Sky News Australia – Sep 8, 2020
An adviser to the World Health Organisation says the Andrews government roadmap out of coronavirus lockdowns for Victoria is “unworkable”.
Premier Daniel Andrews’ plan did not see significant changes to restrictions until the end of October and had a target for zero cases for 14 days by the end of November.
Professor Mary-Louise McLaws said at least 20 per cent of cases were asymptomatic meaning a risk for community spread was always present.
Ms McLaws called for a strict contact tracing policy and adopt a strategy that was preemptive rather than reactionary.
State Opposition leader Michael O’Brien criticised the Premier’s plan arguing he had other options.
“You’ve got epidemiologists in Victoria saying they don’t support the modelling he’s based this on,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The economic devastation of this… it’s going to be something that’s generational.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his strongest criticism yet of the Andrews government calling for the Premier to step up to bear more of the financial burden for the decisions he’s making.
Mr Morrison urged Mr Andrews to open his state faster and to look to New South Wales’ management strategies as a frame of reference.
The Prime Minister made it clear the national economy would wear the consequences of Victoria’s decisions, refusing to absorb any of the political pain that flowed on from this.