“COVIT-19 Status Quo in Australia,” “Easing COVID-19 restrictions in NSW,” “The Great North Walk Trekking”
“COVIT-19 Status Quo in Australia,”
Total confirmed cases of infections in Australia is 7.150 (6,580 already recovered) and total death is 103. Population of Australia is 25 million which about 1/5 of Japan.
New conformed case as of April 1 was 302 and the number became 11 as of April 30, and all through May, the number has been as low as the same level. The population of New South Wales is about 7.3 million but its new cases as of April 1 was 150, but now it is less than 10 or so.
The orders here come with penalty in case of violation, not “voluntary restriction” like Japan. Social gathering whether indoor or outdoor more than two had been prohibited until May 15. Exception like wedding was up to 5 and in case of funeral was up to 10. There is no “Pachinko parlor” in Australia, but there are slot-machine in clubs. These clubs were closed until now.
The playgrounds for kids were closed and playground equipment was sealed by “red and white” tapes. In Japan, “red and white” is happy combination of the colors. We often see such curtains of tapes at festivals or temples ad shrines. But here it means “banned” or “prohibitions.” I thought it was interesting.
[Playground equipment was closed, 公園の遊具は使用禁止、공원의 놀이기구는 사용 금지]
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Japan demanded that all elementary, junior high and high schools and special needs schools throughout the country be temporarily closed from March 2 until spring break to prevent the spread of the new corona-virus. Although there is no legal basis, the request was made based on the increase in the number of infected people.
But here in Australia, education is one of the most important social activities, and students (and parents) can choose to stay at home or come to their school. Our grand-kids and their parents chose to send their kids to school. I happened to see them when I was walking for my daily exercise one day.
“Easing the restrictions in NSW”
There are 7 states in Australia and Sydney is the capital of New South Wales (NSW). Restrictions and easing restrictions are different according to the situation of each state. We are supposed to follow the decisions by state government.
From May 1, 2 adults and their kids can visit other family’s home.
After assessing National Cabinet's new framework, the NSW Government will ease COVID-19 restrictions from Friday 15 May to allow:
・ outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people
・ cafes and restaurants can seat 10 patrons at any one time
・ up to 5 visitors to a household at any one time
・ weddings up to 10 guests
・ indoor funerals up to 20 mourners, outdoor funerals up to 30
・ religious gatherings/places of worship up to 10 worshipers
・ use of outdoor equipment with caution
・ outdoor pools open with restrictions.
・ Restrictions around regional holidays and other activities will remain in place.
Current restrictions
For businesses that can open, each business owner can make decisions about what makes the most sense for their situation. Employers must allow employees to work from home where it is reasonably practical to do so.
You may not currently travel to regional NSW for holiday purposes. Travel and transport limitations remain in place until 1 June.
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When I read “outdoor gathering up to 10” I thought we could go to the Blue Mountains together from May 15, so I went to the Blue Mountains on May 15 and May 19 to check the available tacks.
I was wrong. “You may not currently travel to regional NSW for holiday purposes. Travel and transport limitations remain in place until 1 June.” So, I had to wait traveling to the Blue Mountains on June 1st or later.
“The Great North Walk Trekking”
Saturday Hikers Group planned “The Great North Walk Trekking” on May 22. In the summer of 2018, they visited Japan and I guided them to Mt. Fuji as well as Mt. Yarigatake. They usually go hiking on Saturday, so I call the group “Saturday Hikers Group.”
“The Great North Walk” connects Sydney and Newcastle. It’s the 250 km track along east coast of southern Australia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_North_Walk
We walked a portion of this walk between Berowra and Hornsby about 25 km.
Four Korean hikers joined this plan. They were born in 1955 and all good hikers.
Meeting place as Berowra station at 10:30. The trains run according to the time table, but there were a few passengers. They try to limit the passengers up to 20% of all seats. Available seats are marked and they are only two seats out of ten.
The total distance of the track is over 25 km. and we started at 10:30 am. We need to arrive at the destination before 5 pm, otherwise it would be too dark.
We walked very fast with shortest possible break. Actually we took only 2 “take-five” during 6.5 hour trekking.
We went down to the valley and waked up and down so much. Soon, I was out of break, and getting slower than others. Our leader Mr. Lee kept accompany with me.
He offered his help to take care of my bag. I first turned down his offer, but when we had the 2nd “take-five,” it was almost 3 pm. We still had about 8 km to walk and the track was steep. I finally rendered my bag to him and he carried my bag for the rest of trekking.
We arrived at the town of Hornsby before 5 am. We found a Vietnamese restaurant and enjoyed our dinner with 3 bottles of “Makkori”(Korean folk wine).
There are about 30 seats in the restaurant. Three guests were before us. We could order our meals, but late comers of 4 people could not get their seats because of “up to 10 patrons” rule.
We planned the next week trekking at another portion of “The Great North Walk.”
Travel over 50 km within the state of SNW will be allowed from June 1.
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SR #23
「豪州における新型コロナの感染状況」、「NSW州における規制緩和の状況」、「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォークのトレッキング」
「豪州における新型コロナの感染状況」
オーストラリアの現在(5/28)の感染者数は7,150人(内6580人は回復)で死者は103人。人口は約2500万人で、日本の約5分の1である。
新感染者数は4月1日は302人であったが、4月30日には11人となり、以降、低レベルが続いている。このうち、NSW州の人口は730万人だが、4月1日には新感染者数は150人だったが現在は１桁以下が続いている。
前回で報じたように、こちらの規制は罰則付きで「自粛要請」ではない。集会は屋内屋外とも3人以上は禁止で、例外的に結婚式5人以下、葬式は10人以下。豪州にパチンコはないが、スロットマシンのあるクラブはもちろん閉鎖である。
公園などの子供の遊具も赤と白のテープで封印された。「紅白のテープ」というと私はお祭りを連想したが、こちらでは「使用禁止」を意味するのは面白い。
日本では最初に学校に休校要請がされたが、こちらでは自宅で遠隔教育を受けるか、登校するかは各家庭が選択できるようで、私の5歳8か月の孫娘は登校・対面授業を選択していた。私は毎朝散歩しているが、そんなある日、5歳7か月になる孫娘を送って小学校にきた3人にばったり会った。
「NSW州における規制緩和の状況」
豪州には7つの州があり、それぞれ状況が異なる。シドニーはNSW州の州都で、州民は州政府の決定に従う。
5月1日から大人2名とその子供が他の家庭を訪問しても良いとされた。
5月15日から以下の規制緩和が実施される。
(1) 屋外での10人以内の集会
(2) カフェやレストランでの同時に10人以内の着席
(3) 他家庭への同時に5人以内の訪問
(4) 結婚式への10人以内の参加
(5) 葬式は屋内の場合20人以内，屋外の場合30人以内の参列
(6) 宗教行事への10人以内の参加
(7) 感染防止に注意した上での屋外器具使用
(8) 制限付きでの屋外プール使用
現在の制限
開業できるビジネスの場合、各ビジネスのオーナーは、自分の状況に最も適したものについて決定を下すことができる。雇用主は、従業員が自宅で仕事をすることが合理的に現実的である場合には、それを許可する必要がある。
現在、休暇目的で地域のNSW州に旅行することはできない。 旅行と輸送の制限は6月1日まで有効。
私は屋外での10人以下の集会が許可されたので、グループでのトレッキングも許可されたものと思い、下見のつもりで、5月15日にカトゥンバへ、5月19日にはウェントワース・フォールズへ出かけた。しかし、州内といえども50kmを超える移動はまだ許されていない時期だったということを後で知った。
「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォークのトレッキング」
一昨年、来日し、私が富士山や槍ヶ岳を案内した「土曜登山会」は、シドニーから50km以内のトレッキングということで、5月22日(土)にBerowra～Hornsby間のトレッキングを計画した。
同行した仲間は韓国人4人で、全員1955年生である。
集合時間と場所はBerowra駅10時30分。電車は時刻表通りだが、二階建ての車両に乗客は数人。座席の2割に印があり、そこに座る。
今回のコースはシドニーから豪州東海岸北部のニューキャッスルまでの250kmの「ザ・グレート・ノース・ウォーク」の一部である。
今回のコースは25kmであり、午前10時半に出発して午後5時までに完走するには、かなり早いペースで歩かねばならない。
コースは中間のクロスランズ・リザーブ以外はアップ・ダウンが続いてかなり厳しい。
実際、私は常に最後尾で、リーダーのマイケル・リーさんに大いに世話になった。
昼食は抜いて、休憩はわずか2回のみで、Hornsbyには夜のとばりの下りる5時ギリギリに到着した。
レストランはMax10人ということで、2件目に入店できた。
ベトナム料理店で、リーさんが調達した韓国の民族酒「マッコリ」で乾杯した。
我々は、次のトレッキング(5/30)をエッピング～チャッツウッドに決めた。
50kmを超える州内の休暇旅行すなわちブルーマウンテンへの旅が許されるのは6月1日からである。
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