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‘I keep away from people’ – combined vision and hearing loss is isolating more and more older Australians

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moira-dunsmore-295190">Moira Dunsmore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/annmaree-watharow-1540942">Annmaree Watharow</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-kecman-429210">Emily Kecman</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Our <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">ageing population</a> brings a growing crisis: people over 65 are at greater risk of dual sensory impairment (also known as “deafblindness” or combined vision and hearing loss). Some 66% of people over 60 have hearing loss and 33% of older Australians have low vision. Estimates suggest more than a quarter of Australians over 80 are <a href="https://www.senseswa.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/a-clear-view---senses-australia.pdf">living with dual sensory impairment</a>. Combined vision and hearing loss <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0264619613490519">describes</a> any degree of sight and hearing loss, so neither sense can compensate for the other. Dual sensory impairment can occur at any point in life but is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annepidem.2012.02.004">increasingly common</a> as people get older. The experience can make older people feel isolated and unable to participate in important conversations, including about their health. <h2>Causes and conditions</h2> Conditions related to hearing and vision impairment often <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-lose-our-hearing-and-vision-as-we-age-67930">increase as we age</a> – but many of these changes are subtle. Hearing loss can start <a href="https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/highlighting-priorities-for-ear-and-hearing-care">as early as our 50s</a> and often accompany other age-related visual changes, such as <a href="https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/">age-related macular degeneration</a>. Other age-related conditions are frequently prioritised by patients, doctors or carers, such as <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-conditions-disability-deaths/chronic-disease/overview">diabetes or heart disease</a>. Vision and hearing changes can be easy to overlook or accept as a normal aspect of ageing. As an older person we interviewed for our <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/2123/29262">research</a> told us <blockquote> I don’t see too good or hear too well. It’s just part of old age. </blockquote> <h2>An invisible disability</h2> Dual sensory impairment has a significant and negative impact in all aspects of a person’s life. It reduces access to information, mobility and orientation, impacts <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09638280210129162">social activities and communication</a>, making it difficult for older adults to manage. It is underdiagnosed, underrecognised and sometimes misattributed (for example, to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbz043">cognitive impairment or decline</a>). However, there is also growing evidence of links between <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">dementia and dual sensory loss</a>. If left untreated or without appropriate support, dual sensory impairment diminishes the capacity of older people to live independently, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">feel happy and be safe</a>. A dearth of specific resources to educate and support older Australians with their dual sensory impairment means when older people do raise the issue, their GP or health professional may not understand its significance or where to refer them. One older person told us: <blockquote> There’s another thing too about the GP, the sort of mentality ‘well what do you expect? You’re 95.’ Hearing and vision loss in old age is not seen as a disability, it’s seen as something else. </blockquote> <h2>Isolated yet more dependent on others</h2> Global trends show a worrying conundrum. Older people with dual sensory impairment become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12054">more socially isolated</a>, which impacts their mental health and wellbeing. At the same time they can become increasingly dependent on other people to help them navigate and manage day-to-day activities with limited sight and hearing. One aspect of this is how effectively they can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25522">comprehend and communicate in a health-care setting</a>. Recent research shows <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12080852">doctors and nurses in hospitals</a> aren’t making themselves understood to most of their patients with dual sensory impairment. Good communication in the health context is about more than just “knowing what is going on”, <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/12/8/852">researchers note</a>. It facilitates: <ul> <li>shorter hospital stays</li> <li>fewer re-admissions</li> <li>reduced emergency room visits</li> <li>better treatment adherence and medical follow up</li> <li>less unnecessary diagnostic testing</li> <li>improved health-care outcomes.</li> </ul> <h2>‘Too hard’</h2> Globally, there is a better understanding of how important it is to <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240030749">maintain active social lives</a> as people age. But this is difficult for older adults with dual sensory loss. One person told us <blockquote> I don’t particularly want to mix with people. Too hard, because they can’t understand. I can no longer now walk into that room, see nothing, find my seat and not recognise [or hear] people. </blockquote> Again, these experiences increase reliance on family. But caring in this context is tough and largely <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.572201">hidden</a>. Family members describe being the “eyes and ears” for their loved one. It’s a 24/7 role which can bring <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000507856">frustration, social isolation and depression</a> for carers too. One spouse told us: <blockquote> He doesn’t talk anymore much, because he doesn’t know whether [people are] talking to him, unless they use his name, he’s unaware they’re speaking to him, so he might ignore people and so on. And in the end, I noticed people weren’t even bothering him to talk, so now I refuse to go. Because I don’t think it’s fair. </blockquote> So, what can we do? Dual sensory impairment is a growing problem with potentially devastating impacts. It should be considered a unique and distinct disability in all relevant protections and policies. This includes the right to dedicated diagnosis and support, accessibility provisions and specialised skill development for health and social professionals and carers. We need to develop resources to help people with dual sensory impairment and their families and carers understand the condition, what it means and how everyone can be supported. This could include communication adaptation, such as social haptics (communicating using touch) and specialised support for older adults to <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09649069.2019.1627088">navigate health care</a>. Increasing awareness and understanding of dual sensory impairment will also help those impacted with everyday engagement with the world around them – rather than the isolation many feel now.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/232142/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/moira-dunsmore-295190">Moira Dunsmore</a>, Senior Lecturer, Sydney Nursing School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/annmaree-watharow-1540942">Annmaree Watharow</a>, Lived Experience Research Fellow, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/emily-kecman-429210">Emily Kecman</a>, Postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Linguistics, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-keep-away-from-people-combined-vision-and-hearing-loss-is-isolating-more-and-more-older-australians-232142">original article</a>.

Body

Julian Assange was isolated for more than a decade. Here’s what that does to the body and mind

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-maher-217811">Carol Maher</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/johanna-badcock-995697">Johanna Badcock</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> Anyone who lived through the COVID pandemic would likely understand that even a small period of isolation can cause <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35787541/">physical and mental stress</a>. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange – <a href="https://theconversation.com/julian-assange-will-be-freed-after-striking-plea-deal-with-us-authorities-233210">who will return to Australia</a> after reaching a plea deal with the US Department of Justice – is <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/his-health-is-very-risky-assange-s-brother-fears-for-his-life-20240327-p5ffjw">reported to have suffered</a> various mental and physical challenges during his almost 15 years in some form of isolation. Assange was first arrested in Britain in 2010 after Swedish authorities said they wanted to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/dec/17/julian-assange-sweden">question him over sex crime allegations</a>. After exhausting legal avenues to stop an extradition to Sweden, in June 2012 he entered <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/15/julian-assange-ecuador-london-embassy-how-he-became-unwelcome-guest">Ecuador’s embassy in London</a>, where he remained for seven years. In early 2019, he was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1S73H5/">jailed for skipping bail</a> and held at London’s Belmarsh prison where he spent most of the following five years fighting extradition to the US. Now, he’s coming home. While we have no idea how Assange is coping from being cooped up inside for so long with few visitors, we do know that isolation can have <a href="https://theconversation.com/my-own-prison-ordeal-gave-me-a-taste-of-what-assange-may-be-feeling-hes-out-but-the-chilling-effect-on-press-freedom-remains-233215">a severe negative impact</a> on many people. <iframe id="qxq2l" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/qxq2l/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> <h2>How physical inactivity impacts your body</h2> Physical activity is vital for <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/articlepdf/2712935/jama_piercy_2018_sc_180005.pdf">overall health</a>. It keeps your heart strong, helps manage weight, and builds muscle and bone strength. Regular exercise also lifts your mood, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and sharpens your mind. Plus, it boosts your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7195025/">immune system</a>, making you more resistant to infections and diseases. When you don’t move enough, especially in isolation, your health can take a hit. Muscles weaken and joints stiffen, making you less strong and flexible. Your <a href="https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1161/01.CIR.102.9.975">heart health</a> suffers, too, raising the risk of high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes because your heart isn’t getting the workout it needs. Metabolic issues such as obesity and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6908414/">type 2 diabetes</a> become more common with inactivity, especially if you don’t have access to healthy food. Isolation often means less fresh air and sunlight, both crucial for good health. Poor ventilation can lead to <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2927/pdf">respiratory problems</a>. Lack of sunlight can cause <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article-pdf/95/6/2630/9067013/jcem2630.pdf">vitamin D deficiency</a>, weakening bones and the immune system, and increasing the risk of fractures. These effects fit with the reports that Assange suffered a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/mar/23/today-i-will-marry-the-love-of-my-life-julian-assanges-fiancee">mini-stroke</a> in 2021 and a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/18/julian-assange-press-freedom-wikileaks-uk-high-court">broken rib</a> from persistent coughing fits while in isolation. <h2>What about mental health?</h2> Social disconnection comes in two main forms, both of which have serious consequences for our mental health. The first is social isolation. The reasons for being isolated are many and varied, including geographical distance, lack of access to transport, or incarceration. The end result is the same: you have few relationships, social roles or group memberships, and limited social interaction. The second form of social disconnection is more invisible but just as harmful. <a href="https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topics/loneliness">Loneliness</a> is that subjective, unpleasant feeling of wanting but lacking satisfying relationships with others. You can be isolated and not feel lonely, but the two are often unwelcome bedfellows. Social connection is not a luxury. It’s a fundamental need, as essential to our health as food and water. Just as hunger reminds us to eat, <a href="https://healthymale.org.au/health-article/what-is-loneliness-and-social-isolation">loneliness acts as a signal</a> alerting us that our social relationships are weak and need to be improved if we are to remain healthy. The science around the health impacts of social disconnection is clear, especially when it is prolonged. So much so, the World Health Organization recently launched a <a href="https://www.who.int/groups/commission-on-social-connection">Commission on Social Connection</a> to increase awareness of the impact of social isolation and loneliness on health and have it recognised as a global health priority. Substantial evidence shows social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer cognitive functioning and an increased risk of dementia, though possibly in <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">different ways</a>. Among adults aged 50 years and over, chronic (meaning persistent and severe) loneliness and social isolation may increase the risk of dementia by <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13651501.2021.1959616">around 50%</a>. A lack of cognitive stimulation that naturally occurs when interacting with others, whether it’s old friends or strangers, might explain <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">the link</a> between social isolation and cognitive difficulties (think “use it or lose it”). On the other hand, loneliness <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9995915/">may impact cognitive health</a> through its effects on emotional wellbeing. It’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-13049-9">a well-known risk factor</a> for developing depression, anxiety and suicidality. For instance, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35583561/">studies show</a> the chances of developing depression in adults is more than double in people who often feel lonely, compared with those who rarely or never feel lonely. Other research examining 500,000 middle-aged adults over nine years showed living alone doubled the risk of dying by suicide for men, while loneliness <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33096330">increased the risk of hospitalisation</a> for self-harm in both men and women. In a <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf">2023 report</a>, the US Surgeon General’s advisory concluded: <blockquote> Given the totality of the evidence, social connection may be one of the strongest protective factors against self-harm and suicide among people with and without serious underlying mental health challenges. </blockquote> <h2>What about after release?</h2> When a person leaves long-term isolation, they’ll face many challenges as they re-enter society. The world will have changed. There’s a lot to catch up on, from technological advancements to shifts in social norms. In addition to these broader changes, there’s a need to focus on rebuilding physical and mental health. Health issues that developed during isolation can <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30460-8/fulltext?cid=in%3Adisplay%3Alfhtn0&dclid=CNKCgb7nle0CFVUkjwodG0YCkg">persist or worsen</a>. A weakened immune system might struggle with new infections in a post-COVID world. To navigate this transition, it’s important to establish a routine that includes regular exercise, nutritious meals and comprehensive medical and psychological care. Gradually increasing social interactions can also help in rebuilding relationships and social connections. These steps are supportive in restoring overall health and wellbeing in a changed world.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/233214/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carol-maher-217811">Carol Maher</a>, Professor, Medical Research Future Fund Emerging Leader, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/johanna-badcock-995697">Johanna Badcock</a>, Adjunct Professor, School of Psychological Science | Freelance Research Consultant, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-western-australia-1067">The University of Western Australia</a> Image credits: Ray Tang/Shutterstock Editorial This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/julian-assange-was-isolated-for-more-than-a-decade-heres-what-that-does-to-the-body-and-mind-233214">original article</a>. </div>

Mind

For some LGBTQ+ older people, events like World Pride can be isolating – we need to better understand how to support them

<a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/">World Pride</a> has come to Sydney, with the annual <a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/events/mardi-gras-parade/">Mardi Gras Parade</a> on Saturday having returned to its Oxford Street home for the first time in three years. The 17-day festival is expected to host 500,000 participants over more than 300 events. It is an opportunity to celebrate all things queer, and a good time to take stock of the changes LGBTQ+ older people have experienced, and the challenges they continue to face. LGBTQ+ people aged in their 70s, 80s and 90s have witnessed extraordinary social change regarding gender and sexual diversity. For example, in Australia, same-sex marriage is now legal, <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/where-transgender-is-no-longer-a-diagnosis/">Gender Identity Disorder</a> has been removed as a clinical diagnosis, and all states have an equal age of consent for homosexual and heterosexual sex. These have been hard-fought gains after many years of adversity and advocacy on the part of LGBTQ+ older people, among others. Each year, the <a href="https://www.78ers.org.au/">78ers</a> – who were involved in the Sydney marches and protests between June and August 1978 – take pride of place towards the front of the parade. <h2>Loneliness and social isolation</h2> Despite these achievements, the consequences of living most of one’s life in a homophobic and transphobic society have been considerable, particularly in terms of mental illness and social isolation. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">Australian</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34326557/">US</a> research indicates loneliness is more common among lesbian, gay and bisexual older people than the general population. This is particularly so for those who live alone and are not in a relationship. Similar findings are reported in relation to <a href="https://www.lgbtagingcenter.org/resources/pdfs/LGBT%20Aging%20and%20Health%20Report_final.pdf">transgender older people</a>, although more research is needed. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">Loneliness</a> is also more common among lesbian and gay older people who are disconnected from LGBTQ+ communities and who hold negative attitudes towards their own same-sex attraction. For LGBTQ+ older people experiencing social isolation and loneliness, what might be their experience of watching World Pride from a distance? What might it be like navigating rainbow paraphernalia while shopping at <a href="https://www.coles.com.au/about/sustainability/better-together/our-team/pride">Coles</a> (a World Pride partner)? How might they perceive the glitz and glamour of the Mardi Gras Parade? World Pride may be challenging for those who don’t feel an attachment to LGBTQ+ communities or who feel negative about their own sexuality. And this may reinforce a sense of disconnection. But some may gain comfort from witnessing the sense of community on display. It may even strengthen their perceived connection to other LGBTQ+ people. And, for those who are not open about their sexuality or authentic gender, it may support their journey to “come out” later in life. <h2>The impact of discrimination</h2> For many LGBTQ+ older people, the experience of discrimination remains very real in their lives. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33770516/">Past and recent discrimination</a> leads to delays seeking treatment and support, simply because people expect to be discriminated against when accessing services. In Australia, previous discrimination has been found to predict <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2021.2005999?journalCode=wjhm20">loneliness</a> and <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ageing-and-society/article/abs/recent-versus-lifetime-experiences-of-discrimination-and-the-mental-and-physical-health-of-older-lesbian-women-and-gay-men/90988215582414EA0AB7936B6384FC97">lower mental health</a> among older lesbian and gay people. In the US, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6779303/">microaggressions</a> – small everyday interactions that reinforce the experience of being “other” – have predicted greater impairment, higher rates of depression and lower quality of life among LGBTQ+ people aged 80 and over. There remain major gaps in evidence on the issues faced by LGBTQ+ older people, particularly for bisexual, queer, transgender and nonbinary older people. This is mainly due to the failure to systematically collect inclusive data on gender and sexual diversity, through variables such as those recommended by the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/standards/standard-sex-gender-variations-sex-characteristics-and-sexual-orientation-variables/latest-release">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a>. <h2>Strengths and resilience</h2> This year, older people seemed to occupy a more prominent place in the Mardi Gras Parade. Perhaps this is because of the natural ageing of our community activists. Older people were also represented in the wider World Pride festival, such as in the theatre production <a href="https://sydneyworldpride.com/events/all-the-sex-ive-ever-had/">All the Sex I’ve Ever Had</a>, in which older Sydney residents reflect on the evolution of their sexuality over the course of their lives. A festival like World Pride showcases the strengths and resilience of LGBTQ+ people and communities. The organisation of such an event should not be underestimated. This reflects LGBTQ+ people’s high level of civic engagement and commitment to giving back to society, as demonstrated by their greater likelihood of being <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0312407X.2021.1899256">volunteers</a> and <a href="https://www.caregiving.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2015_CaregivingintheUS_Final-Report-June-4_WEB.pdf">caregivers</a>. And the contribution of volunteers and caregivers during the HIV/AIDS crisis of the 1980s and ‘90s is not forgotten. LGBTQ+ older people generally are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5241752/">resilient and maintain good health</a>. Many report increased <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-021-00653-z">confidence and self-esteem</a>, compared with when they were younger. And many have created their own families – their families of choice – to support each other in later life. But we don’t know enough about their needs and how to provide them with inclusive services as they get older. World Pride is an opportunity to reflect on the hard-won gains but not ignore the challenges ahead. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-some-lgbtq-older-people-events-like-world-pride-can-be-isolating-we-need-to-better-understand-how-to-support-them-200533" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Caring

Australia’s ‘most isolated’ property could be yours

A parcel of land in Tasmania is up for grabs, but unlike other vacant lots on the market right now, this one offers seclusion and undisturbed ocean views. The 100-acre lot is located on the western side of King Island, Bungaree, overlooking the Southern Ocean. According to <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/253-buttons-road-bungaree-tas-7256-2017573996?gclid=Cj0KCQiAg_KbBhDLARIsANx7wAw9ka8CM9bZOC-j1ZlJxaoSebxdZwvNNYs1NYPIUosFh-7dIBZZF5waAr97EALw_wcB?utm_source=nine.com.au&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=editorial-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the listing</a>, made through Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists, the block serves as the perfect opportunity “to create an oasis” fit for nature lovers, environmentalists or “anyone in search of seclusion and privacy”. Along with its proximity to the ocean, the property includes a heart-shaped dam and creek that runs into the ocean. There are no other properties in sight either, so if its new owner builds their dream home they will just have the birds, fish, and kangaroos to keep them company. “It is said there is 'something special' about the water quality on this acreage with it's heart shaped dam and permanent creek running to the ocean where thousands of crayfish were released by the Tasmanian Government and where the locals say the crayfish from these waters gown three years faster than anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere!” the listing says. “Add to this abalone fishing at your fingertips, an enormous array of fish and bird species passing through throughout the year from the Northern Hemisphere, a private sandy swimming and surfing beach, a well-protected bay for launching your own boat safely and easily and even a cray fishing licence available and you have what can only be described as a nature lover's paradise.” The property has potential for cattle, sheep and goats, while abalone and cray fishing are on its doorstep. While it is isolated and private, the property’s future owner can still socialise, with the island offering golf courses, cafes and restaurants at its heart and Melbourne at just a 45-minute flight away. “'253 Buttons Road' offers the opportunity to create a stunning and secluded family home, holiday retreat, boutique tourism venture or off-grid, eco-friendly haven in a pristine and unspoiled location,” the listing reads. Images: Circa Heritage and Lifestyle Property Specialists

Real Estate

Subway Monkeypox case "really concerning"

A photo of a man who very clearly had Monkeypox and is standing in close proximity to others has gone viral. The image was shared to <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/arturohenriques/status/1553322937402507264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> by a Spanish doctor Arturo Henriques who “cautiously” approached the man and questioned why he was not isolating if he had Monkeypox. He said the man was only told to wear a mask by his doctor and nothing else to which Dr Henriques tried to explain that lesions on the body were most contagious. Dr Henriques then asked a nearby passenger if she was worried about catching Monkeypox which she laughed off saying she wasn’t gay and straight people don’t need to be concerned. This prompted a response from Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Queensland. Professor Griffin said it was “really concerning” to see people not taking the disease seriously and need to isolate if they have it. "It's really disappointing, isn't it? I mean, it's actually really concerning," he told <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/disturbing-monkeypox-photo-train-warning-virus-myth-005219552.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a>. "But if people don't take that seriously and don't isolate themselves, well, that can certainly facilitate the spread and make something that we should be able to control much more challenging. "While it's really important, we identify who is at greatest risk and we try and modify that risk by approaching those groups and giving them the right advice, we need to be really careful that we don't be discriminatory or stigmatising.” Monkeypox spreads through close skin-to-skin physical contact with someone who has symptoms, such as when you are having sex, or by direct contact with contaminated objects, such as bedding, towels or clothes. Many of the cases are in men who have sex with men and have been acquired overseas. Some of the symptoms include: rashes, lesions or sores, particularly in areas that are hard to see such as the genitals, anus or anal area or on the face, arms and legs, ulcers, lesions or sores in the mouth, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and/or exhaustion. Image: Twitter

Body

Targeting shooters: technology that can isolate the location of gunshots

Inexpensive microphone arrays deployed in urban settings can be used to pinpoint the location of gunshots and help police respond instantly to the scene of crimes, scientists say. The process works by recognising that a gunshot produces two distinct sounds: the muzzle blast, and the supersonic shockwave that follows it. Luisa Still of Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Germany, told a meeting of the <a href="https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Acoustical Society of America in Denver, Colorado</a>, this week that by using those two signals – in a process akin to that by which seismologists track seismic waves from earthquakes – police departments armed with the right equipment could pinpoint the location of the shot within seconds. It’s not as straightforward as it sounds. In an urban environment, buildings and other structures can reflect, refract or absorb sound waves, causing the sounds of the shot to come at the microphones from any number of directions. But it turns out, Still says, that it only takes two such sensor arrays to locate the source of a gunshot — and a good computer can do so very quickly. In tests, her team began on a rifle range, where they confirmed that a pair of such microphone arrays could indeed determine the location of the shooter to a high degree of accuracy. They then moved to an urban environment, where they repeated the experiment, though in this case the shooter was replaced with a propane gas cannon of the type used by farmers to scare away crop-eating birds. Again, two microphone arrays were all that were needed to zero in on the source of the “shot”. Not that this can work anywhere, any time. Still’s signal-location algorithms require maps of the surrounding buildings, the walls of which might affect the sound and, in extreme cases, create “blind spots” if microphone arrays aren’t properly deployed. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.61 resetting spai-bg-prepared" action="/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/#wpcf7-f6-p192812-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="resetting"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page spai-bg-prepared" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> She also notes that research is ongoing as to whether it is better to put microphones at ground level or atop neighbouring buildings. There’s also continuing research around how many might be needed in complex urban cores, where there are a lot of buildings of varying height and echo patterns can become very convoluted. “We still need to evaluate [that],” she says. There’s also the need to weed out noises that sound like gunshots, such as firecrackers, car-engine backfires and anything else that makes a sudden bang. “We are working on classification methods,” Still says, noting that these involve computerised “deep learning” methods that can be trained to distinguish such sounds. Could similar sensors be deployed within a school building in order to locate a school shooter even more quickly that is currently possible? Still was asked. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “I think that would be applicable.” Though she noted that it might also be acoustically “very challenging” to put into practice. Later that same day, 19 school children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas, in America’s worst grade-school shooting in nearly a decade. Would the death toll have been lower if gunshot sensors such as Still’s were widely deployed? Who knows? But it was one of the most stunningly prescient scientific presentations imaginable, because she spoke less than an hour before the Uvalde gunman opened fire. It was far too late for her research to be able to deflect the tragedy that was about to unfold, but close enough to it to underscore the urgency of what she was doing.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=192812&title=Targeting+shooters%3A+technology+that+can+isolate+the+location+of+gunshots" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technology-isolate-location-gunshots/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/richard-a-lovett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richard A Lovett</a>. Richard A Lovett is a Portland, Oregon-based science writer and science fiction author. He is a frequent contributor to Cosmos. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

Shane Warne in isolation after positive COVID-19 result

Cricket legend Shane Warne has tested positive for COVID-19 during England’s The Hundred cricket tournament. Warne, head coach of the London Spirits, felt ill prior to Sunday’s match against Southern Brave at Lord’s Ground and later returned a positive result from a lateral flow test. “After feeling unwell this morning, Shane returned a positive lateral flow test and will isolate from the squad and support staff whilst he awaits PCR [test] results,” the team said in a statement. “A second member of the team management is self-isolating after also returning a positive test. No players have been impacted.” Warne is the second coach to receive a positive result for coronavirus since the tournament started 10 days ago. Andy Flower, the Trent Rocket’s coach, tested positive prior to Warne. One player, Steven Mullaney, was also sent into isolation after he was determined to be a close contact of Flower. The news comes just a week after the former cricketer encouraged others to get vaccinated and called for COVID-19 lockdown restrictions to end. “I think it’s just a matter of getting on with it, get your double vax and get on with it and learn to live with it,” he told Sky News Australia. “No one over here seems to want to get locked down again. No one likes lockdown. “They just said ‘enough is enough, everyone go and get double jabbed’ and they’re learning to live with it.”

Caring

Duchess Kate in isolation

Kensington Palace has made the announcement that the Duchess Kate is in isolation after she came into contact with a person with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The royal will no longer be able to go to the thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral or a tea party at Buckingham Palace with the Duke of Cambridge to mark the NHS' 73rd anniversary on Monday. A spokesperson said: "Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. "Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home." <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842245/kate-middleton-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/18b41ae97e764056a8f5770f89b3e13a" /> Image: Getty The Duchess of Cambridge has received both vaccines, however she was put straight into self-isolation after she received word she came across a positive case. Kate’s last public outing was to Wimbledon on Friday, where she watched matches on one of the outer courts. Prince William contracted Covid last spring but thankfully was able to carry on with telephone and online engagements.

Caring

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard isolating after COVID exposure

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has confirmed that he is in isolation after coming into contact with a person who has tested positive for coronavirus. “When I woke up this morning about 5.30 there was a text message from NSW Health advising me that there is a possible positive case who works at Parliament House in Sydney and that I should therefore self-isolate until further notice,” he told Sunrise on Thursday. “They’re obviously doing some investigations, so I could be a close contact, I’m hoping I’m not, but we’ll see how the day transpires,” he added. On Thursday morning, Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales, Adam Marshall confirmed to radio station 2GB that he is COVID positive but asymptomatic, and has "no doubt" it was from his visit to Christos pizza. Marshall is one of four Nationals MPs who are currently in isolation after dining at the restaurant in inner Sydney. The restaurant is a venue of concern according to NSW Health. Only 16 MPs will be allowed in NSW Parliament on Thursday. The rest have been told not to come. Hazzard has revealed the Premier was not affected. “I would think that the Premier wouldn’t be a close contact, she’d be more likely to either not be a contact at all or be a casual contact,” he said. “I can’t comment specifically on her because the message that I have received is about me, but if she had received such a message I think I’d have known about it by now.” “So we’ve still got a Premier, we may not have a Health Minister who is at full capacity right now, but we still have a Premier,” he declared. The news comes as Sydney deals with a growing outbreak.

News

Isolated couple praise Australia Post driver

A woman stuck in isolation with her husband after visiting a COVID-19 hotspot has praised her postie for going “above and beyond”. Kirsten Walpole Sinnamon took to Facebook to explain she had just moved a few months back but went to Melbourne for two weeks. When she returned to Queensland, Victoria was declared a coronavirus hotspot and she along with her husband were forced straight into quarantine. Being plunged into a 14-day stint at home meant they were unable to perform basic tasks, including picking up their package after a note from Australia Post told them they had two weeks to collect their item from the post office. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841844/aus-post-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e1722a1b820642d5a04e687d95d4e9d3" /> Despite several attempts, they were not able to connect to their local post office so Ms Sinnamon took drastic measures and stuck a note in her mailbox addressed to her postie. "We're stuck in iso after visiting first grand baby in Melbourne last week," the letter read. "Is it possible to re-deliver our parcel, please? We'll be here all week. Understand if it's not." Ms Sinnamon said they did not know their postie well but were thankful for Lisa who called the woman and asked her if the parcel needed to be redirected. "When I explained the home isolation situation she came back & delivered it this afternoon!!" Ms Sinnamon explained on Facebook. "We would have been completely happy if they’d just been able to hold it for the week until we’re allowed out to collect, or even delivered the next day. We’re over the moon with appreciation to receive it today! "Posties are awesome."

Retirement Life

Prince Harry isolating in preparation for rush back to UK

Prince Harry is reportedly in isolation at his California home in case he has to rush back home to the UK in the event Prince Philip’s condition worsens. The 99-year-old was rushed to King Edward VII hospital in London on Tuesday after he complained of “feeling unwell”, a statement from Buckingham Palace said. Reports claim the Duke of Sussex is joined by wife, Meghan Markle and their one-year-old son Archie in isolation at their Montecito home. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839958/marlon-brando-15.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/df060bb322a44dee8066703a766bfba6" /> Prince Harry has reportedly made arrangements to fly privately if the situation calls for it and is kept “regularly informed” of his grandfather’s condition. British tabloids claim the royal family have immunity in the UK when it comes to travelling, and therefore Harry would be allowed to travel freely without having to quarantine.

Caring

Gladys Berejiklian urged to pay fine over failing to isolate after COVID test

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay has urged Gladys Berejiklian to pay a fine after she admitted to breaching public health orders. “Wouldn’t it be nice if she voluntarily paid the fine,” Ms McKay told reporters. “The Premier did not follow the health advice and she tried to worm her way out of it, but it’s black and white. “What I’ve heard today is too many excuses.” On Tuesday, the NSW Premier admitted to not isolating after taking a COVID-19 test. NSW Police issued a statement, saying whether Berejiklian is penalised is up to the state’s health department. In a heated interview with ABC’s Lisa Millar, the Premier agreed she “should have closed her door” at state parliament but “she didn’t” before claiming she only had a test because she was tired and losing her voice. “I didn’t have symptoms,” the Premier said. “But having said that, I’m judged accordingly and I have to accept that, and I should have probably done that (closed the door and isolated).” Ms Millar asked the Premier whether NSW should change their guidelines which says anyone who is awaiting the result of their test should self-isolate until they receive them. “Absolutely not. Why would I change the guidelines?” Berejiklian said. “Because you're not following them?” Ms Millar replied. The Premier went on to claim that she didn’t have any symptoms and had simply lost her voice. “But you took a test and didn't self-isolate, and the guidelines say if you take a test you have to isolate,” Ms Millar probed. “I accept that,” the Premier said. “So you didn't follow your own guidelines. You do accept that you didn’t follow your own guidelines?” the ABC host continued. Ms Millar was not accepting any excuses, pointing out that there was “no such thing” as a precautionary COVID test. “But there isn't such a thing as a precautionary COVID-19 test, is there? They’re all precautionary?” she said. Earlier, Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres defended the Premier, claiming she had not shown any symptoms and had “done the right thing”, he told ABC’s Hamish McDonald. “The key point here is she has gone and taken a precautionary test, but she’s not exhibiting any symptoms. I don’t think she’s put anyone at risk here,” he said. A statement from the Premier’s office said: “At no stage did the Premier have COVID-19 symptoms and therefore did not require a test. “However, as the Premier began losing her voice, she took a precautionary test. “Given her role, the test was administered late in the afternoon in her office. A rapid negative result was returned in around two hours.” According to the Daily Telegraph, Berejiklian attended question time on the day of her test, which ran from 2:15 pm to 3pm. She then fronted the media the next day with a noticeably croaky voice and told reporters she received a negative COVID-19 result overnight. NSW marked 17 straight days of no community transmission on Tuesday, while six infections were diagnosed in hotel quarantine.

News

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson self-isolating

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been ordered to self-isolate as he came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. He was identified as a close contact by NHS Test and Trace on Sunday after a meeting with a group of MPs. “He will carry on working from Downing Street, including on leading the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic,” a Downing Street spokesperson said on Sunday. “The PM is well and does not have any symptoms of COVID-19.” Johnson was admitted to hospital back in April after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 27th. He was the first major leader to reveal a COVID-19 diagnosis. </div> </div> </div>

News

Lonely great-grandmother tells family she “wants to die” after 8 months in isolation

A lonely great-grandmother has broken her family’s heart when she admitted she “just wants to die” after spending eight months isolated in a care home during the pandemic. Relatives told reporters that their beloved, sweet grandma Doreen Tilly was “full of life” when she celebrated her 100th birthday at the beginning of the coronavirus lockdown. However, after months away from loved ones, the great-grandmother, who lives in a home in Scotland, has made a heartbreaking admission that she doesn’t want to live any longer. Doreen’s family told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/i-just-want-die-scots-22975283" target="_blank">Daily Record</a> they are “devastated” at her deterioration since March. Sonia Dixon, 37, said: “The difference in my nan is just devastating to see. “Before, she was full of life and thrived on regular visits from her family. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838720/grandmother-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d13c7c14295b478aa8a9e0a42c7e0a2d" /> “While she has outlived her own two children, she has eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, almost all of whom live in the area.” The UK Government has said it will review its approach to visiting people in care homes when England’s second national lockdown comes to an end. However Sonia said the government’s response is not enough and the enforced separation has been too much for her great-grandmother. “I can’t bear for this to go on any longer,” she said. “I’m watching her fade away with the loneliness – she has told me she just wants to die during the outdoor visits that I have been allowed. “She has become really down and has been prescribed antidepressants for the first time in her life at 100 years old. “People in care homes should have legal rights to see their families properly and I’d support any move to make it happen.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838721/grandmother.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8863d05dee5e436597ad83512f970636" /> Retired pub manager Doreen is a resident at care firm HC-One’s Woodside Court Care Home in Fife. Sonia, a mum-of-one, said the family was offered “very limited indoor visits” for one person – or more outdoor visits for additional people. “In the end, we had to go with the outdoor socially distanced visits so Nan could see all of her family,” she said. “For someone who is 100, surely it should be up to them how much they see family members. “The home say they are just following the rules but, between them and the Scottish Government, they need to get this sorted out.” Doreen’s plea to reunite with her family follows just weeks after another Fife care home resident, 104-year-old Mary Fowler, was recorded begging to see loved ones again. Mary, who lives in the Balfarg Care Home, has only seen her children briefly through a window since March. In her message, she said: “It’s cutting me to bits. “I must see my kids, because time is getting on for me. “I must see my children and make things like they used to be. “Please help me. Help me. Please, please help.” In October, Scotland relaxed the rules of visiting residents. Indoor visits are no longer limited to 30 minutes and can instead last up to four hours. Visitors were also allowed to hold hands with residents as long as they followed COVID rules. Six visitors from two households, including children, were able to attend outdoor visits which can last up to one hour. However, new five-tier rules came into force in Scotland last Monday. Where Doreen lives, residents aren’t allowed to meet anyone who isn’t in their household indoors inside a home. Bosses at care company HC-One said: “Our caring colleagues know every resident in our homes and many relatives. “They understand how important visiting is and how difficult it is for all those who have missed out on precious moments over recent months. “While this is a challenging time for everyone, we must all work together to protect residents. “With safety at the forefront of everything we do, a very difficult balancing act needs to be achieved which considers the health and wellbeing of all residents and the threat of coronavirus.”

Caring

COVID cluster warning as over 600 people from Melbourne hospital placed in isolation

A major COVID-19 outbreak at a Melbourne hospital has forced over 600 health workers into isolation. It has been reported that at least 50 staff members at Frankton Hospital have been diagnosed with the virus so far. 618 staff have been furloughed as a result, making it one of the largest coronavirus outbreaks among doctors and nurses in Victoria to date. Staff who have tested positive have reportedly been working in coronavirus wards. What started off as 200 being forced into isolation after the outbreak hit earlier this month slowly rose after August 16th when the hospital was alerted to an increased number of cases in staff. Wards were immediately closed to admissions and all staff and patients that could be potentially affected were tested. Peninsula Health chief executive Felicity Topp has said the hospital was in the final stages of vetting anyone who has come in contact with the infected wards. . “We are still investigating if these cases are the result of increased community transmission of the virus, or if it has been acquired through the hospital,” Ms Topp said. In a statement provided on Wednesday afternoon, Ms Topp said Peninsula Health was doing all it could to help slow the spread of the virus. “Following the Frankston Hospital Outbreak, Peninsula Health has been working with a team of highly skilled infection prevention experts to provide additional assistance in undertaking a review of our COVID-19 practices,” she said. “We have further strengthened our infection prevention measures, including the extension of our contact tracing of both staff and patients. “As such, we are casting a very wide net on our contact tracing process resulting in the furloughing of 618 staff across the service.” She said they currently had 44 active cases among staff members. “We are being supported by a number of our local public and private hospitals, GPs and primary care providers to ensure we continue to provide our community with seamless care,” she said.

News

Daniel Andrews targets sick Victorians failing to self-isolate as cases continue to spike

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has warned the number of coronavirus cases will continue to rise and lockdowns will be extended if people do not self-isolate after showing symptoms and getting tested. Two weeks after the state implemented Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ orders in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire, Andrews said the government was “certainly not seeing numbers come down as we would like them to”. He said 53 per cent of the 3,810 positive cases recorded between July 7 and 21 did not isolate while waiting for their COVID-19 test result. “We certainly cannot have one-in-two people who are waiting for a test result simply going about their business as if they didn’t have symptoms, as if they weren’t waiting for a test result, as if this wasn’t a global pandemic,” Andrews said. Nine out of 10 people in the same group did not self-isolate after feeling sick and before undertaking a test, the premier said. “Unless we have people who get tested staying at home and isolating until they get their results, then we will not see these numbers come down,” he said. “They will continue to go up and up. And a six-week shutdown will not be for six weeks. It will run for much longer than that.” Andrews said workers who are falling ill should ring 1800 675 398 and apply for the $1,500 one-off relief payment from the state government. “There is a large proportion of these people who are making these choices because, in their judgement, they’ll look at their bank balance, they’ll look at the fact that, if they don’t work the shift, they won’t get paid for the shift, they don’t have sick leave – this is a commentary on insecure work,” he said. “That’s where that $1500 payment hopefully deals with the financial driver.” On Wednesday, Victoria recorded 484 new cases, the highest daily increase of any Australian state so far. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the state could soon see up to 600 new cases per day. “I absolutely don’t want us to go there,” Sutton said. “We have to reinforce the things that we know will make a difference. And that is the very simple principles of isolation and quarantine.”

Travel Trouble

57 police officers forced into self-isolation

Police officers in a Melbourne suburb have been forced into isolation after two colleagues tested positive for COVID-19. Frankston Police Station was temporarily closed on the weekend after a second police officer returned a positive coronavirus test on Sunday. Contact tracing is now underway to establish how many Victoria Police officers had contact with the infected people in the past 14 days. Police said 57 other officers had since been tested and placed into self-isolation after coming into contact with the pair. “These members will remain stood down from duty to self-isolate for 14 days, however the community can be assured that service delivery will remain unaffected,” a spokesman said. “Victoria Police will work closely with the Department of Health and Human Services in an effort to determine how the officer became infected.” The station reopened on Monday following a deep clean. The news came as an officer from Swan Hill in Victoria’s northwest is quarantining after his partner was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Legal

NSW outbreak: Sydney pub-goers ordered to self-isolate

All the people who visited a pub in Sydney’s southwest over an eight-day period have been told to self-isolate regardless of their COVID-19 test result after authorities confirmed nine coronavirus cases linked to the establishment. An 18 year-old staffer from the Crossroads Hotel in Casula and a close contact in her 50s, along with a woman in her 40s and a Victorian man in his 20s, are the latest to test positive for the virus. NSW Health has urged anyone who entered the Crossroads Hotel in Casula between July 3 and 10 to self-isolate for 14 days. “Even if you get a negative test, that does not mean you are out of the woods and hence we are asking that you isolate yourself for 14 days since you were last at the Crossroads Hotel,” said NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant. “A negative result does not mean you can breach self-isolation.” About 1,600 customers have been tested at the pop-up testing clinic at the hotel since Friday, <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/8-day-infection-period-pub-goers-told-to-self-isolate-regardless-of-covid-test-result-c-1160653">7News</a> reported. Federal Labor MP Anne Stanley was among the patrons who dined at the pub. In a Facebook post, she said she has been tested for coronavirus and is entering self-isolation for 14 days. The outbreak highlighted <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jul/12/crossroads-hotel-thousands-told-to-isolate-for-two-weeks-as-sydney-cluster-grows">the importance of businesses recording the contact details of sit-down customers</a>, Chant said. “When you do go into cafes, restaurants and other facilities, there is a reason we ask you for those details,” she said. “Please use correct numbers [and] write legibly because this will be in your best interest.” The Planet Fitness Gym, which is located hundreds of metres from the pub, has also closed its doors after one of its employees tested positive for the virus. Anyone who visited the gym on July 9 or 10 has been advised to be tested for coronavirus immediately. On Sunday, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced travellers returning to the state will be charged for their fortnight hotel quarantine starting next week. The first adult in each party will be charged $3,000. Additional adults will be billed a further $1,000 and children over three years old $500. “Cost hasn’t been the main challenge for us, it has been making sure we get the logistics right,” Berejiklian said. “New South Wales is still processing more than six or seven times what other states are processing and, on that basis, we want to make sure we are putting resources where they are needed.” The premier said the next four weeks would be critical in the fight to contain COVID-19. “We have the chance now to really clamp down on community transmission or else unfortunately we’ll go down the track of what Victoria is going through.”

News

How coronavirus self-isolation fatigue may lead to more beach drownings this summer

The easing of physical distancing restrictions can’t come soon enough for those tired of self-isolation, and for many the beach represents a welcome therapy after an extended time indoors and alone. In Australia, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-26/coronavirus-crowds-sydney-beaches-again-despite-covid-19-risks/12185926">popular beaches in Sydney</a>, including the iconic Bondi Beach, were completely closed to public access during the government-imposed lockdown period. When they reopened under restricted conditions in late April (fall in the southern hemisphere), the unexpectedly large crowds led authorities to close them again. More recently, crowded beaches in the <a href="https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-premier-shocked-by-packed-toronto-beaches-warns-covid-19-fight-is-not-over-1.4995033">Great Lakes</a>, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/coronavirus-comes-spring-break-locals-close-florida-beaches-after-governor-n1163741">Florida</a>, <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/galveston-beaches-see-uptick-in-crowds-as-city-takes-additional-measures-to-protect-visitors-from-covid-19/285-6bc76e6b-a076-40ac-8a22-a714e8ba0dfc">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-26/crowds-masks-venice-beach-memorial-day-weekend">California</a> and the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/brits-flock-to-the-beach-amid-medics-warning-of-second-wave-20200625-p555y7.html">United Kingdom</a> show that people are eager to find their spot on the sand. While going to the beach to bathe or swim is seen as an enjoyable recreational experience, aside from social distancing concerns, beaches can be dangerous environments and it is <a href="http://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-389-2019">not uncommon for drownings</a> to occur. Unfortunately, there are several COVID-19-related factors that have the potential to significantly increase the number of beach drownings and rescues. Beach hazards in a time of COVID-19 First, many of those people seeking out beaches may be infrequent beachgoers, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2014.10.011">unfamiliar with beach hazards, such as rip currents, and safety practices</a>, including strategies on how to react when caught in a rip current as recommended by the <a href="http://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-1003-2017">Break the Grip of the Rip campaign</a> in the United States. Second, summer travel plans have been altered for many, meaning local and non-holiday beaches — many of which are not patrolled by lifeguards — may see larger crowds and could put <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212349">bystanders who attempt rescues</a> at greater risk. Third, and most important, in normal years, lifeguard services would intervene to ensure that people don’t put themselves into dangerous situations. This year is different. Several jurisdictions from the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52038489">U.K.</a> and the <a href="https://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/20200608/covid-furloughs-meant-no-warning-flags-on-holland-beach-as-two-boys-drowned">Great Lakes</a> have cancelled their lifesaving programs due to COVID-19-related budget and health concern restraints. Coronavirus-related staff cuts and furloughs prevented Holland State Park in Michigan from setting up the flags to warn swimmers of the daily hazard along that section of Lake Michigan. The <a href="https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2020/06/double-drowning-tragedy-underscores-danger-of-great-lakes.html">lack of warning flags and lifeguards has already been blamed for the drownings</a> of a six-year-old and a 17-year-old on June 6. This is just but one example of how cutting funding to beach safety programs could cost lives. Masking the truth about the surf hazard There are interesting parallels between drowning prevention and efforts to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Many people do not wear a mask in public despite evidence that masks reduce the <a href="https://today.tamu.edu/2020/06/12/texas-am-study-face-masks-critical-in-preventing-spread-of-covid-19/">potential for COVID-19 transmission</a>. For example, if you have gone grocery shopping and avoided infection, you may become complacent and feel that masks and hand-washing are unnecessary. Or you may bend to peer pressure if you meet up with friends who are not wearing masks or social distancing. These same behaviours come into play with drownings. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3424-7">Evidence suggests</a> that if you didn’t drown on your last visit to the beach, you’ll be confident that you won’t drown on your next visit — despite changing waves, tides and other conditions. Or if you are with a group of friends who are better swimmers, there is a greater chance that you will venture into deeper water to avoid the social cost of staying close to shore. You may also mirror the risky behaviours of other beachgoers. Ignoring the warning signs The time and financial investment made in travelling to the beach after being limited by stay-at-home orders for weeks and months means that more people may enter the water, even if the conditions aren’t ideal. Beach users escaping self-isolation at home may be tired of warnings and further restrictions on the beach and may ignore them, particularly if they believe that lifeguards are being <a href="https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-19-2541-2019">overly cautious</a>. This was the greatest concern expressed at a recent (virtual) conference to celebrate the creation of a legislated lifesaving program in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1626-9">Costa Rica</a>. In the Great Lakes, the problem is made worse by the high-water levels that have <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-lake-michigan-record-water-levels-20200619-ntztvazvynf7bgbro3cgkp2diy-story.html">limited the amount of beach available</a>. Even where lifeguard services are still provided, the limited beach width means that people will either crowd together on the beach or move away from others, increasing the lifeguard’s patrol area — and the risk that someone will need rescue or will drown. <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/news/famous-sydney-beaches-closed-after-crowds-flout-coronavirus-restrictions">Restricting access to beaches</a> to limit crowds and the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/15/us/covid-19-second-shutdown/index.html">potential for a second wave of COVID-19 cases</a>, will in turn limit the number of drownings as long as people <a href="https://abc7chicago.com/lake-michigan-chicago-beach-beaches-open/6265505">heed those closures</a>. COVID-19 has created a perfect storm that could make beaches more popular than ever before and raise the risk of drowning. So far, most of the concern has focused on the lack of social distancing and the looming threat of a second COVID-19 wave, but that focus may soon shift to drowning. Are we going to love our beaches to death?<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/141491/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-houser-688101">Chris Houser</a>, Professor of Earth and Environmental Science, and Dean of Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-windsor-3044">University of Windsor</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rob-brander-111027">Rob Brander</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/unsw-1414">UNSW</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-coronavirus-self-isolation-fatigue-may-lead-to-more-beach-drownings-this-summer-141491">original article</a>.

International Travel

Hugh Jackman reveals secret self-isolation project to help people in need

Hugh Jackman is using his time self-isolating in New York to help others in need. After becoming an ambassador of mental health organisation Gotcha4Life in 2017, the actor has been hosting a number of secret of web seminars to promote “messages of connection and conversation” through the charity. I've learned so much from being on the board and we are planning on more of those talks,” Hugh told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/bad-education-star-hugh-jackmans-secret-lockdown-project-to-help-others-in-need/news-story/76eac4b15332829128673ea36b623945" target="_blank">News Corp Australia </a>on Sunday of his passion to help people. Gotcha4Life was founded in 2017 by Hugh’s best friend, Gus Worland. “Gus has been incredible … [mental health] is something we really need to pay attention to in the world and Australia, a lot,” added Hugh. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Rri9YDA2f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-Rri9YDA2f/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">No matter where you are in the world, please listen to your officials. Please stay home and, if you do go out, practice proper social distancing. Thank you to all the first responders, doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, the truck drivers, etc ... all of you who take away from your own family to care for others. You are the real heroes.</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/thehughjackman/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Hugh Jackman</a> (@thehughjackman) on Mar 28, 2020 at 4:55am PDT </div> </blockquote> “Our need to look after each other, not just financially and physically, but mentally is a priority. There's a lot of loneliness out there and this only adds to that.” Hugh urged people to take care of their mental wellbeing as he promoted Gotcha4Life and the work they do. “I've been a board member since @Gotcha4Life was created,” began Hugh. “It's extremely important that we pay attention to our mental health. Now more than ever. Please contact your family, friends and neighbours. A call could save a life.” The Hollywood heavyweight and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness were in Melbourne with their children Oscar and Ava when COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March. They initially flew there from New York on a work trip as Deborra-Lee directed several episodes of Neighbours. They then returned to America after just four days. “No one really knew what was going on… it was all a bit of a shock,” said Hugh after he was urged to return to America before the borders closed.

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