Corona virus and entry to Sydney

[floridababa]

What type of screening is Sydney doing at the airports? They were always strict but now what prevention are there?

[The_Big_M]

Unless it's changed in the past day or so, it's checking whether you have come from a restricted country, and applying restrictions based on that, and recommending self-isolation and giving assistance as required.

 

There isn't extra physical checking of all, like you have in Asia.

[MicCanberra]

I haven't seen the people with the temp scanners out but that doesn't necessarily mean you are not being screened.

[The_Big_M]

No, they made a conscious decision not to use them. They don't add a lot of actual value i.e. many can still carry but not have a higher temperature.

[MicCanberra]

They certainly had them in Hong Kong airport and the cruise terminal and also at Singapore airport but this was pre Covid-19. They were especially checking the children.

[The_Big_M]

Yes, been in place for a long time in Asian countries (not just the above), pre-dating Coronavirus. They'd keep using them, but it's not a wellsuited tool to pick up that virus.

[NSWP]

My son arrived back in Sydney a week ago from a ski trip to Japan, he said he was not tested for corona virus - temperature check etc, either at Tokyo Airport or Sydney Airport on arrival.  Pretty slack in my opinion.

 

I think testing hundreds and thousand of pax at airports in Australia, including Sydney etc is beyond the authorities ability.  But tell you what, I went to my local Doctors this morning and was asked by reception staff had I travelled to Asia recently, if so, I would be directed to the public hospital across the road, not treated at the surgery which has 6 doctors.

[MMDown Under]

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

My son arrived back in Sydney a week ago from a ski trip to Japan, he said he was not tested for corona virus - temperature check etc, either at Tokyo Airport or Sydney Airport on arrival.  Pretty slack in my opinion.

 

I think testing hundreds and thousand of pax at airports in Australia, including Sydney etc is beyond the authorities ability.  But tell you what, I went to my local Doctors this morning and was asked by reception staff had I travelled to Asia recently, if so, I would be directed to the public hospital across the road, not treated at the surgery which has 6 doctors.

Does sound slack.  Maybe testing depends on where you travelled from. 

I am always surprised when they say go to your local doctor, if you have travelled overseas and feel ill.  Some say phone first, which would be common sense, so the people waiting to see the doctor don't get infected.  

Once the virus spreads, I don't think the hospitals will be able to handle the volume of people with the virus requiring treatment. There is already talk of cancelling non essential treatment. 

[NSWP]

On 3/3/2020 at 3:50 PM, MMDown Under said:

Does sound slack.  Maybe testing depends on where you travelled from. 

I am always surprised when they say go to your local doctor, if you have travelled overseas and feel ill.  Some say phone first, which would be common sense, so the people waiting to see the doctor don't get infected.  

Once the virus spreads, I don't think the hospitals will be able to handle the volume of people with the virus requiring treatment. There is already talk of cancelling non essential treatment. 

Time to put up the army field hospitals and casualty clearing stations like they put up down here during the bushfires.  The defence force has a substantial number of doctors and nursing staff, get them out of barracks.

Edited March 4, 2020 by NSWP

[lyndarra]

On 3/3/2020 at 1:37 PM, NSWP said:

But tell you what, I went to my local Doctors this morning and was asked by reception staff had I travelled to Asia recently, if so, I would be directed to the public hospital across the road, not treated at the surgery which has 6 doctors.

I think I can understand that. The hospital would have the correct protocols that the surgery would not have.

[Suzbluz]

I flew in from Singapore on sunday and just walked on thriugh. No testing. 

[MicCanberra]

OMG, do I need to stock up on TP? 

[lyndarra]

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

OMG, do I need to stock up on TP? 

No, just remove the "No Junk Mail" sticker from your mail box.😄

[mr walker]

On 3/3/2020 at 3:50 PM, MMDown Under said:

There is already talk of cancelling non essential treatment. 

 On the radio the other morning someone from ' Health Dept' suggested that, as the worst of the coronavirus impact here is likely to coincide with the regular flu season,  elective surgery should be brought forward to clear hospitals for the virus patients.

 

If there us capability to bring forward elective surgery, why wouldn't we be doing that already, irrespective of any looming pandemic??

[NSWP]

18 hours ago, lyndarra said:

I think I can understand that. The hospital would have the correct protocols that the surgery would not have.

Exactly.

[NSWP]

3 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

OMG, do I need to stock up on TP? 

Indeed, BYO TP on all Australian based cruises now.  There will be no 'corkage' fee on TP though, unlike the booze.😁  I hear Elites on Princess will get one roll of Princess brand of TP pp per diem, the steerage class, Platinums, Ruby, Gold and Blue cards will have to BYO.

Edited March 5, 2020 by NSWP

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Indeed, BYO TP on all Australian based cruises now.  There will be no 'corkage' fee on TP though, unlike the booze.😁  I hear Elites on Princess will get one roll of Princess brand of TP pp per diem, the steerage class, Platinums, Ruby, Gold and Blue cards will have to BYO.

LOL, there may no be corkage but they have very strict rules as to what type of paper can be flushed.

[floridababa]

Just heard that the Grand Princess is staying off the coast of San Francisco due to the possibility of Covid 19

Crazy that major problems have been princess cruise lines????

Now things are getting more complicated!

[MicCanberra]

12 minutes ago, floridababa said:

Just heard that the Grand Princess is staying off the coast of San Francisco due to the possibility of Covid 19

Crazy that major problems have been princess cruise lines????

Now things are getting more complicated!

Not so crazy, Princess seem to have Noro outbreaks much more often than other cruise lines as well.

[floridababa]

19 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Not so crazy, Princess seem to have Noro outbreaks much more often than other cruise lines as well.

Just heard that the Grand Princess is staying off the coast of San Francisco due to the possibility of Covid 19

Crazy that major problems have been princess cruise lines????

Now things are getting more complicated!

20 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Not so crazy, Princess seem to have Noro outbreaks much more often than other cruise lines as well.

Then I must conclude that Princess ships does not clean very well 

[NSWP]

36 minutes ago, floridababa said:

Just heard that the Grand Princess is staying off the coast of San Francisco due to the possibility of Covid 19

Crazy that major problems have been princess cruise lines????

Now things are getting more complicated!

Then I must conclude that Princess ships does not clean very well 

Or perhaps just bad luck and they have the largest fleet.

[MicCanberra]

13 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Or perhaps just bad luck and they have the largest fleet.

And a older demographic to many other lines.

[The_Big_M]

59 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

And a older demographic to many other lines.

 

Is there a correlation between norovirus and age?

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, The_Big_M said:

 

Is there a correlation between norovirus and age?

I am not sure, but there is certainly a correlation with reduced immunities to picking up bugs.

[MMDown Under]

CDC and US State Department say Americans should avoid cruise ships because of corona virus.  

I wonder what the Australian Government will advise in Smart Traveller, following this advice from the US.