Covid 19 Racing

[Messenger]

Harness venues with seating that has a view of the track are in short supply - some have virtually none. If you are only allowed to move for food and toilets such tracks are the only viable spectator option
I cannot really understand why people have to be seated when they can walk around shopping centres willy nilly

Ballarat would be good while Stawell has very little unless they bring in more park benches
The same with local gallops but some may be glad they have not knocked down their old grandstands

[Messenger]

Why is it that harness attendees have to stay in a seat again?
From The Age's article celebrating the nightclubs reopening

https://todayspaper.smedia.com.au/theage/default.aspx

[Messenger]

Dayle Brown has been off duty having a knee replacement
Now that he is back on deck (couldn't resist the pun) we should hear more about crowds this week
Good luck with that knee Captain

[gutwagon]

I think the crowd situation is all about how much political pressure you can put on Dictator Dan. Gallops owners would include people that give or can influence political donations , that's why they are getting a better deal. There is no difference between trotting venues and gallop venues, many are even at the same venue. I see no other reason for the discrimination towards harness racing.

It's all politics , there is no medical reason for the discrimination !

[Messenger]

I am just as interested in why we are disadvantaged compared to bloody nightclubs!

[Messenger]

NSW are just about there

http://www.harnesslink.com/Australia/COVID-19-Restrictions-and-Protocols-update

[Messenger]

Owners are now allowed at all Vic meetings including the stables - owners being normal human beings (well sort of), it makes the exclusion of the general public an even bigger nonsense. We just have to keep NSW under control

The gallops are a mile ahead of us, this is what they sent me

Tis the season to get back to the track!

It's another big week of country racing as we continue to welcome spectators back to the track to celebrate the festive season trackside.

Remember to check the calendar for all upcoming race meetings and book your tickets as spots are limited and pre-booking is now essential.

[Showgrounds]

Should be a great night New Year's Eve at Melton for the Vicbred finals. Perhaps HRV could put all the owners on a bus and go through a Macca's drive though to save on catering staff.

A suitably miserable end to a miserable year, courtesy of a miserable organisation demonstrating its lack of concern for the stakeholders it is supposed to serve.

[Messenger]

I am coming around to your way of thinking Trevor - there can only be one reason that we have not progressed as far as the gallops - our administration

[Showgrounds]

I am coming around to your way of thinking Trevor - there can only be one reason that we have not progressed as far as the gallops - our administration

You've got it. That's why I get more enjoyment these days following the racing across the ditch and following the footy. Ellen Tormey's five winners just pours more fuel on the fire. It is seriously farcical in Victoria (anybody got an update on Ride High's "minor" suspensory injury?) and the extremely lazy and compliant media just swallows an regurgitates what it is told.

[Messenger]

If you missed out on free entry for Melton on New Year's Eve
you can go to Ararat tomorrow night (Wed) for free
You can register here for your ticket

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/ararat-harness-racing-club-race-meeting-tickets-131559023581

It should be a good night with the daytime temp expected to be 26 at kickoff at 5.45
The general public are restricted to the grandstand area. You can get up and get a drink or food, go the TAB or toilet etc but must go back to your allocated seat.

Sitting in the Ararat grandstand is about the closest you will come to a Melbourne Showgrounds experience

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=AR301220

[Messenger]

Take any opportunity to go to the trots now because looking at the latest list of Covid exposure sites it will be a miracle if we avoid lockdown again (unless they shut off the Western half of the state now ie lockdown the Eastern half)

[Messenger]

I had an interesting report from one of our members who had a good night at Mildura last night
Of course he had to book a ticket and do the online declaration
The problem for the clubs is that they have to fence off the public from the participants
You could have an owner travel to the meet with his trainer but once on course they have to be separated
We are only talking a small crowd but the club has to have 2 catering areas - one for participants and one for the public

[Messenger]

Sounds like Paul had it good at Mildura
I am at Ararat gallops
Teach me to be a traitor!
The public are only allowed on the lawn
Lucky there is cloud cover as there is no shelter
You can still burn big time on these days so yours truly is half way down the straight under a pine tree next to his car - I knew those little stools I keep in the boot, would come in handy one day

[Messenger]

An omen to go home - fav in R3 broke down on bend and has had to be euthanized

[aussiebreno]

The Nazis kick you out of Halls Gap?

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/news/heil-hitler-nazis-invade-tourist-town-of-halls-gap-victoria/news-story/0dd95e91f0e1d376af16bedcb965f02c

[Messenger]

I missed the Nazis as I was in Melbourne, they must have heard the VP of the Residents and Ratepayers Association was coming home and hightailed it out of town :D

While on Halls Gap, at the races my wife quipped "I've paid $10 to come and sit under a tree when I live in a forest at Halls Gap!" (I must explain that my darling wife joins me on my trips to the racing codes but doesn't actually watch the races)

[Messenger]

While there are no cases in the community, it is a complete joke that clubs like Horsham cannot admit the public because they cannot afford the expense of the required protocols

[Messenger]

Prediction - 5 day lockdown extended by a couple of days for Melbourne while they roll out the ring of steel to allow the rest of Vic to get back to normal
I understand that the statewide lockdown was a clever way of discouraging people from leaving Melbourne (nothing open in country anyway) and much quicker than assembling 'the ring' for 5 days but I fear that from todays news, Melbourne will need a longer lockdown
Although the numbers seem small, it is where the infected have visited plus the wastewater results from a couple of areas in Melbourne (unless the South Melbourne result proves to be nothing)
But fingers crossed the 5 days does it

[Showgrounds]

Prediction - 5 day lockdown extended by a couple of days for Melbourne while they roll out the ring of steel to allow the rest of Vic to get back to normal
I understand that the statewide lockdown was a clever way of discouraging people from leaving Melbourne (nothing open in country anyway) and much quicker than assembling 'the ring' for 5 days but I fear that from todays news, Melbourne will need a longer lockdown
Although the numbers seem small, it is where the infected have visited plus the wastewater results from a couple of areas in Melbourne (unless the South Melbourne result proves to be nothing)
But fingers crossed the 5 days does it

My prediction: Dipstick Dan has openly lied to us all, will blame someone else and you will be right on the money, Kev.

[Messenger]

The distinction between Melbourne and Regional Vic, makes me wonder whether metro based drivers, which includes Melton, should be visiting Regional Vic but then again essential workers are allowed to - Are we essential?

The delineation between Melbourne and Regional has its inconsistencies. Up woop woop Reefton (past Warburton) is Melbourne and yet Bacchus Marsh which just about connects to Melton nowadays is Regional

[Messenger]

I suppose the bigger question should be if a regional driver goes to Melton on Saturday night, is he allowed to go to his local regional pub for lunch the next day?
(The acting premier answered the reverse - that an authorized worker from metro who is in regional Vic cannot go to the regional cafe etc for lunch)

[Messenger]

HRSA are being very careful with border hoppers

Persons that have attended a Victorian race meeting, or licensed training facility in that State, on or after Friday 27 May 2021 are not permitted to attend a South Australian racecourse or registered training venues for 14 days (from the date of the latest exit from Victoria) and must provide Harness Racing SA with the results of a negative COVID-19 test taken on day 13 before attending either a race meeting or licensed premises.

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=48389

I wonder whether we don't need to be careful with metro-regional hoppers
At the very least, we should have 4 drivers rooms for M/F x Metro/Reg and Regional trainers stalls should be distanced from Metro trainers stalls

A return to regional racing (as it would seem it is going to be at least a fortnight before Melbourne people are going to be allowed into the regions) would not be that hard as we have the template from last time

A Regional trainer or driver who has been to Melbourne/Melton and brings Covid home to his region would severely diminish the standing of the Harness Industry

[Messenger]

There are stories going around about whether state hopping drivers are observing Covid requirements
eg driving at Mildura and then Globe Derby next night - was there time to have been tested and cleared?
eg going to Tassie from Vic on Friday and driving that night without doing 2 wks quarantine

[astoevelaar]

Nommed a horse 3 times for Bathurst and Wagga and balloted out each time. I think it's time to go back to ensuring starts based on length of time between starts or introduce some bottom up racing. Either was the system isnt working if you cant get a run in your designated grade.

Thoughts?

[Messenger]

There has to be a system Arjuna. Maybe balloted out horses need to be asterisked and at the very least any horse with 2 consecutive asterisks must be the first selected next nom

[astoevelaar]

Thats would be a common sense approach. Ended up putting him in a race 7 ratings points higher to get a start.

Wonder what the best mechanism is to get the message out there that during times where travel is difficult that there needs to be greater equity in the process.

[Messenger]

Have you emailed them Arjuna, I find Chief Stewards, CEO's - everyone I email in harness racing, very responsive
(The only person I never got a response from was the Victorian Trainers Association)

It might not happen right away but feedback is important
eg. 4yrs ago I made contact with VicRoads about what I/we felt was a serious anomaly
Last week, I revisted the ruling as our town is still upset by it and found out it had been changed 2yrs ago!

[astoevelaar]

Far call Kevin. Lets see how I feel after his performance on Friday. Suprise result at odds out of grade and complaining would be unwise

[Messenger]

LOL we should all be rolling in the $$$$$ tonight as Arjuna's big fella got up in the last at Wagga today and paid $16

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EY230721#EYC23072106

Arjuna tells me he didn't have anything on him either :eek:

[astoevelaar]

Definition of bitter sweet. Can't send any emails now either as ill look an even bigger fool. Such is life.

[Messenger]

No Arjuna you are winner! :D

[Messenger]

Tonight's Melton meeting has been Abandoned
Melton's Covid numbers have increased and the abandonment would be due to

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/covid-19-harness-racing-victoria-update10/

[Messenger]

I have listened to the RSN interview now and a participant that attended the Melton meeting on Monday Aug 2 has tested positive and they are now trying to determine if the participant was contagious at the time. The track has been declared a Tier 1 site so I am guessing that everybody at that meet will have to isolate for 14 days (Dayle Brown not saying that yet) but all attendees at that meet (72) to get tested and isolate until they get their results (I am actually in that situation myself right now - not from this meet or any other). The participant that has tested positive did not attend a meeting since that date.

Sounds like we might be better going back to Regional racing again

[Messenger]

99.9% of the time it is not somebody's fault if they test positive.
I would like to think that, if I tested positive, I would be happy to reveal my name. What the hell, everybody is bound to find out eventually and if harness racing continues, at the very least people will know the participants's close industry contacts as they will be the ones missing for the next fortnight

[Messenger]

Pointed out to me that if any big Trainers deemed a close contact, they will be bloody busy as their staff will not be able to visit their stables, so they won't want to get crook

[Messenger]

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/covid-19-harness-racing-victoria-update11/

Tomorrow's Charlton and Geelong meets for tomorrow cancelled too while they sort things out

[Messenger]

Mildura on Friday should be fine as there are only 3 drivers listed at this point, who were at Melton
That is unless these drivers are considered Tier 1 contacts with the positive case and depending on how carefully we play it (and whether you can be contagious just 2 days after contact) for removing them from Friday's meeting might be too late for these same drivers already drove at Mildura last Wednesday

[Messenger]

Saturday Melton moved to Ballarat
I also notice that all 3 of David Miles runners have been scratched - maybe he has been designated a tier 1 contact?

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=BA140821

[Messenger]

"An update on Friday and weekend meetings will be provided tomorrow. This decision will be based on advice received from DH and HRV contact-tracers."

They're leaving it late

[Yabbie]

"An update on Friday and weekend meetings will be provided tomorrow. This decision will be based on advice received from DH and HRV contact-tracers."

They're leaving it late

With respect I don't think HRV can make any moves without DHHS approval

[Messenger]

With respect they should still be providing an update as they stated they would - even if it is no news - pollies do that every second day ;)

[Messenger]

Carol, if they have nothing else to report, they could just explain the Ballarat move

[Messenger]

Wow, Harness was a lead story on Win News. Yesterday's info, they said Melton Tabcorp Park has been listed as a Tier 2 site (but individuals can be deemed Tier 1 contacts) etc etc

[Messenger]

Once tested they don't take long to inform you of your result - only 28hrs for me, so anyone tested yesterday would probably know their result, although getting in for a test would be the trickier part in Melbourne/Melton

[Messenger]

We have a HRV update
Yarra Valley and Mildura on tomorrow

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/covid-19-harness-racing-victoria-update12/

Participants requirements listed

[Messenger]

David Miles has one listed for YV so hopefully he is not having to isolate

[Messenger]

I don't think it would have made much difference but it is interesting to note that HRV were notified by DHHS on the evening of Aug 10 about the covid positive participant in attendance at Melton on Aug 2
The participant should have notified HRV as soon as they had a COVID-19 test if you look at Covid Reporting Obligations.
Results are fast nowadays so the test may not have been undertaken until Aug 9, in which case only the Shep meet that night may have been affected.
It would be disappointing if the test was actually undertaken earlier than this and the risk of spread not brought to HRV's attention by the participant

[Yabbie]

I am told the participant (and family) followed every health and HRV directive and is devastated about the effect on the industry.

[Messenger]

I am told the participant (and family) followed every health and HRV directive and is devastated about the effect on the industry.

It would be good for the positive participant if CEO Dayle Brown came out and said this for his radio interviews twice made it sound like HRV knew nothing about it until they were informed by DHHS of a positive on the evening of Aug 10 whereas the obligations say that they should have been informed as soon as any participant undertakes a COVID-19 test and are awaiting results.

I am optimistic we are going to be lucky this time but luck it will be for at the very least there would seem to have been at least one Tier 1 contact at a couple more meets after Aug 2. This is based on the spate of recent scratchings (and looking back at the meets between Aug 2 and Aug 10)
Provided no Tier 1 contacts have tested positive, it could well be that their 14 days isolation finished today
If they were the partner of the positive I guess they may have to wait for 14 days after the positive is no longer contagious

I think the Tier 1 contact may have isolated from the time the participant was tested and if it is correct that the positive participant did not attend any other meets after Melton it may have amounted to zero difference whether HRV knew a day earlier.

[Messenger]

Shep is no doubt a worry and this includes harness racing
Moving Shep meetings seems advisable but what about Shep participants being able to move freely around the state
Only in Australia would you see sport as an essential industry, footballers are no doubt being kept in very tight cocoons - I hope harness participants are being super vigilant too
I still think Regional racing is a no brainer

[Messenger]

Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray have been stood down from riding for 14 days and will face stewards on Friday charged with failing or refusing to comply with an order, direction or requirement of the Stewards or an official. “On 25 August 2021, Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Ben Melham and Celine Gaudray were present at an ‘Airbnb’ in Mornington after 9pm with two other non-licensed individuals,” Racing Victoria stewards said in a statement.

From The Age

[Messenger]

The Aug 31 move from Shep to Echuca might require another move?

https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7404845/victoria-sees-79-new-covid-19-cases-including-one-in-echuca-aged-care-worker/

[Messenger]

Jamie Kah, Ben Melham, Ethan Brown and Celine Gaudray have been stood down from riding for 14 days and will face stewards on Friday charged with failing or refusing to comply with an order, direction or requirement of the Stewards or an official. “On 25 August 2021, Jamie Kah, Ethan Brown, Ben Melham and Celine Gaudray were present at an ‘Airbnb’ in Mornington after 9pm with two other non-licensed individuals,” Racing Victoria stewards said in a statement.

From The Age

“The stewards have determined that all four jockeys will have their licence to ride in races suspended for a period of three months,” RV said in a statement.

The inquiry was held behind closed doors because of the “sensitive nature of the evidence” - cover up

A Victoria Police statement on Friday said that six people were each fined $5452 for breaking curfew and the five-kilometre radius limit on Wednesday night, with police called to the property after a noise complaint was made.
Racing officials were only notified of the alleged breach by an informant close to the industry. They were not informed by police.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/racing/jamie-kah-among-four-jockeys-accused-of-breaching-covid-19-rules-20210826-p58mc5.html

[Messenger]

Surprising to see that Shep still hosting Sunday meet
With the war having been lost on Covid, there will be more participant positives and Regional racing would surely lessen the risk of a total shutdown

[Messenger]

HRNSW only released this yesterday

Any person who attended the Tabcorp Park Menangle race meeting on Tuesday 31 August 2021 MUST provide Harness Racing NSW Stewards with the result of a negative COVID test taken following that date prior to attending any racecourse, training centre or training facility.

There must have been a covid positive person at the meeting
The big question is: How many participants will have had a test and received their result before tonights meeting?

[Messenger]

Just noticed that Menangle has disappeared off the list of meets for tonight

[Messenger]

Please HRV go to Regional before it is too late!

[Messenger]

David Aiken was at the Menangle Tuesday meet and has a runner in tonight but I am guessing he, himself would not be allowed back into Vic

[Messenger]

David Aiken was at the Menangle Tuesday meet and has a runner in tonight but I am guessing he, himself would not be allowed back into Vic

I am not so sure that this is correct
but I would assume he could only attend Geelong with a very recent Negative test result

[Messenger]

Both of Kevin Pizzuto's runners are already scratched from Monday's Menangle
He only had one in at Menangle last Tuesday

[Messenger]

When we have a horse from NSW come and race like Tingiringi in the last at Echuca
Is the trainer and other NSW participants mixing with Vic participants?

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EC090921#ECC09092102

[aussiebreno]

When we have a horse from NSW come and race like Tingiringi in the last at Echuca
Is the trainer and other NSW participants mixing with Vic participants?

http://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=EC090921#ECC09092102
I would daresay these border hoppers are using horse transport and horses are under care of caretake trainer for a day or two.

[Messenger]

Now a requirement Breno

"horses nominated for interstate harness racing meetings are to be transported by a legitimate horse transport company approved in advance by HRNSW to a Trainer’s Representative (Licensed Trainer) in the respective State."

http://www.harness.org.au/media-room/news-article/?news_id=49597

[Messenger]

5,000 allowed back on track in NSW

https://harnesslink.com/australia/nsw-regional-racing-back-on-track/

[Messenger]

The gallops are allowed 300 fully vaccinated at the Warrnambool meeting on Thursday
I wonder when harness will join the party

[Messenger]

4,000 allowed to go to a concert at the Myer Music Bowl on Oct 30
I want to hear some developments from our Harness authorities

[Showgrounds]

Two and a dog allowed in the back straight at Victorian Trot meetings. BYO Salada crackers and cheese, which must be eaten through a mask.

[Messenger]

It seems crazy that we cannot have any crowds at the excellent meetings over this long weekend period (yes, I know Monday is not actually a holiday)
There a hundreds of people gathering all over the state whether they are at markets or large stores etc etc and yet we cannot have any out in the great outdoors of a harness track

[Showgrounds]

Agree entirely Kev. A tragedy that nobody can attend Maryborough on Sunday for the Redwood and Derby.

[Messenger]

Crowds are back (maybe)

https://www.thetrots.com.au/news/articles/harness-meetings-to-reopen-in-line-with-government-directions/

Any club that doesn't at least let owners back immediately (and therefore the few others that turn up) are not trying hard enough

[Messenger]

It is hard to believe Yarra Valley Cup Day meeting is NOT allowed a crowd

[Bonnie]

Owners should be allowed back as a priority if they are fully vaccinated. It’s all happening around us , shopping, concerts, thoroughbred racing , travel and a the people who are putting on the show are not allowed on all tracks !! Ridiculous .

[Messenger]

We're not the only ones suffering, I cannot believe that Dunkeld's once a year iconic cup was run without a crowd yesterday

[Messenger]

PeterProfit saying that NSW is covering up that some big name participants have Covid

[aussiebreno]

PeterProfit saying that NSW is covering up that some big name participants have Covid
Huge cover up ... only a public released statement 22 Dec. PP has 0 credibility. Womans weekly of harness racing

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/CORONAVIRUS--COVID-19-----SYDNEY-METROPOLITAN-AREA.html?soid=1128612306576&aid=wrfHY64KcHg

[Messenger]

This isn't about harness but having done some research on the weekend I thought I would share it
Using Australia's figures up until Saturday here is a cross-section of the risk from Covid

3 in 100,000 ‘twenties’ that get it die
3 in 1,000 ‘sixties’
3 in 27 ‘nineties’

Now I know the young are not worried about getting it (we become more risk adverse as we get older) but I equate the 'twenties' risk to being told that "3 people that go to the Grand Final are not going home" - would you think twice about going. Of course we cannot let it control our life but maybe we should still be seriously trying not to get it

[Messenger]

Just reporting (because the papers are hiding these figures away) that:

In Australia 42 people a day are dying from Covid (that is the average for the last week)
Don't let anyone tell you that that is similar to the flu - worst flu deaths year 2017 saw average daily deaths of 3.23

[Messenger]

Not harness related, I know, but do not let anybody tell you that Covid is yesterday's news
It took over a year for Australia to record 1,000 Covid deaths
We are now seeing 1,000 a month

You would hope that leaving winter behind might see a drop but now people do not have to isolate so a drop might be fanciful

Remember the uproar last century when the Road Toll passed 1,000 for a year - the campaigns and action taken
Covid is being swept under the carpet
If 1,000 a month were dieing of flu we would likely all be hibernating
1,000 a month dieing in Australia from Covid - be careful people

I hope this Age link works

https://todayspaper.smedia.com.au/theage/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=AGE%2F2022%2F10%2F01&entity=Ar01402&sk=132DB8D8&mode=text

[aussiebreno]

Not harness related, I know, but do not let anybody tell you that Covid is yesterday's news
It took over a year for Australia to record 1,000 Covid deaths
We are now seeing 1,000 a month

You would hope that leaving winter behind might see a drop but now people do not have to isolate so a drop might be fanciful

Remember the uproar last century when the Road Toll passed 1,000 for a year - the campaigns and action taken
Covid is being swept under the carpet
If 1,000 a month were dieing of flu we would likely all be hibernating
1,000 a month dieing in Australia from Covid - be careful people

I hope this Age link works

https://todayspaper.smedia.com.au/theage/shared/ShowArticle.aspx?doc=AGE%2F2022%2F10%2F01&entity=Ar01402&sk=132DB8D8&mode=text

Not sure we'd all be hibernating if 1000 people died of the flu. More than that die of heart disease but theres a Maccas on every corner.

[Messenger]

Yes Brendan about 1,500 die from coronary heart disease every month (mind you that is not quite half of all cardiovascular disease deaths)
It is very interesting to note that that figure was 5 times worse in 1980. The improvement is mind boggling

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/heart-stroke-and-vascular-disease-and-subtypes/what-is-coronary-heart-disease

What is allowed eg Maccas is not a great indicator of what is OK, after all we still sell cigarettes
The hibernating might have been a bit of hyperbole but many people really think Covid is more or less over when it is killing more people in a month than it did in the first year

[aussiebreno]

Yes Brendan about 1,500 die from coronary heart disease every month (mind you that is not quite half of all cardiovascular disease deaths)
It is very interesting to note that that figure was 5 times worse in 1980. The improvement is mind boggling

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/heart-stroke-vascular-diseases/hsvd-facts/contents/heart-stroke-and-vascular-disease-and-subtypes/what-is-coronary-heart-disease

What is allowed eg Maccas is not a great indicator of what is OK, after all we still sell cigarettes
The hibernating might have been a bit of hyperbole but many people really think Covid is more or less over when it is killing more people in a month than it did in the first year

Not so much what is legally allowed but the level of imposition society is prepared to put on themselves as a whole and individually for health. Sure when it was an unknown people got on board hibernation, but eating vegies or not smoking is a far lesser imposition than hibernation. Its not that people don't know about health disease, cancer, covid or think its old news, its that they take their chances and prioritise current lifestyle.

[gutwagon]

Just remember that's a 1000 a month die with covid. They will not give us figures on how many died just from the virus. I have seen reports that up to 90% are dying from it and I've seen reports that only 10% are dying from it. So the true number is somewhere in between.

Bottom line is if your are worried about it stay home but don't try and force us all to stay home.

[Messenger]

Better information would certainly be appreciated, Rick.
I don't think people who are dying of the known major causes of death are being 'double listed' by the Government

https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/leading-causes-of-death

The latest figures are pre-covid. Bloody awful reading the number 1 cause for 15 - 44yo's

Nobody is 'forcing all to stay home' anymore but anybody who does not self isolate, when they know they have it, are simply selfish bastards IMO
I reckon a death in one's family could change many people's perspective

[Messenger]

From an Age article today

There were 156 COVID-related deaths reported in the state in the past week, an average of 22 per day

This is just Victoria

Just so that people know because I feel the government are treating us like mushrooms

[aussiebreno]

How many heart disease and cancer? They arent front page news why would another disease be front page news?

[Messenger]

Yes, we have had this debate before Brendan. I think the difference is that while Cancer and Heart Disease are progressive illness for which there is public research and programs, Covid is something that you could get this morning when you go and buy your coffee. You are probably young and fit and not particularly in danger of becoming a statistic but what about an older family member you see on a weekly basis. I just don't think there is enough education and masking going on.

ps I do not want front page news, just to be informed. I subscribe to the Age (not sure why) and hardly ever read the digital newspaper anymore but rather scan their webpage. They used to have a little box about Covid which linked you to more info if you were interested - no longer. What you will find is meaningless articles like 'How the tennis is coping without Nick the Brat' or 'Michael Clarke's domestic' or 'The most anticipated video games for 2023"
I understand that they may all have their 'small' space BUT you will find these same articles on The Age homepage for 3 or 4 days (unchanged). It is getting to the point that one can hardly be bothered wading through the garbage to find real news/what of importance is happening in the world

LOL (not really) Just noticed todays top line story is about the surge in fatal heart attacks

pps Covid blamed!