Thread: Corona Virus

Originally Posted by Tote

I wonder to what extent that aerosol transmission has always been there and only now we are discovering it as we are controlling the travel of the virus most of the time and becoming aware of aerosol transmission when all other vectors have been exhausted. For instance there is no way of knowing what percentage of cases in the crossroads hotel or Victorian outbreaks were aerosol transmission. There is definitely a missing piece when it comes to transmission vectors as if the virus was as transmissible in all circumstances as we are led to believe then the cases where quarantine workers were infected in Perth and Melbourne would have led to super-spreading events, which so far they don't appear to have done.
Fresh air and sunshine must have something to do with it as well.

Regards,
Tote

Got it in one. "Compliance" with the Slip-Slop - Slap mantra has never been universally high over here, Yes, in some areas such as schools going overboard, but generally, well, more Average than Special.

Upshot of that ... WA population is more likely to have higher serum levels of Vitamin D, an absolutely essential micronutrient for a Healthy & Capable Immune system. Add the fresh air, well, -- quarantine hotels have demonstrated the importance of THAT !

As an aside, we had friends return to SA from Blighty. No, they were'nt infected and enjoyed an enforced holiday at an Adelaide inn. Theirs had an OPEN balcony, = lots of fresh air... which they credit for keeping them sane.
Possibly why the early quarinatine on our Rottnest Island worked so well. Air, sun and distance from other inm.... er,,, Guests, and support staff / jailers.

Just for a bit of balance regarding quarantine hotel (outbreaks) Keep in mind that floating fishbowl, Diamond Princess had.... out of 3,650+ PAX and crew, ... 712 infected / unwell, of which 13 died. In a ship not designed to isolate, with shared A/C, and for the most part, in total ignorance of what was floating in the air so no serious Social Distancing or lock-downs, if indeed any at all.

So, the absolute worst possible outcome, a deathrate of 13, - computed by my fat fingers - per million in the vicinity of 4,000. Compare with UK 1,600 / M currently on WorldMeter

Coronavirus Update (Live): 107,402,798 Cases and 2,350,921 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer Scroll down to Diamond Princess, an entry all to itself, and one other ship is mentioned. AFAIK

Happy to stand corrected on my arithmetic, not a strong point these days....

There seems to be some evidence that the infection rate of the SA variant is not the same as the original variant.

If that is the case, then comparing the situation on the Ruby Princess with the current hotel issue may not be a valid.

It appears that the issue with the quarantine hotel in Melbourne, and the reason for the multiple infections, is that one of the COVID-positive people in quarantine was using a nebuliser - so, when their face wasn't on the mask they were creating piles of highly aerosoled covid droplets that then spread like a fog.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

It appears that the issue with the quarantine hotel in Melbourne, and the reason for the multiple infections, is that one of the COVID-positive people in quarantine was using a nebuliser - so, when their face wasn't on the mask they were creating piles of highly aerosoled covid droplets that then spread like a fog.

One has to wonder about the quality of the supervision of the "Guests".


That is sooooo obvious that not one person appeared to pick up on it. Unbelievable!

And now the hard border closure games look set to recommence and Melbourne is not even in a lockdown this time around - well not yet anyway - may need to wait for the Australian Open to wrap up first.

The inconsistencies in responses between different states and territories is starting to wear thin - especially when trying to plan interstate travel.

Originally Posted by 4bee

One has to wonder about the quality of the supervision of the "Guests".


That is sooooo obvious that not one person appeared to pick up on it. Unbelievable!

Apparwently they are required to declare "medical devices", and if the nebuliser had been declared, they would have been advised on how to safely use it. But the traveller did not realise it was called a medical device.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

Apparwently they are required to declare "medical devices", and if the nebuliser had been declared, they would have been advised on how to safely use it. But the traveller did not realise it was called a medical device.

Thanks for the explanation, I had assumed that it was issued or being used to assist a guest by authorities, didn't think of the guest bringing their own.


Regards,
Tote