 1 - Melbourne CBD - Curry Vault, 18-20 Bank Place, India Gate Spices and Groceries, 14C, 560-590 High Street Epping (I though the Minister said there were 3 but he only listed 2);

Tier 2 - TIC Group warehouse 232 Blackshaws Rd, Altona, 7-11 at 705 High St, Epping

Actually, I think the Minister is counting each separate period at a site as a separate "exposure site".

[Pies4shaw]

According to the ABC, there is a 3rd tier 1 site - Epping Woolworths on the corner of Cooper St and High St, from 5.40pm-6.38pm on May 8.

[stui magpie]

Cue WPT to start ranting about Steven Marshall exporting the Adelaaayyde virus to poor Melbourne.