Protest 'risks all of Victoria's gains', says Chief Health Officer
Victoria's effort to suppress COVID-19 could be set back by Saturday's planned anti-racism protest in Melbourne's CBD which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says.
Authorities have asked people not to attend the Black Lives Matter rally, which will converge on the steps of Parliament House on Saturday afternoon, because it could increase transmission of the coronavirus.
Victoria'a Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Friday.Credit:Penny Stephens
Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined that chorus on Friday, urging people not to attend protests which are planned to take place across the country.
"Our message is very clear," Mr Morrison said. "The health risks and the risks of people coming into close proximity are real, and Australians have worked incredibly hard in recent months and undergone great sacrifices to protect the health of the most vulnerable, and that has included our Indigenous communities."
Gatherings of more than 20 people are not permitted under Victoria's current regulations but more than 30,000 people have indicated they will attend or are interested in this weekend's march against police brutality.
Organisers have asked people to wear masks, bring hand sanitiser and self-isolate afterwards if they can but Dr Sutton said now was not the time to hold a protest.
"There is a risk that all of the gains that we have made are put at risk by people gathering in large numbers," he said.
"It takes a single individual who is infectious to potentially transmit to many others in a mass gathering setting.
"I am advising people not to attend. There are other ways to protest."
Dr Sutton said anyone who ignores advice to not attend should stay 1.5 metres apart and wear a mask if they can.
A Black Lives Matter rally in London last weekend. Credit:Getty
However, he said this would be difficult when people are protesting loudly.
"That's what protests do so that adds to my concern about the risk of transmission," he said.
There were three new COVID-19 cases in Victoria recorded overnight, taking the total number of people who have had the virus to 1681. There are currently 74 active cases in the state.
Of the new cases, two were returned travellers in hotel quarantine and one was a prep student from Newbury Primary School in Craigieburn.
The student had no symptoms last week and developed symptoms over the weekend.
The school is closed for cleaning and will reopen next week.
Mr Morrison said one of the government's biggest worries at the start of the coronavirus outbreak was the potential impact on Indigenous communities.
"This isn't about people's ability to express themselves and engage in protest activity, we all respect that," he said.
But Mr Morrison urged protesters to find another way to express their views without putting their health and that of others at risk, along with "the great gains we have been able to make as a country in recent months".
"I encourage people not to attend for those reasons and those reasons only," he said.