https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2021/01/professor-michael-baker-hails-elimination-strategy-as-uk-looks-to-mimic-new-zealand-s-quarantine-system-almost-a-year-on.html

And yet, with those staggering numbers, I have relatives back there that say it's just a bad flu and that most of the deaths are due to something else but the doctors put "covid" in everything.

*sigh*

"Australia unlikely to fully reopen border in 2021, says top official"

 

Australia is unlikely to fully open its borders in 2021 even if most of its population gets vaccinated this year as planned, says a senior health official.

 

The comments dampen hopes raised by airlines that travel to and from the country could resume as early as July.

 

Department of Health Secretary Brendan Murphy made the prediction after being asked about the coronavirus' escalation in other nations.

 

Dr Murphy spearheaded Australia's early action to close its borders last March.

 

"I think that we'll go most of this year with still substantial border restrictions," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday.

 

"Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus," he said, adding that he believed quarantine requirements for travellers would continue "for some time".

 

Citizens, permanent residents and those with exemptions are allowed to enter Australia if they complete a 14-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.

 

freitasm:

 

"Australia unlikely to fully reopen border in 2021, says top official"

 

 

"Even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don't know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus," he said, adding that he believed quarantine requirements for travellers would continue "for some time".

 

 

This is the biggest question that needs answering....... and it has huge implications for countries like NZ where vaccination is likely to focus on the border facing population first..... what if it makes things worse???......

Yes. the vaccine prevents those workers developing the disease ( and symptoms) .. but if they just become asymptomatic carriers you simply make it harder to find if any of them are carrying the virus....and whether they could then pass it on unknowingly to the rest of the un-immunised community...

[REDACTED]

Sorry, wrong thread.

wellygary:

This is the biggest question that needs answering....... and it has huge implications for countries like NZ where vaccination is likely to focus on the border facing population first..... what if it makes things worse???......

Yes. the vaccine prevents those workers developing the disease ( and symptoms) .. but if they just become asymptomatic carriers you simply make it harder to find if any of them are carrying the virus....and whether they could then pass it on unknowingly to the rest of the un-immunised community...

DonH: Something I haven't seen discussed anywhere: What is the result if you test a vaccinated person for COVID? Does it show as positive? Historic?

 

A PCR test should show negative... it is looking for Virus  not antibodies,

on the other hand a Serological blood test would show you positive for having antibodies...

Press release:

 

To further protect New Zealand from COVID-19, the Government is extending pre-departure testing to all passengers to New Zealand except from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today.

 

“The change will come into force for all flights arriving in New Zealand after 11:59pm (NZT) on Monday 25 January, to minimise disruption for those passengers with imminent departures. Other countries will be considered for exclusion if their situations change.   

 

“As we signalled last week, given the high rates of infection in many countries, most global air routes are of critical concern for the foreseeable future,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“New Zealand is currently in a good position with no community cases, but we continue to take action with very specific steps to further strengthen our borders in response to what we’re seeing overseas.

 

“The expansion of Day 0/1 testing at Managed Isolation and Quarantine to all passengers to New Zealand – except for those coming from Australia, Antarctica or most Pacific Islands – is now in operation. All travellers are still required to complete 14 days mandatory isolation, including routine Day 3 and Day 12 tests.

 

“New Zealand already has some of the most stringent border protection measures in the world. Today’s amendments further strengthen that position in line with the Government’s overall elimination strategy, and more measures can be added as necessary,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“The primary obligation is on passengers to comply, but airlines are also expected to play a key role in checking documentation where practicable at the start of someone’s journey. We recognise and appreciate the efforts of their staff.

 

“Customs staff will check passengers’ arrival cards and inspect test documentation for all arrivals except for those who are exempt.

 

“Last week, I set out exemptions and provided information to assist travellers with the new requirements via covid19.govt.nz and Unite Against COVID-19 social media, and directly to airlines. They will apply to all the countries that have been added,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

“It is critical we acknowledge that these new requirements add complexity for people wanting to get here – and ensure support is in place. We thank them for their cooperation, as it’s what’s helping keep New Zealand safe while cases continue to accelerate overseas.

 

“So far, after four days of flights arriving with travellers from the US and UK, we are seeing extremely high levels of compliance. It’s great to see people doing the right thing for their fellow passengers, airline staff and the New Zealand public,” Chris Hipkins said.

 

From 8 February, all passengers arriving in New Zealand except those from exempted countries without evidence of a negative approved test or medical certificate would incur an infringement offence fee or a fine not exceeding $1,000.

 

Countries and territories not included in the expanded pre-departure requirement

 

• Antarctica
• Australia
• The Cook Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• New Caledonia
• Niue
• Palau
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Tokelau
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Vanuatu
• Wallis and Futuna.

Hipkins has also confirmed they are attempting to secure a small batch of vaccines for front-line staff, which is great news. Seems like some really positive and proactive steps. 

DonH: Something I haven't seen discussed anywhere: What is the result if you test a vaccinated person for COVID? Does it show as positive? Historic? We don't yet know if a vaccinated person can carry and spread the virus. If they can, and if we have no way to tell if they are infectious or not and have to assume they are, then vaccinating the border health workers will be counter-productive.

That depends if they've had Covid or not. If they haven't had it they'll test negative on a PCR test since the vaccine isn't a live one.

While it's true we don't know 100% if vaccinated people can still shed the virus if they are are exposed and contract Covid, the current belief from at least several vaccine manufacturers is that it offers good protection. We are clearly going to learn a lot from the Israel rollout when they're the first in the world to be complete but their belief is that it offers very good protection against shedding.

 

Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Unit at Sheba, said that the initial results indicated the vaccinated people were unlikely to be carriers or infectious — a matter that scientists have hitherto not determined — as antibody levels were high enough to suppress any virus particles. 

 

I'm not sure how you could deem vaccination of border workers to be counter productive - even if vaccination didn't prevent 100% of people from shedding the virus and infecting other people that's still an improvement over 100% of people are infected being capable of infecting others at present.