Speed Camera Locations site migrated from Google Maps to Tomtom Maps

If the Speed Camera Locations site looks a little different today, that's because it is. The Speed Camera Locations site which currently covers Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, has been converted from using Google Maps to Tomtom Maps.

Apart from the different look between Google Maps and Tomtom Maps, there's not really much difference. The following are changes which I feel should make using Speed Camera Locations easier.

One change I like is my old design used texttips if you hovered your mouse over a speed camera icon. That's OK if you're using a desktop computer, but since many people use mobile phones to access the site, hovering doesn't work on a mobile phone. The new design means if you press or click on a speed camera icon, a pop up appears providing more information and a link to a detail page. The detail page provides useful links for those investigating the speed camera site. This new approach is now mobile and desktop friendly.

The second change which came from a request for another site I created was the ability to enlarge the map. On Android phones and desktop computers it's easy to have a Google Map or Tomtom Map take up the full screen but clicking on the full screen icon. But on iPhone there's no such feature available. By enabling people to enable the map people can get more information no matter which device they choose to use.

Thank you to everyone who uses Speed Camera Locations. Should you experience any problems please let me know in the comments.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.SpeedCameraLocations.com.au

Some interesting figures on the cost of COVID-19 testing in Victoria.

An interesting article came out recently where pathology practices were lobbying the government to maintain the current charge of $85 per COVID-19 test.

Australia COVID: Pathologists lobby Canberra for massive COVID test subsidy to continue (smh.com.au)

If we look at today's figures for Victoria we see the following.

Number of tests to date: 13,777,569

Number of positive COVID-19 cases to date: 98,130

Coronavirus update for Victoria – 8 November 2021 | health.vic.gov.au

At $85 per COVID-19 test that could equate to a potential cost of  $1.17 billion. I say potential because according to the article only public labs only get half the rebate.

Another interesting figure is the number of positive cases compared to the total number of tests. One case per 140 tests. Again this figure doesn't take into account if a person is positive they'd need multiple tests.

I have to say I'm quite surprised the number of tests per positive case is much lower than I would have thought at 0.7%. Personally the scatter gun approach to testing I would have thought would have been much less efficient. Detecting one positive case for around 140 test to me is an excellent result. Of course that's just my unscientific personal opinion.

It will be interesting to see how the costs change over time with rapid antigen tests now becoming available at a much lower cost. Whilst not as accurate as PCR testing, the "new era of living with COVID-19" no longer requires us to eradicate the virus, just to reduce the spread. Anything that reduces the spread would appear to be worthwhile and if required, could be followed up with a PCR test. Overall this could reduce the need for as many PCR tests and thus the cost to the government and us as a community.

What is a rapid antigen test? Where can you buy them in Australia and how much do they cost? - ABC News

A quick check of the web finds test kits out of stock at Woolworths, but available for a pack of 5 from Chemist Warehouse online only. At about $10 per test, getting a pack for a family or a group of families just in case, may not be a bad idea. For larger organisation buying in bulk would expect to halve or better this price. Whilst less convenient, getting tested at a drive-through centre is still cheaper since it's bulk billed and we never directly see the actual cost.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the $85 COVID-19 test subsidy when it's up for review at the end of the year. A rapid antigen test for under $5 in bulk or an $85 PCR test is certainly going to be tempting for the government to consider.

Kelvin

NOTE: Nothing in this article should be taken as advice in any shape or form. I am simply sharing my observations and am not qualified in any medical capacity.

When should you get your second dose of AstraZenica? (NOTE: This is not medical advice.)

The question as to when you should get your second dose of AstraZenica is often discussed with family and friends. I couldn't help feeling the shorter time of 6 weeks reduced from 12 weeks may have been more to meet government targets than the health needs of people. Having said that, in areas where there was substantial risk the shorter period could well have been warranted. The level of risk across Australia is not the same but unfortunately the messages we may be receiving from the mainstream news media does not differentiate the level of risk.

Ultimately each of us has to take responsibility for our own health choices. With so much information, misinformation, and sometime questionable information, it can be very hard to make better choices. Sometimes pressure from those around us will lead us to make  choices that may not be in our best health interests.

I keep a close watch on the level of risk around me so if possible my choice is to see if I can wait 12 weeks for the second dose of AstraZenica. Why? Because in theory this should give me a greater level of protection based on the efficacy research. I don't consider this to be a perfect choice, just a potentially better choice.

A second and potentially more important point comes from the reference linked to from the document linked below which states:

"Yet we do know two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine protects against serious COVID-19 after infection with the Delta variant, whereas one dose doesn’t."

The link provided then leads to the research article which states:

"Sera from individuals who had received one dose of the Pfizer or the AstraZeneca vaccine had a barely discernible inhibitory effect on the Delta variant. Administration of two doses of the vaccine generated a neutralizing response in 95% of individuals, with titres three- to fivefold lower against the Delta variant than against the Alpha variant. "

This to me is more of a concern. Children are now back at school and in childcare centres. Borders are starting to open up. The risk of catching COVID-19 would appear to be rapidly increasing. Increased efficacy is good, but not if a single dose doesn't protect you against serious COVID-19 infection. That is the quandary we're all faced with.

Please keep in mind I have no medical background. Do not take the information provided as advice or guidance. This is just my own personal choice.

To help guide my choice I've read a considerable amount of information on the internet so I decided to find an article I felt could summarise the efficacy information. The following is from doctors in Erina NSW who summarise the information well and provide supporting links. I've not yet found the actual information in the Lancet, but it does correspond with other information I've found.

WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY 2ND ASTRAZENECA VACCINE? – Your Family Doctors

The linked article is quite good to read as it concludes that even if getting the AstraZenica second dose early may be sub-optimal, if this is followed up by a later Pfizer dose this will further boost immunity.

One missing piece of information I've not yet found is that whilst we know the booster is needed for Pfizer as protection diminishes over time, I've not seen evidence this is the case for AstraZenica. I feel the government will recommend a Pfizer booster as it is a simpler message, but is it needed if you've waited the full 12 weeks for a second dose of AstraZenica. Only time and further research will tell.

I hope the information provided helps in some way.

Kelvin