abner

Well, you have me there.

Meanwhile, from your list, in my state at least...
- Bus drivers, and train conductors, and AO's (public transit ticket police) have all been given "until further notice" new operating guidelines that minimise physical contact with passengers.
- For checkout attendants, Woolies has announced that it will be implementing new plastic barriers between attendant and customer
- Delivery drivers haven't required much in the way of physical interaction with package recipients for years now, unless a signature is required for some high-value delivery. Even that takes place on a portable terminal that can easily be wiped down.
- Hairdressers can remain open only if they limit customer contact to 30 minutes or less.

Most of those measures were implemented in consultation with a union, in accordance with an underlying EBA.

Why was it again that you thought that teachers--and their union--don't deserve the same consideration?

Pollyana

Queensland border restrictions came into force at midnight (just over 2 hours ago). Here at work we have been sorting out plans, exemptions, etc and the police will be actively monitoring all crossing points.

Pollyana

Brisbane buses have cordoned off their front seats (close to the driver) and have introduced a policy whereby passengers now enter through the rear (exit) door instead of at the front of the bus. The front door is now only for use by those in wheelchairs, disabled, elderly and can't manage the step etc - as the wheelchair ramp cannot be used with the rear door. Also bus, train, ferry and tram services in South East Queensland (excluding school bus services) will only accept pre-paid tickets to reduce cash handling.

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/274481

Dmorgan07

I would not be able to wear a mask at work it would frighten the children immensely. They are too young to understand and are already stressed out and upset enough as it is.
I, like every other teacher and early childhood educator, still goes to work everyday and cuddles your child if they are hurt or sad because that's my job. I am trying to do my 'bit' as best as I can.

Beoz

I do have you there

"Minimise", "Woolies will be ...", "30 mins - it takes less than that to be infected" "how long can the virus live on a cardboard box". Not very effective is it.

Honestly, Until it's full lockdown you teachers are just one of many. Where a mask, do what you can to stay safe. Keep the kids out of the skate parks and shopping centres for the sake of everyone else.

Other than full lockdown, maintaining the ability to track and trace is the best weapon we currently have - can't do that from the skate park. 600 people are working tirelessly on track and trace in NSW. Give them a chance.

Beoz

Try the mask. My 2 year old thinks they are very funny. They get used to it.

It doesn't help with the official messaging in NSW at least, kids can stay home if you want them to. What type of messaging does that send to the educators when half classes are turning up?

FWIW - the stats say child care aged children have not been recorded as major transmitters, are less likely to go to the skate park and get the virus (yet the old siblings running around the streets - what gives there ......grrrrrr), and in the extremely unlikely event there is an outbreak, it keeps it localised - much better than an infected mother and child running around Coles and so much easier to trace for the rest of society.

Thanks for playing the part. I am sending my 2 year old to day care in support. Other child is in home schooling as school shut. Just crazy these mixed rules.

moneypenny20

I was lucky, I drove home at 1pm with no traffic. Well a couple of cars had been pulled in RBT style but I was waved through. However at 7am the queue was backed up to nearly Tweed. For some apparently it took over two hours to get to work from Kingscliff.

No idea if NSW are closing their borders any time soon but for the time being it was an easy journey for me.

carcajou

Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia have announced schools will become pupil free.

moneypenny20

Is that different to closed? Chinese whispers probably but I heard from a colleague that a critical care nurse at our main hospital says we're going to level four on Monday. Not sure if it means we bypass three completely or only land on three for a couple of days. We shall see, colleague can be a bit of a tin hat owner.

Pollyana

As of when I left work this morning......NSW were possibly considering closure but no decision. There are apparently exemptions that you can apply for if crossing regularly for work etc, but certainly as the Strate was waking up this morning the QPS presence at crossings and at a;l Queensland airports was being ramped up. Forms for all travellers to complete was one thing I heard was being introduced today.

https://www.qld.gov.au/border-pass

We are trialling working from home this week and next - three in a team and we are taking it in turns to try it out. Bearing in mind that at work we have four large screens, and usually have between 10 and 20 different apps and websites to actively monitor, its a bit of a challenge for all of us to be sat in front of our personal laptops, with one screen! However it seems to be possible, there may be fewer Ministerial reports produced, but the teleconferences, monitoring of live Fire incidents, and dissemination of Emergency Alerts should continue as normal. The majority of us would prefer to work from the Centre still, with every tool on hand, and in constant touch with all government liaison reps and Ministers, but its reassuring to know that if we do have to go home, we can keep working.
Just hope the weather holds, the last thing we need now is a cyclone to deal with as well!

Amazulu

Our school is closing tomorrow

moneypenny20

I was quite put out I wasn't pulled over. Do they not realise how much trouble I went to organising letters from my President for every QLD volunteer yesterday? Could have at least looked at mine!

GarryP

On a tentative positive note, I've been tracking the growth rate in cases recently, and I think I can see the impact of the ban on international arrivals working its way through to the numbers. Whereas in last week we were around the 1.24-1.25 growth multiplier region (doubling every 3 days), we are currently around 1.15 (doubling every 4.5 days) and falling. The data is noisy (obviously) and could be just a symptom of their testing mechanism. And if nothing else is done the community transmission would push the numbers back up ....

.... but it's positive news over where we would be by easter otherwise (12k vs 70k cases).

It's not percolated through to the news yet, probably on purpose to keep people scared, but it's there in the numbers.

bcworld

Victoria is publishing a nice dashboard now. They also added cases by LGA today (page 3).

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrI...RjNGViOWYyOCJ9

Dmorgan07

Yes but only slightly. As we follow the schools (if they are closed so do we) we were told that we are remaining open next week for 'essential worker's' the same as the schools, but to what capacity that means I do not know as it has not yet been clarified as to what an essential worker is. We have been advised that it will definitely mean children of health care professionals and such, but may also include those who are the sole provider in their household (as in it is essential that they work). Although if only one parent working in a 2 parent family then they can be at home with children? I guess I will find out more tomorrow.