CV and mad panic behaviour

[Lods]

If they can't see that Omicron has moved the goalposts, then they're showing their stupidity.

Stupid
Yep
That's pretty much the point.
The Queensland Government set an opening date based on Delta.
The time was set for a period that meant with Christmas and School Holidays there would be a huge influx of people into the State.
Omicron came along with no certainty at that time that it was a milder form of the virus and no real idea about vaccine effectiveness.... and they still went ahead with that change.
At that point they lost me.
Now there would have been many unhappy folks if that change  hadn't gone ahead....but there are a lot of equally unhappy and worried people around at the moment.
An opening at a date other than school holidays and Christmas, with most folks boosted would have been the more sensible approach once Omicron came into play.

As for hospitalisations, ICU's and deaths let's see what that looks like in 3 or 4 weeks time.
Omicron might be milder, it spreads quicker....the theory is that will even things out in terms of pressure on the health systems.
But Omicron might just as easily overwhelm that system.
Already positive cases are about a month ahead of where they were expected to be in QLD...and that's with lots of people saying what's the point in getting tested if it takes 5 days for results or not getting tested because they now don't fit the description of a ridiculous close contact definition.

I've followed all the directions from the health folk since the start of the pandemic.
Government and Health seemed to be on the same page.
Now I'm not so sure...and that destroys your confidence.

[Mav]

Unfortunately, governments are too sensitive to the straw man arguments of the stupid who claim they were promised a return to normal. I'd guess that there would have been little point in the Qld government trying to suppress Christmas and NY celebrations as there would have been mass non-compliance anyway. They could have shut down commercial premises but good luck trying to stop gatherings in private premises.

Like you, I would be happy for governments to go back to the drawing board as Omicron might as well be an entirely different pandemic. Everything should be back on the table. But that does raise the issue of what would work in the battle against Omicron. Unfortunately, what worked with Covid before Delta is pretty much irrelevant now. Lockdowns and contact-tracing are so last year. It's a no-brainer now that anyone who wants to avoid contracting Covid should be getting a booster, wearing a mask when mixing with other people and avoiding crowds.

[Lods]

From what I'm seeing here....and it may be different in other places, is that ordinary people are now taking ownership of the fight.
Now that Christmas New Year is behind us.....

They're wearing masks....even in places it's not mandated.
Socially distancing to the point where they're crossing the road to keep away from other folks.
Booking in for boosters at the first available opportunity.
Setting up facebook groups that provide information as to where positive cases have visited. (our government's given up on that)
Working from home wherever possible
....and staying home much more than in the pre-covid times.
Apart from a shop every couple of days I don't see the need to go out.

As the positive  numbers grow businesses probably won't be much better off in terms of patronage compared  to lockdowns now the festive season is behind us.
Overheads in keeping open will be hit by a lack of customers.

[Mav]

And a lack of staff. A coffee shop down the road from me has closed temporarily for that reason.

[LP]

And a lack of staff. A coffee shop down the road from me has closed temporarily for that reason.

I've picked up a trend amongst the youth, they are actively pursuing Omicron infections but it's not clear why.

It may be that they think once they got it they can socialise together, on the basis you can't be infected when you are already infected.

But I suspect there may be an even darker side to this, that I picked up on overhearing a phone conversation at the supermarket, and it is linked to COVID payments.

It may be for many kids, given some work low paid jobs / casual with unpaid annual leave, that it is more desirable and lucrative to be infected with Omicron and paid to isolate amongst friends during the holiday period! In effect a paid extended holiday based on the assumption Omicron is mild, but of course there is a risk!

I'm not sure how the current rules work, and if this meme travelling through the youth is legitimate?

[capcom]

Meanwhile, in the paradise of Xian China, 5000 dead (minimum) and lockdown where you can't even leave your home, even for shopping.  Evergrande will fold within weeks and Grandpa Xi is headed for major trouble.  Long time comin'

   

[ElwoodBlues1]

Meanwhile, in the paradise of Xian China, 5000 dead (minimum) and lockdown where you can't even leave your home, even for shopping.  Evergrande will fold within weeks and Grandpa Xi is headed for major trouble.  Long time comin'

   

They are probably rounding up some more animals as we speak, if they are not using bats to create epidemics they are murdering helpless dogs in Yulin with that disgusting festival they run each year.
Disgraceful nation....Xi will have to bailout Evergrande, we will suffer of course economically with iron ore demand down and there will be a credit crunch. Most of the debt is in China so Xi and his motley crew can probably deal with it if they want to, China dont usually bail out companies but Evergrande is so big it might have to.

[capcom]

It's why every hard line communist country never survives.  Stunting growth of those who've grown to thrive on some personal wealth will eventually rise and kill the leaders who would deny them their freedoms.  A very old saying; the tree of liberty must always be watered with the blood of tyrants

[northernblue]

I've picked up a trend amongst the youth, they are actively pursuing Omicron infections but it's not clear why.

It may be that they think once they got it they can socialise together, on the basis you can't be infected when you are already infected.

But I suspect there may be an even darker side to this, that I picked up on overhearing a phone conversation at the supermarket, and it is linked to COVID payments.

It may be for many kids, given some work low paid jobs / casual with unpaid annual leave, that it is more desirable and lucrative to be infected with Omicron and paid to isolate amongst friends during the holiday period! In effect a paid extended holiday based on the assumption Omicron is mild, but of course there is a risk!

I'm not sure how the current rules work, and if this meme travelling through the youth is legitimate?

A mates 20yo son who is on a Basketball scholarship in Canada phoned home excitedly on New Years morning to let mum and dad know that he’s got Covid… ??‍♂️

[northernblue]

I’d have thought tyrants rather than communists.