COVID case in rally crowd
Opposition test call
THE state Opposition is urging all protesters who attended last week’s Black Lives Matter rally to be tested for coronavirus after a man who attended the event later tested positive.
Victorians are facing the prospect of social distancing restrictions being extended following the positive test, amid concerns a feared second wave could emerge.
The National Cabinet will today meet to consider how the country is progressing on a three-stage plan to achieve a COVID-safe economy by next month.
Last night investigators were trying to piece together close contacts of the man, aged in his 30s, who developed symptoms the day after attending last Saturday’s rally.
The state’s Chief Health Officer said the man might have been infectious at the rally.
But the Government was last night standing firm on its advice to protesters that they did not need to get tested or self-isolate unless they developed symptoms.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, also maintains those who were part of last weekend’s protests do not need to self-isolate or be tested unless they experience symptoms or are identified as a close contact of the infected protester.
However the state Opposition and the Australian Medical Association have called for all protesters to get tested.
“I think it’s irresponsible for people to have turned up to the protest and then turn up to work until they can be cleared of coronavirus,” Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien said.
“People shouldn’t be putting their own interests ahead of the interests of the broader community. I hope that people who did attend the rally do go and get themselves checked.”
Mr O’Brien said he feared a second wave of coronavirus would lead to further lockdowns.
“This state just cannot afford to go back to the lockdowns we had,” he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday accused the protesters of putting “the whole track back to recovery at risk”.
He said the potential for an outbreak from the protests was the “only legitimate real block” to the National Cabinet easing restrictions even further.
“It just puts a massive spanner in the works, and that’s why it’s so frustrating,” Mr Morrison said.
He said the protesters had set a double standard after people were forced to miss funerals, sporting events, schooling and time with their families during the pandemic.
He said the protests had become a “highly risky and dangerous” experiment, and that if there was not a major outbreak in the next fortnight, it could pave the way for coronavirus rules to be pared back more.