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2021 - Chat about whatever you like: the weather, good stuff, bad stuff, family or pets!
Phrynne wrote: "It can't be done more than 72 hours before you fly Brenda so it is a bit of a balancing act when you actually do it!Queensland is maybe relaxing the requirement but not till 1st Jan Odette. Too la..."
The person I know who got on a flight yesterday morning was not checked on arrival at Brisbane airport. So, they wasted 3-4 hours getting tested, plus using resources that could have been better utilised. Canberra has now restricted the testing times for interstate travel, giving priority to those who are close contacts or have symptoms.
Krystal wrote: "Hope your trip goes as planned, Phrynne! And yes, Brenda - bit scary the way so many results went astray! Definitely a lot of strain on healthcare workers right now!I ended up getting my negative..."
Wow, that was a very long wait, Krystal!
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A perfect storm of issues - reduction of restrictions in NSW just as cases increased, combined with opening state borders with testing requirements. Add in the prime holiday travel season of the year with families having been separated by state borders for months/years.And if your area is anything like ours, no rapid antigen tests available for purchase anywhere. We ordered some today from Victoria...sigh...
Phrynne wrote: "Four hours to get my test done and absolutely no guarantee it will be back in time. I am not bold enough to set off without a proper result so we probably won't be going."Hope you get the results back in time, and are able to get away to Queensland. Maybe things will move faster now that there are no public holidays for 3 days.
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I hope you get your test back in time for your flight Phrynne. It would be such a shame if you can't go because of that :(They're closing a lot of testing site at midday in Sydney at the moment - not sure if it's to limit the number of tests or due to staff shortages. One of my sons had a positive antigen test on Sunday (he has to do them daily for work) and hasn't been able to get a PCR test yet because the centres are closing before he can get to the head of the queue. Goodness knows how many cases are really out there now because people can't get tested.
It is terrible at the moment Carolyn, there is only one testing site opened in my area today not a drive through and the queue was so long a friend of mine who now has a sore throat couldn't stand in it, I do hope things start to settle soon, because as you say with not many people being able to get tested there are so many positive people out and about.Hugs to everyone, stay safe
Here in regional NSW, our local test site has only just reopened today after the Christmas break. I understand it's the same pretty well everywhere in regional NSW - a friend lined up for three and a half hours today, while unwell. Incredibly frustrating.
My sisters boyfriend was named a ' casual contact ' and went off to be tested like a good boy in Brisbane today. There was only one place he could go to be tested, as so many were closed for the season. He had to wait in a line for six hours.
Krystal wrote: "Hope your trip goes as planned, Phrynne! And yes, Brenda - bit scary the way so many results went astray! Definitely a lot of strain on healthcare workers right now!I ended up getting my negative..."
Krystal, your result and time frame similar to people we know. Tested Thursday morning last week. Results showing negative came back at 10 last night.
I'm hearing horrible stories about people not being seen in ER before they've got to get a covid test. One woman who lives nearby had a fall and broke her arm on 20th, went to the local hospital and was given a splint and bandages and told she would need a covid test before she could have an X-ray and then get a cast. Eventually got one and the X-ray is booked for tomorrow! I feel sorry for the staff in the ER having to manage this and turn away angry patients, but it's a complete shambles now.
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It's just awful Brenda! While they were at the hospital they saw a distraught elderly lady in a wheelchair being turned away because she hadn't had a covid test.
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What hospital was that Carolyn? I wanna stay away from there!
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Me too!!!
Janelle wrote: "What hospital was that Carolyn? I wanna stay away from there!"Canterbury, so not sure how indicative that is of what's happening in ER in the bigger hospitals. However I would recommend not getting a serious injury in the next few weeks!
My son finally got a PCR test today after queueing for another 5h - 3rd time lucky - not much fun when you have covid symptoms and would rather be home.We're in isolation of course since he spent Christmas Day with us, so are hoping they change the rules so we can have an antigen test on day 6 rather than have to queue for a PCR. That's if we can find an antigen test - we had two but already used them.
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Sad Phrynne :( It's certainly the biggest shambles the country has ever seen!
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We're in isolation of course since he spent..."
Good luck to your son with his results Carolyn - and to you and the family who are stuck (again) in isolation!
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Brenda wrote: "We just had a lovely few hours with our son and the family. They received their day 12 test results overnight and are all negative. So I invited them here straight away and it was so fantastic to s..."Glad you had a lovely few hours with your son and his family Brenda.. That is wonderful .
We are looking forward to that tomorrow with our son and his family who for various reasons we have not been able to see for awhile. Time with family is very precious whenever we get it
Brenda wrote: "We just had a lovely few hours with our son and the family. They received their day 12 test results overnight and are all negative. So I invited them here straight away and it was so fantastic to s..."That is wonderful news Brenda, so good to catch up with family
Carolyn wrote: "My son finally got a PCR test today after queueing for another 5h - 3rd time lucky - not much fun when you have covid symptoms and would rather be home.We're in isolation of course since he spent..."
I hope all goes well Carolyn
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Phrynne wrote: "My test result has not come through yet. We are about to cancel our flight as we would need to leave the house right now to get to the airport in time. We will rebook for next week when we will onl..."That is not good Phrynne, I did see on the news last night that they really aren't checking the results when you get to QLD and they were telling people at Sydney Airport to get on the flights
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We were told that too Helen but my husband was not comfortable with the uncertainty of that. Not that it matters any more but we still don't have our results!
Phrynne wrote: "Helen wrote: "Phrynne wrote: "My test result has not come through yet. We are about to cancel our flight as we would need to leave the house right now to get to the airport in time. We will rebook ..."Sorry to hear your plans got scuttled Phrynne, I do hope it works well when rebooked.
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Brenda wrote: "We just had a lovely few hours with our son and the family. They received their day 12 test results overnight and are all negative. So I invited them here straight away and it was so fantastic to s..."That’s great news Brenda. It would have been extra special to see them all after the wait!
Phrynne I wouldn't have gone either it is just so mixed up at the moment I am sure you will have a fabulous time when you get there after January 1 have fun
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It really was 😁
I'm hearing horrible stories about people not being seen in ER before they've got to get a covid test.Having heard from friends who work in the public health system, I can say that right now it's incredibly tough for them. They're frequently understaffed to begin with, and then when you add the people in isolation from being close contacts, or who actually have Covid, they're even more understaffed. With the increase in infectiousness with Omicron, it's much, much easier for health staff to be infected as well - and they can't work if they're sick.
Even though Omicron appears to be less likely to cause severe disease as frequently, once the numbers start to escalate as they have, it becomes a numbers game. It doesn't matter if it's ten times less severe if it infects ten times more people. We end up in the same situation in terms of the health system.
Carolyn wrote: "I'm hearing horrible stories about people not being seen in ER before they've got to get a covid test. One woman who lives nearby had a fall and broke her arm on 20th, went to the local hospital an..."Awful. I just think the government has really lost sight of the whole goal being to save lives. Horrendous stories cropping up.
Leonie wrote: "I'm hearing horrible stories about people not being seen in ER before they've got to get a covid test.Having heard from friends who work in the public health system, I can say that right now it's..."
I can only imagine how stressful this is becoming for all who work in hospitals and public health. The understaffing due to people being infected or close contacts must be a major nightmare and the delays in people getting a PCR test and waiting for test results must only be adding to the problem. The staff at the testing centres and path labs must be totally stretched as well.
The staff at the testing centres and path labs must be totally stretched as well. I'm sure they are. I got an email about being sent to a testing facility just before Christmas, but so far the pathology group NSW Health was going to loan its Covid Surge workforce to has not contacted me.
And I've done all that online learning, too. I could (theoretically) take a swab now. Have never actually done it, however. 😂😂😂
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Leonie wrote: "The staff at the testing centres and path labs must be totally stretched as well. I'm sure they are. I got an email about being sent to a testing facility just before Christmas, but so far the pa..."
Hopefully you won't get called in now Leonie, and at least you'll be well qualified to to carry out your own antigen tests if you need to!
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Ha!!
I agree Brenda on another note wishing you all a Happy New Year and hoping that going forward sees life improving for everyone stay safe have fun and I hope you get lots of reading time. And thank you to the moderators of the group I really appreciate all of your hard work
Good luck to everyone waiting on results or doing your own tests. With the rules seemingly changing everyday, there seems to be so much confusion. Take care everyone and wishing you all a Happy New Year, hoping 2022 is a kinder one for us all.
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I am off to get tested tomorrow for my 72 hours before travelling to Queensland test. It is scary how much depends on
a) getting the test don..."
Good luck Phyrnne.
My brother and I were in Sydney and he was tested on Christmas Day. They told him there was no guarantee he would get his result back within the 72 hours and he didn’t. He did a Rapid Antigen Test this morning which came back negative so he took the evidence and took his flight back to Queensland at lunchtime prepared to argue his case. At Brisbane Airport there was no one checking but A Current Affair cameras and journalist asked him to comment on the restrictions and he thought he better decline.