Life in quarantine (Melbourne)

[Marisawright]

4 hours ago, Melbpom said:

I'm surprised the family hasn't been identified. I'm not saying they should be but normally the press are on top of issues like this.

The mistake wasn’t made by the family really. They had to vacate the room due to a major mess that needed cleaning up and a guard escorted them for a walk outdoors. I believe the guard got infected 

[Melbpom]

1 hour ago, Marisawright said:

The mistake wasn’t made by the family really. They had to vacate the room due to a major mess that needed cleaning up and a guard escorted them for a walk outdoors. I believe the guard got infected 

I was under the impression that the mess was of the family's own making but I agree with you that the situation clearly hasn't been dealt with in a safe manner.

[Wanderer Returns]

"Botched - Hotel Quarantine" - sounds like a new series with Drs Dubrow & Nassif!  

[Jon the Hat]

I have very little confience that the ANZ approach of keeping the virus out is sustainable.  It relies completely on a vaccination.  If that fails both Australia and New Zealand will have to weather it like the rest of the world.

[Marisawright]

10 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

I have very little confience that the ANZ approach of keeping the virus out is sustainable.  It relies completely on a vaccination.  If that fails both Australia and New Zealand will have to weather it like the rest of the world.

I agree that by closing the borders, all we did was freeze Australia and New Zealand in time.  We haven't prevented the pain felt by the rest of the world, we've just delayed it.  

The trouble is, it's hard to imagine how any politician would say, "this is not working, let's open the borders" because that would result in thousands of cases and thousands of deaths, and no politician is willing to take responsibility for that!  The state premiers (except for Victoria) are enjoying record popularity for their hard stance on keeping the borders closed.   Yes, the economy in Australia and New Zealand has taken a hit from the loss of overseas visitors - but both economies have actually taken less of a hit than the UK or most European countries, and New Zealand is recovering strongly. 

[rtritudr]

Many East Asian countries are taking exactly the same approach as ANZ on borders, e.g., China, Japan and South Korea.  All have mandatory quarantine policies (not at home except in certain circumstances) in place for overseas arrivals.

 

The lock-down aspect is exceptional in the East Asian context (only China had that) but when ANZ first instituted the lock-down back in March it was the norm in both Europe and North America.  It's only the resumption of the lock-down in June (AUS) and August (NZ) that has made them unique.  The only example of such a second lock-down that I can think of is China.

 

However, the ANZ approach does not rely on the availability of a vaccine at all.  Only reopening borders would require that.  Australia has been quite consistent in stating that (since March at least) the borders will not reopen for the foreseeable future.  In fact even if a vaccine were available it may still not be possible to remove quarantine because you'll always have immunocompromised people in the community who cannot be vaccinated.

[Jon the Hat]

 

10 hours ago, Marisawright said:

I agree that by closing the borders, all we did was freeze Australia and New Zealand in time.  We haven't prevented the pain felt by the rest of the world, we've just delayed it.  

The trouble is, it's hard to imagine how any politician would say, "this is not working, let's open the borders" because that would result in thousands of cases and thousands of deaths, and no politician is willing to take responsibility for that!  The state premiers (except for Victoria) are enjoying record popularity for their hard stance on keeping the borders closed.   Yes, the economy in Australia and New Zealand has taken a hit from the loss of overseas visitors - but both economies have actually taken less of a hit than the UK or most European countries, and New Zealand is recovering strongly. 

Is anyone feeling the economic consequences yet though?  Popularity will drop when people realise to protect a tiny minority they can expect higher unemployment, tax rises and long term restrictions on their liberty.  It has been a long time since Australia had that pain I think, and opinions polls can change quickly.

[Marisawright]

33 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

 

Is anyone feeling the economic consequences yet though?  Popularity will drop when people realise to protect a tiny minority they can expect higher unemployment, tax rises and long term restrictions on their liberty.  It has been a long time since Australia had that pain I think, and opinions polls can change quickly.

Maybe but not yet. And of course it’s not just the 2% who die, it’s the thousands of people left with chronic health conditions 

[Jon the Hat]

35 minutes ago, Marisawright said:

Maybe but not yet. And of course it’s not just the 2% who die, it’s the thousands of people left with chronic health conditions 

Nothing even vaguely close to 2% are dying anywhere.  Excess deaths in the UK are 0.1% at worst, and many of those would have sadly died in the coming months anyway - people die all the time and we don#t lockdown half the country as a result.  What we will see is other excess deaths as a result of lockdown reducing care everywhere.  These things have consequences.

It does seem some people have longer term complications but not clear enough picture yet.  Trust me when the tax rises come and the jobs losses mount people will quickly lose patience.  Better hope the vaccine comes soon and enough people are willing to take it.

Edited September 8, 2020 by Jon the Hat

[Marisawright]

14 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

Nothing even vaguely close to 2% are dying anywhere.  Excess deaths in the UK are 0.1% at worst, and many of those would have sadly died in the coming months anyway

Some countries have recorded excess deaths far in excess of 2%.

Like I said, try comparing the economic impact on the UK and the economic impact in NZ.  

[calNgary]

Can we try and keep this thread more about life in quarantine, we have quite a few other covid threads running where deaths and lock downs across the world etc are being discussed.

 Thanks

 Cal x

[Marisawright]

One more mention of covid and then I'm done.   @Jon the Hat

https://ourworldindata.org/excess-mortality-covid

[Rallyman]

On 08/09/2020 at 19:16, Jon the Hat said:

 

Is anyone feeling the economic consequences yet though?  Popularity will drop when people realise to protect a tiny minority they can expect higher unemployment, tax rises and long term restrictions on their liberty.  It has been a long time since Australia had that pain I think, and opinions polls can change quickly.

Friends  decided to shut their business down permanently on Friday ( hair salon) as they can’t just keep paying out and not have money coming in , they are in a bad place mentally. 
I had a few jobs canceled early on due to covid 

wait till the financial assistance stops end September and you will see a different attitude from people 

Imho Dan Andrews has stuffed up on a biblical scale and totally missed managed the situation , 

He should be removed immediately. 

[kimboslice]

We have just had our flights booked for December 28th cancelled.

when we booked we just made the cut off point to pay for quarantine.

does this now mean we have to pay.

[Dorsetbrit]

We have just had our flights booked for December 28th cancelled.
when we booked we just made the cut off point to pay for quarantine.
does this now mean we have to pay.

Who were you flying with? We are booked on a flight on 1st November with Qantas and are renting our house out for then, not is if we can just wait to see if our flight will be cancelled before renting plus our container goes the week before just so worrying but I guess we just have to keep trying flight after flight if it does get cancelled.

[kimboslice]

33 minutes ago, Dorsetbrit said:

Who were you flying with? We are booked on a flight on 1st November with Qantas and are renting our house out for then, not is if we can just wait to see if our flight will be cancelled before renting plus our container goes the week before just so worrying but I guess we just have to keep trying flight after flight if it does get cancelled.

With emirates 

[psuwara]

Just bumping this post. It's full of very useful and insightful information on dealing with quarantine when coming to Australia.

[FatCat]

On 01/07/2020 at 19:59, starlight7 said:

What do you do for exercise, do they let you out of your room at all? Couldn't stand being in one room for 2 weeks- hope you have a window and something to look at!

Old post but:

A friend recently flew in and went into hotel isolation. He was not allowed to open the hotel room door, let alone step out into the corridor. He was in a small room. It was windowless. He was not allowed to have more than half a bottle of wine a day (maybe in case he went insane and tried to drown himself in the toilet)........and go insane he nearly did.

I would imagine it felt very much like solitary confinement in prison. 

He said the only saving grace, was the fact that he didn't have to also cope with children in such a situation. 

[Lavers]

12 hours ago, FatCat said:

Old post but:

A friend recently flew in and went into hotel isolation. He was not allowed to open the hotel room door, let alone step out into the corridor. He was in a small room. It was windowless. He was not allowed to have more than half a bottle of wine a day (maybe in case he went insane and tried to drown himself in the toilet)........and go insane he nearly did.

I would imagine it felt very much like solitary confinement in prison. 

He said the only saving grace, was the fact that he didn't have to also cope with children in such a situation. 

I dont like the idea of having no windows.

You are treated as if you have it, but that's understandable and I'm sure the hotel staff are terrified (apart from the ones who tried sleeping with passengers) . We got a knock on the door when our food arrived, and by the time we opened the door, who ever dropped it off had disappeared.

It saved us having 2 rooms really.

[calNgary]

13 hours ago, FatCat said:

Old post but:

A friend recently flew in and went into hotel isolation. He was not allowed to open the hotel room door, let alone step out into the corridor. He was in a small room. It was windowless. He was not allowed to have more than half a bottle of wine a day (maybe in case he went insane and tried to drown himself in the toilet)........and go insane he nearly did.

I would imagine it felt very much like solitary confinement in prison. 

He said the only saving grace, was the fact that he didn't have to also cope with children in such a situation. 

What hotel has rooms with no windows?

 Cal x

[Freemantle]

12 minutes ago, calNgary said:

What hotel has rooms with no windows?

 Cal x

My husband has done copious amounts of 5* hotels of quarantine since Covid and the rooms have had "locked windows"!

[Freemantle]

55 minutes ago, Lavers said:

I dont like the idea of having no windows.

You are treated as if you have it, but that's understandable and I'm sure the hotel staff are terrified (apart from the ones who tried sleeping with passengers) . We got a knock on the door when our food arrived, and by the time we opened the door, who ever dropped it off had disappeared.

It saved us having 2 rooms really.

Its not pleasant... hotels with "locked" windows are chronic... food arriving with the proverbial knock on the door isnt the best, fortunately I was able to drop off supplies of grog and good food so he had something to look forward to! "airless hotels are not the best for mind or body, fortunately the company paid for everything but for such a substantial amount   it could have been better!

 

[ramot]

26 minutes ago, calNgary said:

What hotel has rooms with no windows?

 Cal x

The only hotel I have ever stayed in that was window less was Singapore airport hotel, and as all you want the room for is to sleep for a few hours a window is unnecessary. Did make me laugh when I pulled the curtains to only see a wall. It’s unusual to have a window that opens in a high rise hotel, probably safety reasons. 

[calNgary]

42 minutes ago, Freemantle said:

My husband has done copious amounts of 5* hotels of quarantine since Covid and the rooms have had "locked windows"!

But at least you have daylight and a view from a window, the post i quoted said no windows.

 Cal x

[Freemantle]

3 minutes ago, calNgary said:

But at least you have daylight and a view from a window, the post i quoted said no windows.

 Cal x

It depends on the view and if the windows are tinted then there is no daylight! and it is not natural to spend ones time without fresh air... a basic human right!