Advertisement
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan was harbouring a secret as she fronted the media on the morning of December 31.
Earlier that day she’d received advice from the state’s public health team that recommended closing the border between Victoria and NSW.
The advice, signed off by acting Chief Health Officer professor Allen Cheng, was going to be unpopular.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan provides a health update.
But it was crystal clear. In the absence of widespread coronavirus restrictions in NSW, a border closure was the only option.
It made two other recommendations which Ms Allan announced at her morning press conference: masks would have to be worn indoors again and home gatherings would be limited to 15 visitors.
The first three cases in the Victorian outbreak are all linked with a transmission event that probably happened at the Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant at Black Rock on December 21.
Authorities suspect a Victorian traveller who had returned from Sydney was the likely source of the infection. That person is still in Victoria and has been tested for coronavirus. Their result was still pending on Thursday evening.
Advertisement
As Melburnians queued for hours to get tested, the Andrews government closed the border to NSW, reintroduced mandatory mask-wearing indoors from 5pm on Thursday and simultaneously reduced the maximum number of people permitted to gather in a home from 30 to 15.
Advertisement
Crews will be funnelled into two or three police-monitored hotels in Melbourne, a shift from current arrangements where airlines privately organise transport and hotel stays between their flights.
Airline workers who live in Victoria are also currently allowed to self-isolate at home, which the stateâs testing chief Jeroen Weimar said would be scrutinised through regular checks from next week.
Mr Foley said that after 49 days with no locally acquired cases Victoria had come too far for the government not to act decisively.
âYes, there is a missing link from the international visitors, and thatâs an issue that the NSW health team are actively pursuing ⦠but it will take time,â he said.
A premier barely able to contain his anger. A chief health officer with contradictory impulses. A health system overwhelmed. We examine how the COVID-19 tide was turned.