Australia in a mess - NZ with a plan

[StartupRepair]

More than half of Australia is in lockdown now, sparked (imo) by the intransigence of the NSW Premier who ignored all warnings about Delta. Our procurement of and messaging around vaccines has been dangerously incompetent.
It all feels a bit bleak today. At least NZ seems to have a plan.

I thought Scotty spelt out his plan? So Australia has a plan, too.

Australia has fought so hard not to let the virus ravage our vulnerable and remote Aboriginal communities. This is now on the brink.

[[Western Local Health District records 25 new COVID-19 cases in Dubbo and Walgett
www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-13/25-new-covid-cases-in-western-local-health-district/100373984]]

...the intransigence of the NSW Premier who ignored all warnings about Delta

I agree OP. It's just feels like there's no going back now and she has really let Australia down.

Not all of Australia! We are doing fine here in the West thanks! But yes Gladys totally stuffed it, but thankfully it has people racing to get jabbed, and we are on track to hit 80% by December, when they are heavily foreshadowing we will be re-opening internal borders at least. Meanwhile the WA State Premier statedaddy has made the WA border even tighter, if you want to come in from NSW now not only do you need to quarantine, you also need at least one jab. Fine by me, I get my second jab next week.

I did wonder if it would encourage vaccine uptake.

I can see if you didn't see covid as a real threat you might not feel the need to get the jab.

It may be an interesting few months until December. However even this year the uk had a 3month lockdown - if they need to do that they will still reach 80% jabbed hopefully by the end.

However once they do let delta spread I think that will be hard as even with 80% vaccinated there sill3be hospital emissions etc. They have the benefit of planning for it though and not veing exhausted from streams of deaths etc the last 18 months.

Yes I expect NSW could be in lockdown until Xmas, hopefully Victoria will be out of lockdown soon too, they've had it very hard! I think they had fifteen cases in Vic today, so fingers crossed they are heading in the right direction at least.

I think that given when the outbreak started we had no idea how contagious delta was, Gladys response was correct at the time.

After all we managed to contain and suppress every other outbreak with the same management.

The virus is being spread within workplaces which cannot be closed, and families of those workers.

It's also spreading to regions outside sydney by people who refuse to follow public health orders, those people are being charged with those offences and really if someone wants to find a way to break the law they will.

I am assuming the WA stance on unvaccinated Australians being unable to enter the state is a short term plan until we reach 70/80% vaccination levels?

When the outbreak started There was enormous evidence from India and increasingly Indonesia of how bad Delta is
Then Victoria squashed it with a short sharp lockdown. It was completely obvious that Sydney' flirtation with staying open was going to end in disaster. Completely foreseeable.

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1

Not all of Australia! We are doing fine here in the West thanks! But yes Gladys totally stuffed it, but thankfully it has people racing to get jabbed, and we are on track to hit 80% by December, when they are heavily foreshadowing we will be re-opening internal borders at least. Meanwhile the WA State Premier statedaddy has made the WA border even tighter, if you want to come in from NSW now not only do you need to quarantine, you also need at least one jab. Fine by me, I get my second jab next week.

All hail state daddy 😜

Yeah agree with all of this, Gladys and her crew have blood on their hands, she was always the first the criticise WA’s short sharp lockdowns for one or two cases but as you say, we’re one of the few states enjoying freedom at the moment (for now) so it’s a proven strategy.

I’ll take Marks circuit breaker lockdowns that last 3-5 days over what NSW is dealing with right now.

And yep, we’re hopefully on track to have 80% jabbed by Christmas so while more than half of the country is locked down at the moment, there’s definitely a plan out.

I think, also, it was not quite factored in how different the socioeconomic, work, and housing situations of the bulk of the population living in those southwestern LGAs were to those of the bulk living in the northern beaches and the eastern suburbs during those lockdowns - so what worked quite well to quell an outbreak reasonably swiftly elsewhere prior, had far less hope of working now, and even less with the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant.

I’m in NZ and think it’s been dealt with brilliantly here so far. The plan announced yesterday - I’m really not so sure.

Essentially the plan is to maintain a policy of elimination/zero community covid while gradually opening up and allowing people coming into the country to self-isolate at home rather than in managed isolation hotels. I just can’t see how that won’t result in someone breaking the rules and we end up with outbreaks. The 2 policies seem incompatible.

I wonder if we’re being prepared for letting covid in and just hoping numbers stay low through high vax rates.

@AllyBama, I live around the corner from MarkyMark and have had a drink with him in the local pub. All the ladies and a few of the blokes were swooning.

@alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 what a bloody legend

We're ok here too. NSW are the fucked ones. Gladys needs to stop kissing Scomo's ass. He's a giant knob, can't wait to vote the moron out.

The thing I hate more than anything about Covid is what it has done to our country. The small-minded parochialism. The sneering- ooh- your premier stuffed up. Mine is great. Our state is better than yours. It’s all your premier’s fault. The gleefulness mixed with faux concern when an “enemy state” goes into lockdown. Blah blah blah. Usually on party lines, depending who you vote for. Which is why the two premiers who have had the biggest stuff ups to date will have certain people defend one but condemn the other, depending on how they vote. Just bloody ridiculous. Aren’t we one country?

I hate this shit. There have been major stuff ups along the way- NSW with Ruby Princess but then they had an extended period of success, despite doing most of the heavy lifting with returning travellers in hotel quarantine. Now they are in big trouble. Victoria’s massive stuff-up with private security guards leading to hundreds of deaths. South Australia with the Valentine’s Day lock down that never was needed due to contact tracing issues. Brisbane”s lockdown days after being told by the CHO that there would be no more lockdowns. Of course there are going to be mistakes and stuff ups. My state of Queensland has done ok, more due to not having the densely populated suburbs in Brisbane like Sydney and Melbourne and only doing a tiny amount of overseas traveller hotel quarantining compared with Victoria and NSW. WA, SA NT and Tasmania can thank geography to a large extend. The east coast is the most densely populated. Of course a coronavirus will take hold there more easily. We can show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box and kick out whoever we think has let us down. But for the love of God stop the small-minded gloating and sneering about your fellow citizens who may be doing it tougher than you.

@MangoSeason

The thing I hate more than anything about Covid is what it has done to our country. The small-minded parochialism. The sneering- ooh- your premier stuffed up. Mine is great. Our state is better than yours. It’s all your premier’s fault. The gleefulness mixed with faux concern when an “enemy state” goes into lockdown. Blah blah blah. Usually on party lines, depending who you vote for. Which is why the two premiers who have had the biggest stuff ups to date will have certain people defend one but condemn the other, depending on how they vote. Just bloody ridiculous. Aren’t we one country?

I hate this shit. There have been major stuff ups along the way- NSW with Ruby Princess but then they had an extended period of success, despite doing most of the heavy lifting with returning travellers in hotel quarantine. Now they are in big trouble. Victoria’s massive stuff-up with private security guards leading to hundreds of deaths. South Australia with the Valentine’s Day lock down that never was needed due to contact tracing issues. Brisbane”s lockdown days after being told by the CHO that there would be no more lockdowns. Of course there are going to be mistakes and stuff ups. My state of Queensland has done ok, more due to not having the densely populated suburbs in Brisbane like Sydney and Melbourne and only doing a tiny amount of overseas traveller hotel quarantining compared with Victoria and NSW. WA, SA NT and Tasmania can thank geography to a large extend. The east coast is the most densely populated. Of course a coronavirus will take hold there more easily. We can show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box and kick out whoever we think has let us down. But for the love of God stop the small-minded gloating and sneering about your fellow citizens who may be doing it tougher than you.

Oh do fuck off. Lots of us have family in different states/nsw, travel for work, holiday frequently interstate. I want every state to handle it well so it doesn't get into other states! Out of every state though Gladys is the biggest fuck up, and she and scomo need to go.

Eh? I don't see anyone sneering or gloating here. I am in WA but have friends all over Oz, everyone I know is worried for NSW! And yes, some are pissed off that Gladys made the wrong call when there was plenty of evidence that Delta was so dangerous, because her decision has had terrible knock on effects on other states. We all know that it doesn't take much for the virus to spread and I'd wager most people are thinking there but for the grace of god, etc. But you are right about let's wait for the ballot box, I think a lot of people will be glad to express their feeling's re: Scomo's frankly pathetic leadership.

@pizzashapes that isn’t really a rational post is it? Gladys is the “biggest fuck up”. Interesting and I don’t think comparisons of deaths between states would bear that out statistically. I mean, you can have your say come the next state and federal election time. And as I said in my post, I now know exactly how you vote.

Here were 390 new cases in NSW yesterday. How? The state is in lockdown! I just don’t understand it.

@HamAndTomato

I’m in NZ and think it’s been dealt with brilliantly here so far. The plan announced yesterday - I’m really not so sure. Essentially the plan is to maintain a policy of elimination/zero community covid while gradually opening up and allowing people coming into the country to self-isolate at home rather than in managed isolation hotels. I just can’t see how that won’t result in someone breaking the rules and we end up with outbreaks. The 2 policies seem incompatible.

I wonder if we’re being prepared for letting covid in and just hoping numbers stay low through high vax rates.

I agree totally HamAnd ... I too am in NZ & as much as I look forward to seeing & visiting with friends overseas I am still cautious of what other countries call their level of safe.

But ... NZ is isolated & we rely on trade & tourism, the lack of the latter is causing numerous economic issues for businesses reliant on that.

Maybe Im just cynical of human nature though but if you were asked (told) to self isolate at home after international travel & then your best friend popped round for a wine & a natter I expect there may be some who think they are bullet proof & safe. And away it goes.

ps ... one day, one day I'll be back visiting UK :)

@MangoSeason

The thing I hate more than anything about Covid is what it has done to our country. The small-minded parochialism. The sneering- ooh- your premier stuffed up. Mine is great. Our state is better than yours. It’s all your premier’s fault. The gleefulness mixed with faux concern when an “enemy state” goes into lockdown. Blah blah blah. Usually on party lines, depending who you vote for. Which is why the two premiers who have had the biggest stuff ups to date will have certain people defend one but condemn the other, depending on how they vote. Just bloody ridiculous. Aren’t we one country?

I hate this shit. There have been major stuff ups along the way- NSW with Ruby Princess but then they had an extended period of success, despite doing most of the heavy lifting with returning travellers in hotel quarantine. Now they are in big trouble. Victoria’s massive stuff-up with private security guards leading to hundreds of deaths. South Australia with the Valentine’s Day lock down that never was needed due to contact tracing issues. Brisbane”s lockdown days after being told by the CHO that there would be no more lockdowns. Of course there are going to be mistakes and stuff ups. My state of Queensland has done ok, more due to not having the densely populated suburbs in Brisbane like Sydney and Melbourne and only doing a tiny amount of overseas traveller hotel quarantining compared with Victoria and NSW. WA, SA NT and Tasmania can thank geography to a large extend. The east coast is the most densely populated. Of course a coronavirus will take hold there more easily. We can show our approval or disapproval at the ballot box and kick out whoever we think has let us down. But for the love of God stop the small-minded gloating and sneering about your fellow citizens who may be doing it tougher than you.

Well said.

Everyone has bumbled and stumbled at some point. I feel for the Eastern States premiers and their advisors, in particular; it must be incredibly stressful - this entire last 18 months with Covid, and prior to that the Black Summer fires, the floods, the storms. It's been a very difficult two years.

Surely we all know that Covid is not going to be eradicated.

That what we have now, is the option to vaccinate to 80% and reopen, or remain borders closed nationally and internationally forever.

Surely nobody thinks closed borders for much longer is a very real option.

All that's left to do now is vaccinate, and deal with the cases when they inevitably spread, knowing they are going to happen means we can prepare as much as possible for our hospitals to be well enough equipped to manage.

And as I said in my post, I now know exactly how you vote.

Nobody is sneering or gloating, calm down. If NSW is fucked, Australia is fucked. It impacts us all and all we can do is desperately hope we can enough people vaccinated before the repercussions of one states decisions consumes the whole country.

And even the most staunch liberal supporters I know are ready to chuck Gladys so at this stage I really think political loyalties have absolutely nothing all to do with it.

And who gives a flying fuck if random anonymous internet users know how we vote?