Protests causing concern
Experts fear outbreak
THE nation’s top doctors can’t rule out the easing of restrictions being slowed if there is a COVID-19 outbreak as a result of mass protests at the weekend, while warning a return to full footy stadiums is still likely months away.
It follows a 30,000-strong Black Lives Matter protest in Brisbane at the weekend, despite the ban on mass gatherings.
Even with the risk of spreading, deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said that there was no need for participants to self-isolate, only to get tested if they get sick.
The nation’s top medicos are now playing “wait and see” as they go into high alert to watch for any outbreaks among protesters in the next two weeks.
Dr Coatsworth said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), which is made up of the chief health officers of each state and the Commonwealth, did not discuss increasing restrictions as a result of the protests.
But he admitted “we don’t know what will happen as a result of these protests”.
“Obviously, we hope there are minimal outbreaks resulting from the protests, but we will wait and see what happens over the next two or three weeks,” Dr Coatsworth said.
He said reintroduction of would depend on how many new cases emerged, and that it was too soon to “crystal ball gaze” its possible impact on the easing of restrictions.
While there has been frustration among some people that the protest went ahead, while NRL matches continue to be played in empty stadiums, he said there were “substantive differences” between the two.
“I do understand why that might frustrate people. I would point out perhaps we don’t have protests on every Friday and Saturday night of the footy season,” he said.
“The return to stadium sport and spectators is something the Australian health protection principal committee is considering, it is something that we have been discussing.
“So there may well be a way to do that in a safe, measured way in the coming months.”