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Something strange is happening with Melbourne's latest COVID-19 outbreak.

posted 4 years ago by Quasimodo (16388)
14 replies | jump to latest

About three weeks ago an Indian was loose in Melbourne with the supposedly super infectious Indian variant of COVID-19. He didn't know he was infected and just went about his business. Since then Melbourne has had 63 infections and some 320 listed contact points at various venues including supermarkets, restaurants, sporting venues, public transport and so on.

"So here's the thing !" This latest outbreak should be raging by now and yet health authorities are only reporting a handful of new cases every day. And this is in a population where only 2% of people had been vaccinated prior to this outbreak. As a resident of Melbourne I'm not complaining but it just seems very odd.

Melbourne has been in "lockdown" for a week.

[–] TexasJack (12516) 4 years ago

That is one of the enduring mysteries of the disease. Some people manage to avoid transmitting it. For example, children are poor carriers of the virus, avoiding transmission even to parents living under the same roof.

The simplest answer is that asymptomatic carriers just do not transmit the disease to the extent that has been theorized to this point.

[–] PaladinNJ (21593) 4 years ago

And yet here one of the biggest problems was asymptomatic kids bringing it home to their relatives.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I am sure there are more than 2% who have at least one shot?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

according to our world in data's page, only 15.1% of australians have had one dose as of yesterday.

my understanding is that, because au & nz had relatively minimal impact & have been able to contain transmission through restricting incoming travel, they haven't felt the pressing need in the population to get vaxxed. (only 9% of new zealanders have had a shot).

i'm not sure how that's sustainable as a long term strategy.

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations?country=AUS

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 4 years ago

The vaccination rollout has been bungled by the Federal Government. They have had a "this is not a race" attitude as they have tried to implement a vaccination plan by categories one by one. First the front line staff in hotel quarantine, then the elderly and their care givers in nursing homes, then the over 55's and so on.

At the same time the media has been playing up the blood clotting cases from the Astra Zeneca vaccine which is the one Australia is manufacturing and consequently the one that is available here in large supply. Combine the resulting vaccine hesitancy "oh we'll wait for the Pfizer vaccine" with Australia's success in suppressing COVID-19 and you have a very slow vaccination rate.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

That means it will go on and on. Canada is approaching 60% with the first shot and we had a very slow start when compared with the US.

[–] AndyKing1967 (39083) 4 years ago

75% first shot, 52% second shot in the UK.

[–] 102000 (6320) 4 years ago

You said the person from India was "supposedly" infected - don't they know for sure? Are the 63 positive cases definitely the variant from India?

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 4 years ago

No I didn't say that. I said " About three weeks ago an Indian was loose in Melbourne with the supposedly super infectious Indian variant of COVID-19. " So I was referring to the Indian variant being supposedly super infectious. The Indian man was definitely infected with the Indian variant as have been the 63 cases.

Melbourne has a large immigrant Indian population and there is continual movement of them and their relatives backwards and forwards between Australia and India as they take holidays and visit each other.

[–] DarkHorse (297) 4 years ago

Yeah that needs to stop as well. If you choose to go to an unsafe country than you have to expect that it won't be so easy to get back when it starts getting scary over there.

[–] 102000 (6320) 4 years ago

Oh - sorry, I misunderstood.

[–] Otter (24464) 4 years ago

Maybe he was wearing a mask in public and cleaning his hands like a good citizen, and very few viruses got to other humans.

[–] DarkHorse (297) 4 years ago

Our state Govt are power mad that is the problem. They love these lockdowns and I believe they ignore a lot of facts to make the lockdowns happen. We are now entering our second week of lockdown and don't be surprised if it ends up being the whole month as the State Govt also like the idea of eradicating the virus which is great but how about they be more vigilant in keeping it eradicated!

This is our 4th lockdown now.

[–] moviechatterer (15966) 4 years ago

People really blame the "Indian variant" on any indians they see ,
Its only called that because thats where first discovered.
Once out of the bag anyone can have it
An indian whose never been to india is less likey to have it han a white guy whose been to pakistan.
Hence theyve now renamed it beforethe hate crimes start.

You didnt get this with the "argentinian variant"