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Original poster

Australian mumsnetters

109 replies

Wizzbangfizz · 29/12/2021 23:09

How are you feeling right now? I've very close relatives in several states who are bemoaning the lack of testing but apart from that seem content now the majority who want to be are vaccinated that is should run it's course - how is it going - are your govt also looking to reduce isolation from 10 to 7?

OP posts:
spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 01:40

It's a big place with hugely varied experiences depending on what state but for my part in NSW:

12000+ cases today

Pcr testing for travel to Queensland has been removed, only rapid test now required from Jan 1 I think. That should help with some of the testing queues.

Changing isolation rules to only household contacts or in certain situations. So after a negative pcr test you can go about your business. Hoping this means both dc don't have to isolate for two weeks each time one is a contact (with negative results).

Pcr results are taking up to 5days and queues are down streets and round corners. They have been closing some at 10am just to get through those already in line.

I'm Waiting for numbers to shoot up again after almost 1000 were given incorrect negative results just before Christmas Day.

Pretty much resigned to getting it with 2DC returning to daycare and holiday care next week but we are prepared as we can be.

We have boosters easily available and it's set for 4months minimum as of 4 January.

I am concerned that dd will not be eligible for her shots until after being at school for 4weeks as she won't be quite five yet. I'm also concerned about her catching it and missing the first days of kindy (first time at big school).

For us as a family we are being cautious but not overly anxious- seeing friends outside, rapid testing when ill, lots of outdoor activities.

My return to the office has been pushed back to March 22 and everyone is being asked to wfh wherever possible.

spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 01:43

Oh and also looking forward to rapid tests coming from the govt- they used to be $9.99 each but now are $33/two pack or more so testing is a luxury for some and I'm glad we can afford it.

Dishhh · 30/12/2021 03:36

I'm also in NSW - the queues for testing are similar to @spottygymbag's experience. My family is currently isolating as we are waiting for a test result for one of my DC (it's been over 24 hours now). He's a uni student and he's as ill as I've ever seen him. Sad Fingers crossed for the rest of us - I'm CEV and haven't had my booster yet.

StartupRepair · 30/12/2021 03:42

It's a complete debacle. Numbers surging, health system buckling, guidelines changing daily, people queuing for hours to get tested and rapid tests almost unobtainable.
A pandemic was not the time to have our worst ever prime Minister.

Flickflak · 30/12/2021 03:45

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

goldopals · 30/12/2021 03:49

It's not great. I have two rapid tests left and cannot buy more anywhere respectful, although I did pay for some from a dodgy website that are yet to arrive.

Testing is a true debacle. We can book in for years with a week's notice but the drive through tests are shocking.

spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 04:21

@Dishhh not sure where you are but if relevant and you're looking an earlier appointment then sonic vax clinics seem to have more available.

fmac2987 · 30/12/2021 04:25

I lived in London and moved back 6 months ago to Australia, I'm not sure if UK Covid hardened us but we don't get the level of fuss being made.

Like I said, it might be because UK had it all pretty bad, I had my first child in UK with no partner allowed, and we all got covid from the hospital, so this seems relatively better in comparison (higher vaccinations, lower numbers, lower hospitalisations rates with Omicron).

I think so much of the fuss has to do with how the media and government handled it to begin with and built a air of arrogance that "Australia was doing it all so much better than everyone else", when in fact all they dis was manage to keep it out and drag their feet on vaccines.

I think people here are panicking way too much.

But like I said, We might be proper hard innit 😋

Dishhh · 30/12/2021 05:33

@fmac2987

I think so much of the fuss has to do with how the media and government handled it to begin with and built a air of arrogance that "Australia was doing it all so much better than everyone else", when in fact all they dis was manage to keep it out and drag their feet on vaccines.

I'm not sure about "drag their feet on vaccines" - other, more needful, countries were prioritised first. I think Australia did well in the first instance, particularly to the stage of vaccination of much of the country. Covid was never something that could be kept out indefinitely.

BinChicken3 · 30/12/2021 06:03

In NSW, still don’t know anyone who’s ever had covid. Just got third shot today, the booster. Completely over the covid hype now, anyone who wanted to get vaccinated has had plenty of opportunity, so do not agree with isolation requirements and QLD and some other states still thinking they are a separate country to the rest of us and that we need special tests to travel one hour away.

timeisnotaline · 30/12/2021 06:15

Essentially they are letting it spread now, so we are avoiding crowds. My parents are vulnerable, and I’m heavily pregnant so just can’t handle either catching it or isolating and having to keep the kids at home while I struggle through my last weeks of work. Plus the test queues are hideous, we got up at 6 to get to one at 7 Boxing Day and waited 4 hours in the car with two young dc. Rapid access tests hard to get, doesn’t feel well managed.

coffy11 · 30/12/2021 06:23

I'm in Qld and it's only just now for the first time since Covid began that our numbers are rising due to opening the borders to the other states. I was lucky travelling from Vic to Qld a few days back that I only had to wait an hour for a PCR test to be able to get back into QLD.

spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 06:30

We've had three known cases through work (all wfh and based in different areas), 3 additional alerts for our work building not related to our company, two sets of friends through daycare and my bosses brother who ended up in hospital, all in the last 6 weeks.
I don't know anyone who is panicking but mostly just being cautious.
Agree it's being handled terribly, particularly wrt testing and rapid tests.

WoodenReindeer · 30/12/2021 06:30

Wow that sounds mad. I'm taking it rapid tests are the same as our "lateral flow tests"?. I order 7 at a time in England free as often as I want and the pcr test centre has always been drive thru on appointment here. Not had to queue. How is that going to work as it spreads and they need more testing?

I could test pcr or rapid test today with no issues. (On the flip side the reason we've needed so many test centres in England isnt great regardless if their good organisation!!!)

My husband is Australian and we are still keen to come back but it's so hard to judge when that will be possible/sensible. I'd hate to book and then have a new variant make getting though less likely. We'd have to land in one state and travel to another which also worries me. For us the flight is so very expensive as not high income that we'd need to not arrive and be isolated/not make it to our destination! We had hoped 2022 but it seems such a risk now wondering 2023. Which is such a long time not seeing family.

We have relatives in 2 different states (one that has had a lot of cases and one now just starting to get them) and get 2 very different views on things! I like to read other views here too (and would be curious about other countries too- each country approaches things differently and its interesting to hear.)

SimpsonsXmasBoogie · 30/12/2021 06:42

I'm in QLD and to be honest I don't care anymore. I'm tired. (I have a relative in the UK who sadly died from covid in 2020 so I'm not speaking from a particularly sheltered position)

This has all been going on for so long that I've run out of energy for it. I'm happy to put my mask on and sign in to places if that's what we're meant to do, but I'm not worrying about it anymore.

We have a decent percentage of the population vaxxed. I say let's just get on with it.

BinChicken3 · 30/12/2021 06:47

@SimpsonsXmasBoogie

I'm in QLD and to be honest I don't care anymore. I'm tired. (I have a relative in the UK who sadly died from covid in 2020 so I'm not speaking from a particularly sheltered position)

This has all been going on for so long that I've run out of energy for it. I'm happy to put my mask on and sign in to places if that's what we're meant to do, but I'm not worrying about it anymore.

We have a decent percentage of the population vaxxed. I say let's just get on with it.

Completely agree with this.
BaruFisher · 30/12/2021 06:50

I’m another QLDer and it’s strange to see it spreading here in a way it hasn’t before. I’m bound to get it as DH is an ED nurse. It’s growing fast in our large country town. We got boosted yesterday so hopefully we have time for it to take full effect before it hits us.

WoodenReindeer · 30/12/2021 06:51

My relative mentioned the QR codes are still going. Do they still chase those up/contact people if they are close by?

spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 07:09

@WoodenReindeer you get an alert on your app and it tells you what to do- watch for symptoms or pcr test asap and isolate until result.

WoodenReindeer · 30/12/2021 07:11

Thats what I was curious about are people having to isolate if they were in the same venue as a case?

We used to have the QR/app but it's been dropped since covid spread.

WoodenReindeer · 30/12/2021 07:12

Are any states worried about omicron spreading/large numbers of covid or is that not such a worry there?

spottygymbag · 30/12/2021 07:22

No isolating in most cases it looks like this (pic) if you're in a shop or something. But I think if you were in close quarters (4hours or more in care type settings or something) then you are classed as a close contact.
Close contacts need to isolate for 7 days and if symptomatic get a pcr, unsymptomatic need to rapid test on day six and then complete day seven before leaving iso if negative.

Australian mumsnetters
FurryAntiWaxer · 30/12/2021 07:24

Another Qlder here. I'm pretty relaxed at this point. It was always inevitable that cases would rise and the zero Covid policy would be abandoned. Most cases are mild so our health system is managing ok.

Weesiewoo · 30/12/2021 07:24

I don't think the states are worried about Oricron at all. Basically we have all been told in Qld, at least, that we will catch it. As of yesterday 80% of cases in Queensland were Oricron and I think our Chief health officer was happy about that. At the moment only 26 people in hospital, but that is sure to grow. 86% of over 16s have been vaxed. And boosters growing daily. I'm a bit like the previous poster and just want to get on with it

Weesiewoo · 30/12/2021 07:25

*omicron damn it!