Blog Day 154 - Sunday 06 December 2020

Day 37 with all the zeros for Victoria.

Nothing to report on the poo patrol front, all looking good here, so to speak.

Two German visitors managed to avoid quarantine in Sydney after flying in on an overseas flight and they then managed to get straight onto a domestic flight to Melbourne.  They were picked up in Melbourne after arousing the suspicions of the attendant at the hire car company.  So, after avoiding Border Force, Quarantine, Customs, the AFP, Vicpol, NSWPol, ASIO, ASIS, JSD and various other important authorities they were caught due to an observant car hire clerk.

It will be interesting see how these travellers managed to do this.  Anybody who has flown into Sydney on an overseas flight and then transferred to the domestic terminal would know that this is not easily done and usually involves a bus trip from one terminal to the other.  Goes to show how fragile the quarantine arrangements are and how constant vigilance is the name of the game.

The premier has today announce the latest round of changes to virus restrictions.  We are calling these the rules for a "Covid Safe Summer" and most will apply from 11.59pm this evening as summarised below in bullet point format;

• Total of 30 visitors daily from any number of households may visit a household.
• Public gatherings of up to 100 people may assemble outdoors.
• Masks must be carried at all times, and must be worn in shopping centres, department stores, large stores (eg Bunnings), on public transport and hire transport (eg taxis and ubers).  These rules will apply until the end of January.
• It is strongly recommended that masks are worn in groups where social distancing is difficult or impossible.
• Hospitality: 1 person per 2 square meters - indoor and outdoor with no cap, up to 25 patrons allowed before distancing rules apply (to assist smaller venues). Standing service is allowed - meaning you can stand at the bar and have a drink.
• From Monday 11/01/2021 up to 50% of employees may attend an office in the private sector.  As at the same date up to 25% of public servants may attend their workplace.

There are lots of other changes to the rules around gyms, indoor/outdoor sporting venues, swimming pools etc that neither affect or interest me.

Along with all this happening, tomorrow is V-Day with overseas travellers arriving into Melbourne for the first time in five months - god bless Victoria and all that sail in her.

A quick round up on the figures, seven new cases reported in Australia, 5 in NSW, 2 in Qld, all overseas travellers in quarantine.  Currently Victoria has zero active cases, NSW 1, Qld 13, WA 14, SA 5 and NT 13, Australia wide there are 47 active cases 41 of which are returned travellers.

Meanwhile overseas there were 636,000 new infections reported in the last 24 hours and 10,800 deaths.  Slightly less than the last few days but not significant enough to be of any consequence.

Corona Virus Daily Stats – Towards Covid Normal – 2^nd 14 day stage – Day 14

Date	Aus Infected	Aus Increase	Vic Infected	Vic Increase	Aus Death	Vic Death	Aus Hospl	Vic Hospital	Aus ICU	Vic ICU
22/11	27,819	12	20,345	0	907	819	22	1	0	0
23/11	27,828	8	20,345	0	907	819	22	1	0	0
24/11	27,843	8	20,345	0	907	819	21	0	0	0
25/11	27,853	4	20,345	0	907	819	22	0	0	0
26/11	27,857	1	20,345	0	907	819	27	0	0	0
27/11	27,872	5	20,345	0	907	819	23	0	0	0
28/11	27,885	13	20,345	0	907	819	22	0	0	0
29/11	27,892	7	20,345	0	907	819	22	0	0	0
30/11	27,902	9	20,345	0	908	820	21	0	0	0
01/12	27,912	8	20,345	0	908	820	19	0	0	0
02/12	27,921	9	20,345	0	908	820	21	0	0	0
03/12	27,939	16	20,345	0	908	820	27	0	0	0
04/12	27,947	8	20,345	0	908	820	28	0	0	0
05/12	27,953	4	20,345	0	908	820	26	0	0	0
06/12	27,963	7	20,345	0	908	820	30	0	0	0

Date	World Infection	Daily Increase	World Deaths	Daily Increase
23/11	58,970,438	494,689	1,393,227	7,452
24/11	59,501,552	531,114	1,401,567	8,340
25/11	60,076,607	575,055	1,413,704	12,137
26/11	60,700,994	624,387	1,425,387	12,139
27/11	61,308,161	607,167	1,437,835	12,448
28/11
29/11	62,573,188	1,264326	1,458,305	20,470
30/11	63,056,956	483,768	1,464,824	6,519
01/12	63,569,400	512,444	1,473,405	8,581
02/12	64,169,856	600,456	1,485,672	12,267
03/12	64,816,436	646,580	1,498,298	12,626
04/12	65,515,392	698,956	1,511,099	12,801
05/12	66,211,027	695,635	1,523,551	12,452
06/12	66,847,041	636,014	1,534,344	10,793

Remember: Wear your mask when you are buying your Bunnings sausage; no holidays in Britain for a while yet; be careful planning your computer upgrades (my most recent upgrade cost me $1,400); somebody is probably checking your poo; if in doubt get tested (it doesn't hurt, honestly); get the catgut strings in your tennis racket checked; as from 11.59pm tonight you can have a beer at the bar.