For all that our world may have changed over the past three weeks, Newspoll has not: The Australian reports the latest result has Labor’s lead steady at 51-49. There has, however, been primary vote movement in favour of the major parties, with both up by two points: the Coalition to 40%, Labor to 36%. The Greens are down one to 12%, One Nation unchanged on 4% and others down three to 8%.
As with Essential Research, Scott Morrison has recovered somewhat from his post-bushfire slump, with his approval rating up three to 41% and disapproval down five to 53%. He now holds a 42-38 lead over Anthony Albanese as preferred prime minister, who led 41-40 last time. Albanese’s net rating has also improved, his approval rating up one to 40% (The Australian report says down three, but I believe it has its wires crossed from the preferred prime minister movement) and disapproval down four to 40%.
In other findings, 75% support the government’s decision to abandon a budget surplus in favour of economic stimulus; 51% believe the federal government has managed preparedness for the crisis well; 66% are satisfied with federal and state government efforts to inform the public about the virus; but only 47% feel the same way about managing its economic impact.
UPDATE: The Australian’s reportage rather downplays the fact, but the poll found only 33% were satisfied with the economic response of governments (the question emphasised “both federal and state”) to the coronavirus outbreak, with 47% dissatisfied. The 75% rating in favour of stimulus did not relate specifically to the government’s policy, but to the general notion that “the Morrison government should provide a stimulus package to safeguard the economy”, with only 14% favouring the alternative option that it “should prioritise its promise to deliver a budget surplus”.
For the other questions, 76% of respondents were worried about the economic impact of the outbreak, versus only 20% for confident; 51% were worried, and 47% confident, about the preparedness of the public health system, for which 51% were satisified with the federal and state government response and 33% dissatisfied; and 63% were confident, and 35% worried, about “the amount of information available to Australians about how to protect themselves”, for which 65% were satisfied and 28% dissatisfied with the federal and state government response.
The poll was conducted Wednesday to Saturday from a sample of 1501.
poroti:
But if he chose to, could the Qlder elect to turn around at the border and fly home again rather than face mandatory self isolation? Not that it would do him any good returning to Australia as he’d have to self isolate anyway.
New ad about social distancing.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1239225071421534209
Victoria
“ I wonder what the public in the UK are making of their govt strategy.”
—————-
There is a Parliamentary Petition against it but i fear that that is a futile gesture as speed is of the essence.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/301397
C@tmomma @ #131 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 8:07 am
Transmission of COVID-19 is by droplet contact, not airborne transmission, in >99% of all reported cases. They are completely different mechanisms, as I have been trying to point out in this forum and others for more than a month. Fear of sharing the air we all breath with anyone who might shed SARS-CoV-2 is atavistic bullshit, and completely unhelpful.
https://twitter.com/JamesWo37890814/status/1239017490929213440?s=19
USA has cut interest rates to zero and has initiated quantative easing/bond buyback like the GFC to stop the economy collapsing.
Confessions
Not this guy. He had arrived and was told he tested positive a day or two after . I’d imagine arriving and turning around would be an option but a bloody expensive one.
Cheek kissing is a better transmission method than handshakes.
Rakali
I am actually quite shocked that this is the UK strategy.
Imagine if China had adopted this.
rhwombat
Thanks again for your useful and informed advice, links and push back against the panic, hysteria and uninformed.
I guess it doesn’t apply to Sean Hannity. Obviously brings in too many dollars for them.
Tea Pain
@TeaPainUSA
·
2h
Is it possible to be “Too Crazy” even for Fox News?
Fox News puts host on hiatus after she said coronavirus is being used to ‘impeach’ Trump all over…
Trish Regan’s Fox Business show will be going on hiatus in the wake of an on-air rant where she said Democrats and the “liberal media” are trying to “destroy the president” by means of the cor
deadstate.org
Victoria
Apart from the cruel Tory acceptance of Austerity which caused increased deaths amongst the lower orders, i think the NHS is so underfunded, particularly in Wales and England that they do not have the resources.
I also note that Mexico is considering closing the border with the USA to protect itself. What delicious irony.
rhwombat,
So give me the specifics about how long a droplet of C-19, sneezed out or coughed out into the air, remains infective? I am assuming that not all people have the time to sneeze or cough into their elbow. Or even want to.
I know those infective droplets eventually settle onto a surface and remain infective for a period of time, so why isn’t it prudent to avoid those places where there are greater than normal concentrations of potential carriers and depositers of C-19?
Rakali
You reap what you sow comes to mind.
The USA are going to be where Italy are now in about 2 weeks.
Thank goodness my niece is booking trip back home.
Victoria
I gather most of Australia’s imported virus has cone from the incompetent neo-liberal USofA rather than the more competent Asian countries.
Coronavirus state of emergency declared in Victoria to respond to COVID-19 outbreak
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-16/coronavirus-state-of-emergency-declared-in-victoria/12058442
The Guardian
ACT declares state of emergency
The ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, has also declared a state of emergency, after Victoria did the same earlier today.
He says there are two confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the territory.
So, if you can’t catch Coronavirus by breathing in infected air, why do we have Social Distancing, and why do testing units take nose swabs?
The Guardian
Asked about Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’ declaration of a public health emergency, Morrison said that was approved at the national cabinet on Sunday.
:::
Premier Daniel Andrews said concerns around aged care would be discussed in detail at the national cabinet on Tuesday.
He said the advice at the moment was that “closing schools en masse … could do more harm than good”.
Crown Casino has been allowed to continue operating its gaming floor, with “social distancing” in place. Andrews said “a number of machines have been turned off so there are bigger gaps between patrons”.
The mandatory self-isolation does not apply to people from Pacific Island nations who have to travel through Australia or New Zealand to get home, Andrews said.
I bet his cronies at Goldman Sachs were choking on their expensive cigars and whisky when they heard this!
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/15/us/politics/coronavirus-economy-dodd-frank.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
Rakali
Yep. The USA have been very late to the party and the DFAT guy we spoke to about my niece coming home from the USA was in total agreement.
The Guardian
Brett Sutton, Victoria’s chief health officer, is now speaking.
He says the ban on gatherings above 500 people does not apply to: “Airports, public transportation, medical and health services, emergency services, aged care, prisons, correctional facilities, youth justice centres, parliament, food markets or an office building, factory or site of construction that is necessary for normal operation.”
Such a relief to listen to a plain speaker like Dan Andrews. He might not be the most charismatic leader, but he has other virtues.
C@tmomma
Would the elbow they are busy coughing and sneezing into be the one they use for “elbow bumps’ ? 😉
poroti @ #173 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 9:04 am
Good point.
I think I’ll just wave hello at people for the foreseeable.
Queensland local government election voter how-to guide, from postal ballots to polling booths
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-16/council-elections-your-guide-how-to-vote/11998838
Can you catch this virus swimming in a public pool? Asking for a concerned friend.
This thought can be filed under the category of ‘Black Humour’:
Nauru is probably one of the safest places in the world to be right now.
FYI
If you’re working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, who’s responsible for your safety?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-16/coronavirus-working-from-home-legal-liability-employment-law/12056942
C@tmomma @ #167 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 6:01 am
The air isn’t infected, it may contain droplets of mucus and saliva that contains the virus.
These are relatively heavy things which disperse and settle quickly.
Social distancing is about avoiding the immediate effects of coughing and sneezing where the concentration of the virus is at a maximum.
I was at my local shopping centre yesterday.
The supermarkets were all busy.
But everywhere else very quiet.
Many businesses are already cutting hours for staff and the word from construction industry is that the low supplies of goods in the chain are halting work.
My parents always said to have 6 months wages in reserve.
I damn well had that, but bought a new car before xmas.
I hadn’t anticipated covid19.
I didnt want to. My Ford focus only had 49000km on the clock.
It sadly turned out to be a lemon because the power drive technology was crap.
Sigh….
Can anyone explain this to me … I must be too thick to understand it …
Instead of closing all schools now and sending kids home to be looked after by their elderly grandparents, we are going to wait until there are confirmed Covid-19 cases in each school, and then close that school only, sending the kids home to be looked after by their elderly grandparents.
Do we really hate grandparents that much?
“Wash your hands frequently ” is no doubt good advice, but they should add “and don’t touch your face”. That seems to have been lost recently.
Lizzie
Agree 0n Daniel Andrews. Hence why I dont feel as stressed overall.
If Morrison were the premier of Victoria, well that would be another story.
LOL!
OL
https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-and-covid-19-your-questions-answered-by-virus-experts-133617
Sunanda Creagh: And Catherine asks, what is the likelihood of transmission through using a public swimming pool?
Lisa Sedger: I would think quite small because a) the virus would be quite diluted in a swimming pool. Secondly, swimming pools are all treated with chlorine, for example, and chlorine is a very effective anti-viral agent. You’d have to drink a lot of swimming pool water to get the virus.
Michael Wallach: I agree with that.
Victoria:
I ducked into IGA yesterday for some items I couldn’t get at my big shop the day before. The place was absolutely packed. I asked the cashier what was going on cause normally Sundays are quiet, and she said since coronavirus the shop had been extremely busy.
Victoria
Now THAT is really bad luck. Nothing worse than a car you can’t depend on. 🙁
Fess
Yes. People are stocking up.
In my small street I began door knocking to see if anyone needed help with anything and lo and behold a little elderly man I found living in a weatherboard house I had completely forgotten about at the end of the cul de sac. Fortunately he has a niece and nephew looking after him so I was not needed. Check your elderly neighbors everyone.
B.S. Fairman @ #117 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 8:03 am
Still very early to gauge US Futures but they are well down atm and have been doing so since the Fed announcement-
https://finviz.com/futures.ashx
ASX futures restart trading at 9:30 am Sydney time, but are currently up 61 – the Saturday close of the US Friday night session –
https://www.afr.com/markets-data/derivatives
Lizzie
I really liked the Ford focus. Was a perfect size etc. But the technology was faulty.
If I had a manual, it would not have been an issue. But I only drive automatic, so it was a mute point.
I ended up buying a Mazda 30. I would have preferred my focus to be functioning well and I had some extra funds in the bank.
Whatayoudo.
For those people who would like an extended, and very clear, explanation of how the number of cases will increase, please watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kas0tIxDvrg&feature=youtu.be
It’s 9 very informative minutes
edit: it includes how to reduce the rate of infection, too:)
Player one
Term 1 ends on 27th March. So it can be assumed that parents make plans about what to do with their children for the holiday period.
Now that the dynamics are changing on a daily basis, they have to consider what to do with their children at that time, and also if the shutdown occurs in meantime.
Surely you get what is a play. Player one.
Dave
Hello. How have you been?
For example my grown up children have gone to visit their grandparents in past few days and told them that they would be keeping away from now on as the spread of virus starts going through the community.
Now for those who rely on grandparents to
Look after children, need to make other plans.
The herd idea is madness when we know so little about a disease….there is early evidence that having Covid19 can permanently damage your lungs like SARS, the jury is out whether it gives you immunity from getting it again etc etc…
I imagine Johnson made an economic, not health decision.
Outside left @ #176 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 8:07 am
The pool itself would be clorinated and therefore safe. Changing rooms may be a different matter.
Torchbearer
Yes it was an economic decision.
What are the UK citizenry going to make of it though.
Barney in Tanjung Bunga @ #180 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 9:10 am
That’s what I meant. I do know that air can’t be ‘infected’, that’s taking too literally what I was saying.
Victoria @ #193 Monday, March 16th, 2020 – 9:22 am
What I see is two weeks of the virus having free reign to spread within schools. It is asymptomatic even in adults for a couple of days. In kids, it often barely even registers any symptoms for the whole time they have it.
If you believed the official numbers about how many cases of virus we currently have were even remotely accurate – i.e. not that many – then this might be an acceptable risk …. but does anyone here believe those numbers?
Anyone?