Two plane loads of people forced to spend Christmas in quarantine

[Jacaranda75]

Because of ONE person testing positive on their flight. They are now all classed as close contacts. This is in Australia.

www.abc.net.au/news/2021-12-15/qld-coronavirus-covid-virgin-flight-plane-quarantine-townsville/100699744

I feel so sorry for these people. Probably just flying home to QLD to spend Christmas with their families, now forced to spend Christmas alone in a shitty hotel.

She has backflipped after receiving a deluge of bad press. So much science!

@WanderingFruitWonderer

If they test after the possible incubation period is over (about a week), then they are no risk to anyone. Two weeks is ridiculously excessive. I also don't see why they can't isolate at home. Also, the First Nations people of Australia have always been treated appallingly. So I'm not sure Australian authorities can now pretend to care about them. If the entire world lived in harmony with nature, as the aboriginal people always did, then Covid would never have happened in the first place...

So because the Australian government has behaved very badly to the First Nations people in the past, you think they should continue to do so by failing to protect them from Covid? Because that would be ridiculous. Currently there is a lot of work being down here to encourage vaccine uptake amongst the First Nations people, and in my state they are currently considering the necessity of in-state borders to protect them if update remains below acceptable levels. So saying that they are 'pretending to care' isn't accurate at all.

uptake not update

Queensland has only just opened up to the other states and Terrorities in Australia. The health systems over there are run by the states, not at federal level.

Western Australia is still closed off and not looking to open until early February.

Here in New Zealand the greater Auckland area only just opened overnight. 7 day MIQ stays still exist for citizens returning, and its difficult to win a space. This is supposed to change mid January for vaxed and negative tested citizens coming from Aust. and Feb (I think it is) from the rest of the world safe zones.

Both Countries have higher immunisation rates too. For the Auckland lock down to open up we had to be 90% double vaxed of eligible population. Hairdressers only went back to work about a fortnight ago, last week hospitality was able to partially open.

It's a cock up. It will be our 2nd christmas we haven't been allowed to see our family.

@WanderingFruitWonderer

If they test after the possible incubation period is over (about a week), then they are no risk to anyone. Two weeks is ridiculously excessive. I also don't see why they can't isolate at home. Also, the First Nations people of Australia have always been treated appallingly. So I'm not sure Australian authorities can now pretend to care about them. If the entire world lived in harmony with nature, as the aboriginal people always did, then Covid would never have happened in the first place...

What a ridiculous take - on many levels.

@TheWestIsTheBest OF COURSE that's not what I'm saying. That's actually quite offensive, as I'm passionate about the rights of indigenous peoples. You're wilfully choosing to misunderstand me. My point is that I think declarations on the part of Australian authorities that these draconian measures are in place to protect First Nations people are disingenuous, and don't stand up to scrutiny.
Also, nobody is at risk (First Nations or otherwise) if said travellers isolate at home, and test negative for a week or so. Two weeks is excessive, and no scientifically backed up reason for it

Hotel quarantine is needed as some people can't be trusted to quarantine at home. And fourteen days rather than 7 is perhaps erring on the side of caution, but as we know Covid is a tricky beast that mutates, so caution is surely a good thing at this stage. In what way do you believe current Covid measure are 'disingenuous', as from what I can see they are throwing the book at getting First Nations people vaccinated as fast as possible. And what measures would you propose to improve this, if, as you say, current measures don't stand up to scrutiny?

That’s pretty harsh. My daughter has grandparents and other family in Australia that she has not seen in three years. Can you imagine what that feels like?

Not comparable at all. We all know it is a possibility that you have to quarantine, it is a matter of factoring that in when travelling.

Queensland only opened to interstate travel on Monday, so they couldn't have travelled much earlier...

@Lilboots

Queensland only opened to interstate travel on Monday, so they couldn't have travelled much earlier...

But then they knew the risk. Very sad for them and it must be gutting but they took a chance and unfortunately lost the gamble.

But do most First Nations people want to be vaccinated? If not, and they're virtually being forced to do so, then their human rights are not being respected. Such white saviour nonsense, on the part of the authorities, to suggest that they know what's best for the indigenous people whose land was stolen

No-one is forcing anyone. Aboriginal leaders are being encouraged to communicate with their people to explain the benefits of vaccination, and I for one would like them to have ample time to do that, rather than risk Covid ripping through such a vulnerable population. You may call that a white saviour complex if you like, I call it compassionate. What is your proposed alternative?

@WanderingFruitWonderer

But do most First Nations people want to be vaccinated? If not, and they're virtually being forced to do so, then their human rights are not being respected. Such white saviour nonsense, on the part of the authorities, to suggest that they know what's best for the indigenous people whose land was stolen

Do you live in Australia, I wonder? The terms you're using here seem a bit off.

@WanderingFruitWonderer

But do most First Nations people want to be vaccinated? If not, and they're virtually being forced to do so, then their human rights are not being respected. Such white saviour nonsense, on the part of the authorities, to suggest that they know what's best for the indigenous people whose land was stolen

Are you aware of the types of health conditions that occur with a much higher prevalence in the indigenous population? And that these conditions are contraindications to a Covid infection?

Lots of people I know have been contacted by T&T after a flight over the summer. It’s a risk you take I guess. But contacts here haven’t been isolating if vaccinated. So hasn’t caused major issues

Horrible for those that it’s happened to to the point that you have to spend Christmas in a hotel.

They have now changed the decision on this.
The vast majority have now be deemed casual contacts by the Queensland Government. That means they will be tested and released from quarantine.
Passengers who sat in close proximity to the infected passenger will be asked to remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.
www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/whats-the-point-queensland-slammed-over-flight-isolation-rule/news-story/24dba75bbe7dc99107170d3a5a578148

People on here with absolutely no empathy whatsoever, it's disgusting really

I'm astounded at the lack of compassion on here.

Hotel quarantine is needed as some people can't be trusted to quarantine at home

This. Some people can't even be trusted to quarantine in hotels - there have been several instances of people leaving when they shouldn't.

But do most First Nations people want to be vaccinated? If not, and they're virtually being forced to do so, then their human rights are not being respected. Such white saviour nonsense, on the part of the authorities, to suggest that they know what's best for the indigenous people whose land was stolen

You haven't a clue!!! Of course they are not being "forced", but you have no idea what would happen if covid took hold.

That’s bonkers and completely OTT. I feel very sorry for all those people.

Am i reading an entirely different article? It literally says at the beginning that they don’t have to quarantine in a hotel!

Same has happened here in Singapore. 16 imported cases on various flights. All the flights have been taken to hotel quarantine. We are going back to U.K. next week and then returning early January. Thought about cancelling but it's a risk we have to take after 2.5 years and borders having been shut for a long time.

Article now updated most of them just need to take a test unless you were infortunate enough to be sat next to the poorly person

@Frazzled2207 that makes a bit more sense! Thanks

@FluffyCushion123 they must have changed the words in the article. Glad to hear they don’t have to go to a hotel.