From that breach of quarantine protocol in transport from Sydney airport in June there have now been 112,000 Covid-19 cases in NSW, Vic, ACT and NZ. This time last year journos were still hounding Dan about a Melb HQ breach in May. This year? Silence. Puzzling isn't it?
Michael Toole πΊπ¦ @profmiketoole.bsky.social
8,237 posts
Honorary Burnet epidemiologist. 45 years experience in 30 countries. Political views are my own. #IStandWithUkraine #Gaza ceasefire now
Melbourne, Victoria
Joined March 2009
- So today, Vic reached 69,445 cases in this Delta outbreak, about to surpass NSW's 69,447 cases. Just a reminder that the quarantine breach at Sydney airport in June has led to 143,900 cases and >850 deaths in NSW, Vic, ACT and NZ. Has anyone been held accountable? Of course not.
- NZ now in 3 day lockdown. The four countries that probably have the best quarantine systems in the world -- Taiwan, Vietnam, NZ, and Australia-- have all had breaches in the past two months. This is a very daunting task so let's not indulge in blame games.
- Just a reminder to the naysayers about Victoria. Since February when Victoria reformed its quarantine system all hotel quarantine leaks have been in NSW, Qld, SA and WA. Just saying.
- Leigh Sales is rewarding Nick Coatsworth for his disgraceful peanut gallery association tweet with an appearance on @abc730 tonight. How low can she go? An insult to the AMA and all front-line GPs.
- Why hasn't the 7.30 report on Victoria's pandemic legislation mentioned that the NSW legislation is far more *draconian* giving the health minister unbridled powers? No parliamentary oversight. No independent advisory group. No guarantee of confidentiality in contact tracing.
- Can someone please explain to me why a muddy music festival in the anti-vax capital of Australia is get so much more coverage on the ABC than a lethal public health crisis?
- According to overseas studies, the reduction of the isolation period from 7 to 5 days means that of the 13,232 new COVID-19 cases reported today, around 6,500 will be infectious on Day 5 when they will take the virus to their workplaces, schools and shops where few wear masks.
- "Deaths in aged care facilities are not a performance indicator" says the Minister for Aged Care. " What planet are we on? What century are we living in?
- My partner's father died today of *mild* Covid-19 in Cairo. Yes, he had type 2 diabetes but it was well controlled until the virus struck. He was just one year older than me. This is what *living with Covid* means in reality.
- Many voices claiming we're in "the tail end" of the Omicron outbreak. Today Australia reported 32K new cases, the highest figure since 4 February. And 47 more lives lost. Cases are steadily increasing in all jurisdictions except NT and, perhaps, ACT. Hospitalisations will follow.
- 77 more Covid deaths reported today in Australia. That's 221 in 3 days. I won't bother with an analogy. This is quite simply tragic.
- Covid update this week in Oz. >263K new cases, ranks #1 globally for cases/m. Nine times total cases in 2020. 252 more lives lost. An average Boeing 737-800 carries 184 passengers and crew. Not a mention in the election campaign. Wake up Australia. The pandemic's still here.
- 87 Australians lost their lives of Covid today. But where are the life stories behind these statistics? How about the media tell us stories about who these people were beyond "unvaccinated" and "underlying health conditions". They deserve more. @abcnews @theage @smh @australian

