Blog Day 695 - Saturday 05 March 2022 - Day 08 Even More Covid Nearly Normaller 

You will be please to know that after much research and consideration and procrastination I have finally purchased my new tent.  I was even able to do a bit of a deal on it.  MacPac in Gardenvale, which is close to home, had this particular tent for sale at about $350.  Tentworld at Ferntree Gully had the same tent at $254, however FTG is about a 45 minute drive from my place.

So, cleverly, I rang MacPac and asked if they would price match Tentworld and to my surprise they agreed to do so.  I was down there in a flash, before they could change their mind, and purchased the new tent.

Photo below still neatly packed in it's carry bag, this is the last time it will look that neat as they never go back in the bag the same.

It looks like our annual camping trip is on from Tuesday 15/3 for a few days, so let's hope the tent works as well as it is meant to.

We have lost two champions of the cricket world in the last 24 hours.  Yesterday we heard of the passing of the great Australian wicket keeper in Rodney Marsh.  Marsh had a heart attack about a week ago and died as a result of that aged 72.  He was one of those legends of Australian cricket who was part of the great teams of the 1970's and early 80's.  Marsh was also the first Australian wicket keeper to score 100 runs in a test innings.

Then this morning I woke up, put the radio on and there was a group of people on air, including Tim Lane, talking about Shane Warne, and I wondered "what is this about"?  Turns out Warnie had passed away in Thailand overnight, aged 52.  It looks like the cause of death is from a suspected heart attack, although not confirmed at this stage

The state government has offered the Warne family a state funeral although there has been no further word on that.  It has also been announced that the Great Southern stand at the MCG will be renamed the Shane Warne stand in his honour.

The war in Ukraine continues with the Russians attacking the largest nuclear power plant in Europe which happens to be in Ukraine.  I am not sure that makes a lot of sense attacking a nuclear power plant with artillery fire or short range tactical missiles.  Unconfirmed news reports advise us that the Ukranian navy has scuttled their only destroyer and flagship to prevent the Russians capturing it.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the ol covid thingy keeps rollin along.  New daily infections in Victoria and NSW are remaining stable, while this is good news in some ways it also means that the numbers are not declining.  In the last three days Victoria reported 7,093; 6,545 and 5,721 new infections and in the same period NSW reported 11,338; 9,466 and 10,017 new infections.  Queensland is also reporting daily new infections ranging from low 4,000s to mid 6,000s.

Victorian hospitalisation numbers continue to decline with currently 250 (264) residents of this fair state in hospital, 28 (37) in ICU and 8 (5) on ventilators.  Figures as at 02/03 in brackets.

In Victoria we recorded 22, 26 and 24 deaths over the last three days.  The consistency of these numbers indicate to me that these higher numbers are not as a result of inaccurate counting and reporting but actual higher death rates.  We can expect the daily death numbers to be lower over the next couple of days as that seems to be the pattern for Sunday and Monday.  With the balance being picked up with higher figures later in the week.

        Corona Virus Daily Stats – 05 March 2022 – Day 08 Even More Covid Nearly Normaller

	Aus Infected	Aus Increase	Aus 1st Dose Vacc	Vic Infected	Vic Increase	NSW Increase	*Aus Active Infection	NSW Active Infection	Vic Active Infection	Aus 2nd Dose Vacc
01/03					6,879	8,874
02/03	3,261,365	29,177	96.3%	1,054,417	7,126	10,650	203,751	96,291	41,162	94.4%
03/03					7,093	11,358
04/03					6,545	9,466
05/03	3,342,656	24,202	96.4%	1,073,518	5,721	10,017	216,123	103,910	39,556	94.5%
06/03

Corona Virus Daily Stats Hospitalisation Etc – 05 March 2022 – Day 05 Even More Covid Nearly Normaller
Date	Aus New Infection	Aus Hospital	Aus ICU	Aus Ventilate	Vic New Infection	Vic Hospital	Vic ICU	Vic Ventilate	AUS Daily Deaths	Vic Daily Deaths
01/03					6,879				41	18
02/03	29,177	1,859	121	25	7,126	264	37	5	61	28
03/03									45	22
04/03									38	26
05/03	24,202	1,758	111	28	5,721	250	28	8	47	24
06/03