Covidiots failing to self-isolate

A QUARTER of coronavirusinfected Victorians are refusing to self-isolate at home, sparking calls for tough new penalties for offenders.

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed on Friday that of 500 checks conducted in a 24-hour period, 130 people were not home when they were supposed to be self-isolating.

“It is simply unacceptable for you to have the virus and not be at home,” Mr Andrews said. “This is not about just getting fresh air, this is people out in the community,” he said.

More than 100 matters were referred to Victoria Police, with offenders facing fines of up to $20,000 for the most serious examples.

Victoria recorded 627 new cases and seven deaths.

Opposition leader Michael O’Brien has called for tougher measures, saying urgent legislation could be passed when parliament sits next week.

But Mr Andrews said changes were not needed. “On-the-spot fines are $1652. That is not an insignificant matter,” he said.

“We think that those penalties are appropriate at this stage but I would just say, if Victoria Police came to me and said, ‘We need to change that, we need further tools’, then I wouldn’t hesitate to look at that. We need people to do the right thing.”

Every Victorian who tests positive to COVID-19 is now being visited at home by health officials and a member of the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Andrews said the visits were about more than compliance. “It’s about providing information and clarity. It’s about saying to families, ‘What can we do for you? Is there anything you need?’” he said.