Coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2) outbreak discussion

[mullokintyre]

I was a bit sceptical of this (I mean its on Twitter), so I hunted around and found something..
According to Australian Doctors News its true in at least two states.
GPs could face fines up to $20,000 for improper use of coronavirus serology tests aer at least two states have prohibited their use for diagnostic purposes.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt announced last month that the Federal Government had secured 1.5 million of the point-of-care tests to be used in general practices in the fight against COVID-19.
Mick

The fines don't seem to affect woolies.
From Todays OZ

Woolworths is working to roll out rapid antigen testing across all of its distribution sites across the country following a successful trial of the Covid-19 tool at four worksites in Sydney.

Since August 27 Woolworths has conducted 21,439 tests with 10 positive rapid antigen testing results.

Those cases were then screened through the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, where seven returned positive.

Seems a bit odd that a grocery company can make a decision about a medical test, but a GP cannot.
Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

There has a been a bit of controversy in the US after Texas effectively outlawed abortions beyond six weeks.
From ABC News

President Joe Biden's administration has sued Texas, seeking to block enforcement of a new law almost entirely banning abortion in the state, as Democrats fear the right to abortion established almost 50 years ago may be at risk.

The US Supreme Court last week let stand the Texas law banning abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy — before many women realise they are pregnant.

Although that decision did not address the constitutionality of the Texas law, it represented a major victory for social conservatives who have been trying to ban abortion since the court's 1973 Roe v Wade decision established the constitutional right to the procedure.

Attorney General Merrick Garland called the Texas law "clearly unconstitutional".

In the accompanying photograph there is a phalanx of women with the various slogans about a woman's body is her own, hands off our bodies etc etc.
Thats all very well, but what are they gunna do when a woman comes up with the same argument for being against compulsory vaccination?
Should be an interesting conundrum.
Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

Just recently, there some posters who criticised the feds and alternatively praised the QLD premier over the building of a Quarantine facility at Welcamp airport.
They were also quite critical about some ASF members who were a tad sceptical about the proposal.
Despite their protestations, it seems some of the airlines are a tad sceptical about the Wellcamp proposal as well.

From Todays OZ

Airlines have raised doubts about the commercial viability of operating international flights into Toowoomba’s Wellcamp Airport, where a new 1000-bed quarantine facility is to be built.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced last month her government had given the facility the green light despite a lack of support from Canberra.

The federal government claimed Wellcamp was unsuitable for quarantine accommodation because it was not close to a tertiary hospital and instead backed a site at Pinkenba near Brisbane Airport.
The Board of Airline Representatives of Australia, which has 33 carrier members, said there were a number of commercial and operational challenges involved in flying into regional areas.

BARA managing director Barry Abrams said it was difficult to see the commercial benefit to an airline of splitting operations between Brisbane and Wellcamp.
“(An airline) would have to have its own staffing out there, for check-in, ground handling, baggage, and then there’s the issue of (plane) crews,” Mr Abrams said.

“Would there be a police escort of crews to a designated hotel and what is going to be the cost to the airline? There are many, many challenges.”

He said the size of the facility meant airlines would be restricted to about 64 passengers a day on the way into Toowoomba, and “probably nobody” on the way out, casting doubt on commercial viability for airlines.

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines currently operate freight-only flights into Wellcamp, several times a week.

Singapore Airlines regional vice-president Louis Arul said for that reason it “may not be so difficult to start up operations (to Wellcamp) repatriating Australians back home”.

Mick

 

[Joules MM1]

Eric Feigl-Ding

@DrEricDin
·5h
Amazing—new Moderna combination vaccine of 6 mRNAs against 3 different respiratory viruses: #SARSCoV2 booster & influenza booster & RSV booster—all in one single vaccine! Successful in mice. Bring on the clinical trials in humans quick… #COVID19 #RSV #flu

 

[wayneL]

The fines don't seem to affect woolies.
From Todays OZ


Seems a bit odd that a grocery company can make a decision about a medical test, but a GP cannot.
Mick

It's not odd at all... In a fascist system.

In fact it is expected.

 

[Joules MM1]

 

[wayneL]

Covid by the numbers... Just the facts ma'am

Just the facts: Coronavirus in Australia by the numbers | The Spectator Australia

Notes: The data below is generally current as at 7 September 2021 however there may be some minor discrepancies due to jurisdictional reporting methods and timeframes etc. A key source of information…

www.spectator.com.au

 

[basilio]

How NSW lost control of COVID.

Sydney lockdown delay after superspreader party

It has emerged that the New South Wales government waited to lock down all of Sydney until two days after health authorities discovered they had not contained a superspreader event blamed for the Delta outbreak in the city's south-west.

www.abc.net.au

 

[mullokintyre]

A different perspective on Craig Kelly and his campaign as Freedom Fighter.

In defence of Craig Kelly, freedom fighter - The Shot

What most of us don’t realise, because we’re sheeple, is that we’re being lied to.

theshot.net.au

Carig kelly has been threatened with court action over 'misleading " texts.
Mind Your health

Professor Skerritt told the ABC on Wednesday the campaign was “quite misleading” because it gave people a long list of deaths that were not caused by vaccines.
Loading
The text message said “Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccines Adverse Events Report” and linked to a campaign site that used the TGA’s logo and the Commonwealth coat of arms in a way that looked like the medical regulator’s own site.
The site listed 448 deaths as a “reported outcome” after vaccination with AstraZeneca or Pfizer without telling people that most of this tally comprised deaths from other causes.
Professor Skerritt said the “adverse outcomes” were investigated by an independent panel that found only nine of the deaths could be attributed to the vaccines in some way.
“When we look down at cause and effect, we believe that there’s a total of nine reports of deaths that can be associated to vaccines, and this is against the background of 20 million doses of vaccines given in Australia,” he told the ABC.
“When you have 3000 people dying every week of the year, and especially with vaccines given among older people, it’s not surprising that, coincidentally, there are hundreds of people who, sadly, die within days of being vaccinated.”
Doctors certified 385.6 deaths on average each day from all causes last year, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in March.
Mr Kelly said he was yet to hear from the TGA and had included disclosures on the campaign site, saying Australians had to be offered “informed consent” for medical intervention such as vaccination.

Kelly's response was to say "bring it on".
He is suggesting that the authorities will not prosecute because they would be under oath themselves and not allowed to be a bit liberal the truth, plus the process of issuing subpoenas for documents may turf in a few things that they don't want made public.
Time will tell whether he is correct.
Mick

 

[wayneL]

Carig kelly has been threatened with court action over 'misleading " texts.
Mind Your health

Kelly's response was to say "bring it on".
He is suggesting that the authorities will not prosecute because they would be under oath themselves and not allowed to be a bit liberal the truth, plus the process of issuing subpoenas for documents may turf in a few things that they don't want made public.
Time will tell whether he is correct.
Mick

I have just ordered a bulk supply popcorn and beer for that stoush.

And forwhat it's worth, whether Craig is right or wrong he's acting totally in good faith imo, so I hope he is on the money with this

 

[DB008]

Denmark lifts all Covid restrictions as vaccinations top 80%​

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Scandinavian country declares it no longer considers coronavirus a ‘socially critical’ disease​

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Denmark’s high vaccination rate has enabled it to become one of the first EU countries to lift all domestic restrictions, after 548 days with curbs in place to limit the spread of Covid-19,​

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The return to normality has been gradual, but as of Friday, the digital pass – a proof of having been vaccinated – is no longer required when entering nightclubs, making it the last virus safeguard to fall.

More than 80% of people above the age of 12 in the Scandinavian country have had the two shots, leading the Danish government to declare as of midnight it no longer considers Covid-19 a “socially critical” disease.

“I wouldn’t say it is too early. We have opened the door but we have also said that we can close it if needed,” Søren Riis Paludan, a professor of virology at Aarhus University in Denmark’s second largest city, said.

The tipping point in Denmark to start easing restrictions came when a majority in the 50+ age group had both shots, Riis Paludan said.

Since 14 August, mask-wearing on public transport has no longer been mandatory. On 1 September, nightclubs reopened, limits on public gatherings were removed and it was no longer mandatory to show the pass to sit inside restaurants, go to sports matches, gyms or the hairdresser.​

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However, the wearing of face coverings is still mandatory at airports and people are advised to wear one when at the doctor, test centres or hospitals. Distancing is still recommended and strict entry restrictions still apply for non-Danes at the borders. The outbreak is still considered “an ordinary dangerous illness”.​

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The Danish health minister, Magnus Heunicke, said in August that “the epidemic is under control”, but warned “we are not out of the epidemic” and the government would act as needed.​

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https://www.theguardian.com/weather...-restrictions-as-vaccinations-top-80-per-cent​

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[sptrawler]

Australia's vaccine hesitancy is becoming a thing of the past especially in NSW, fear is a strong motivator, I guess it's the fear of never being able to leave your house. ?

 

[sptrawler]

Now we have the media cranking up the doom and gloom.

New science lobby group claims NSW reopening will crash ICUs

Unless restrictions are reimposed, NSW’s road map to reopening would lead to all the state’s ICU beds being full for five weeks over Christmas, modelling by OzSAGE projects.

www.smh.com.au

From the article:
Modelling by a new scientific lobby group projects that NSW’s road map to reopening may lead to all the state’s intensive care unit beds being full for five weeks over Christmas and almost 1000 people dying from COVID-19.

The modelling is the first release from OzSAGE, a group of high-profile scientists who have come together to call for Australia to change course on reopening.
OzSAGE’s membership includes some of Australia’s best-known scientists including leading epidemiologist Tony Blakely, Burnet Institute head Brendan Crabb, the Grattan Institute’s Stephen Duckett, the Kirby Institute’s biosecurity program head Raina MacIntyre and ANU vice-chancellor and Nobel-prize winning astronomer Brian Schmidt.

 

[IFocus]

Now we have the media cranking up the doom and gloom.

New science lobby group claims NSW reopening will crash ICUs

Unless restrictions are reimposed, NSW’s road map to reopening would lead to all the state’s ICU beds being full for five weeks over Christmas, modelling by OzSAGE projects.

www.smh.com.au

From the article:
Modelling by a new scientific lobby group projects that NSW’s road map to reopening may lead to all the state’s intensive care unit beds being full for five weeks over Christmas and almost 1000 people dying from COVID-19.

The modelling is the first release from OzSAGE, a group of high-profile scientists who have come together to call for Australia to change course on reopening.
OzSAGE’s membership includes some of Australia’s best-known scientists including leading epidemiologist Tony Blakely, Burnet Institute head Brendan Crabb, the Grattan Institute’s Stephen Duckett, the Kirby Institute’s biosecurity program head Raina MacIntyre and ANU vice-chancellor and Nobel-prize winning astronomer Brian Schmidt.

Nothing to do with the media its the modelling that's making the call.

Compare NSW opening up at what 60% ish total with ICUs over run compared to Danish more than 80% of people above the age of 12.

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[sptrawler]

Nothing to do with the media its the modelling that's making the call.

Compare NSW opening up at what 60% ish total with ICUs over run compared to Danish more than 80% of people above the age of 12.

What could possibly go wrong?

So as long as you call it modelling, it doesn't matter where it comes from, priceless. ?
Who is OzSAGE?
Should the Government use their modelling to decide their course of action?
Or are they another "new science group"that fits in with your perception? Of canning any Government, as long as it isn't a labor Government.
WayneL will be happy, as OzSAGE seems to be suggesting waiting until everyone is vaccinated, which could be some time as in Wayne's case. ?

From the article:
The OzSAGE modelling is solely for the effect that easing restrictions would have in NSW. It has yet to model the outcome of eased restrictions in Victoria or the rest of the country.
Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said the group represented scientists who found themselves on one extreme of the risk spectrum.

“They say ‘nobody left behind’. Now, we could take that approach. But it would mean you’d have to extend restrictions,” he said.
“There would be a significant imposition on people’s freedoms – who have done the right thing and are vaccinated – based on this philosophy that we can’t possibly open up until we’ve spent the next six to 12 months vaccinating everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated.

 

[moXJO]

Screw the modelling- this bastards opening. So batten down the hatches if you ain't prepared. Between an economic implosion, or a thousand deaths. Well the government has made its choice.

 

[sptrawler]

Screw the modelling- this bastards opening. So batten down the hatches if you ain't prepared. Between an economic implosion, or a thousand deaths. Well the government has made its choice.

What do you think will happen? You're there, you have a feel for it, we've discussed it endlessly on the forum.

 

[wayneL]

Another ray of hope

 

[moXJO]

What do you think will happen? You're there, you have a feel for it, we've discussed it endlessly on the forum.

Everyone has lockdown fatigue. It's more community numbness than anger. No one really is paying attention to the hospitals. Which is why I recommend getting the vax now. You cannot put this back in the bottle, so vax as many as they can to try and stem the tide.

I think hospitals will overfill and we get deaths. But it times out with the summer months. So realistically it's lucky in the timing. Some of the other states that tried locking down hard are only going to prolong the inevitable into next winter.

Everyone here is vaxxing to avoid restrictions. Young people especially. The only people that care about the virus are journos. And those sht mongers have so far got everything wrong.

 

[IFocus]

So as long as you call it modelling, it doesn't matter where it comes from, priceless. ?
Who is OzSAGE?
Should the Government use their modelling to decide their course of action?
Or are they another "new science group"that fits in with your perception? Of canning any Government, as long as it isn't a labor Government.
WayneL will be happy, as OzSAGE seems to be suggesting waiting until everyone is vaccinated, which could be some time as in Wayne's case. ?

From the article:
The OzSAGE modelling is solely for the effect that easing restrictions would have in NSW. It has yet to model the outcome of eased restrictions in Victoria or the rest of the country.
Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said the group represented scientists who found themselves on one extreme of the risk spectrum.

“They say ‘nobody left behind’. Now, we could take that approach. But it would mean you’d have to extend restrictions,” he said.
“There would be a significant imposition on people’s freedoms – who have done the right thing and are vaccinated – based on this philosophy that we can’t possibly open up until we’ve spent the next six to 12 months vaccinating everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated.

I didn't look as its an opinion and as for the government NSW and Federal they make up there own story then say they are following the modelling / health advice or national plan and then wont release the advice.

WayneL and others have blocked me which has been wonderful win win ?