Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Virus escapes Melbourne without a TraceAsymptomatic testing wasn’t offered to customers who were potentially exposed to a Melbourne virus outbreak. By Portal Admin - 25th October 2020 - Back to News Labor Health Minister Martin Foley can’t explain why asymptomatic testing wasn’t offered to customers who were potentially exposed to a Melbourne virus outbreak that’s now spread to regional Victoria.
Mr Foley was asked in State Parliament today if he agreed with CHO Brett Sutton that asymptomatic testing for customers of Chadstone’s Butchers Club wasn’t "value for money", despite it being offered in Kilmore.
Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh slammed the Minister for refusing to take responsibility and failing to properly fund testing efforts.
"Daniel Andrews promised Victorians he would fix testing and contact tracing but failures have led to new coronavirus outbreaks across regional Victoria," Mr Walsh said.
"It doesn’t make sense that asymptomatic customers at the Kilmore café attended by the infected Melbourne diner were allowed to be tested for COVID-19, but those at the Butchers Club – the original source of the outbreak – were not.
"To say asymptomatic testing isn’t ‘value for money’ is a slap in the face to every regional Victorian who has lost their job, closed their business or turned their own life upside-down due to COVID restrictions.
"Hundreds of regional Victorians in Kilmore and Shepparton have stepped up to be tested, but the sad fact is we wouldn’t be here if the Andrews Labor Government had done its job protecting our communities."
The outbreaks have increased regional Victoria’s 14-day average to 0.6.
"The Andrews Labor Government’s failure to fund proper testing at Chadstone allowed this virus to spread to Kilmore and now Shepparton stopping regional Victoria from going to the Last Step," Mr Walsh said.
"Testing rates across Victoria have been decreasing. The Premier should doing everything he can to increase testing rates, not cherry-picking who does and doesn’t get tested.
"It’s no wonder Victoria is still being crippled by the Andrews Labor Government’s second wave when it still can’t get the basics right.
"Regional Victorians deserve to know why we’re now staring down the barrel of worsening outbreaks that threaten to keep our businesses closed longer and wind back the progress we’d made towards COVID normal."
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com
Related Articles- Darren Chester completes 19th Melbourne Marathon, joining 14,500 runners in iconic Gippsland sporting tradition
Darren Chester completed his 19th Melbourne Marathon, joining 14,500 runners. The sold-out event celebrated fitness and community spirit, with Chester inspired by marathon legend John "Dobbo" Dobson's 47th consecutive run. - Cycling Without Age Gippsland delights Wilson Lodge residents and 98-year-old Joyce, boosting wellbeing and community connection for older people
Cycling Without Age Gippsland celebrated its oldest passenger, 98-year-old Joyce Grimer, and welcomed Wilson Lodge residents, providing free trishaw rides that promote wellbeing, social connection, and community engagement for older Australians. - Gippsland’s growth at risk without urgent government investment in housing, infrastructure, warns One Gippsland Chair
One Gippsland warns growth could stall without urgent investment in housing and infrastructure to support workforce, energy projects, and address social, affordable housing shortages across the region. - Martin Cameron criticises Allan Labor government for neglecting regional PSOs while funding Melbourne stations
Morwell MP Martin Cameron criticises Allan Labor Government for neglecting regional PSOs, citing rising Gippsland crime and calling for equal safety protections and additional officers under Coalition plans. - Martin Cameron criticises Labor’s ensured failure by hastening coal plant closures without planning baseload power replacements
The Victorian Auditor-General warns a "disorderly energy transition" could cause power shortages, soaring prices, and job losses, with Labor’s accelerated coal closures and mismanaged renewable planning worsening the crisis.
|
|
