Is this why almost 10,000 Victorians are refusing COVID-19 tests? Health minister claims residents in Melbourne hotspots 'believe the coronavirus is a conspiracy'
- More than 10,000 Victorians have refused COVID-19 test amid second outbreak
- Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said some residents think virus 'is a conspiracy'
- There were 66 new cases of coronavirus in Australia on Friday, all from Victoria
Victoria's health minister claims residents in COVID-19 hotspots think the deadly virus 'is a conspiracy' as the state continues to battle a second spike in cases.
Jenny Mikakos on Friday revealed more than 10,000 people have refused to be tested amid a 'suburban testing blitz' that started on June 25.
She claimed some of the residents didn't believe the pandemic was real or failed to understand they could contract the virus.
'Disappointingly, we have had more than 10,000 people who have refused to be tested,' Ms Mikakos said.
Pictured: Members of the Australian Defence Force take a swab sample at a drive-through COVID-19 clinic in Fawkner, Melbourne, on Thursday. More than 10,000 residents in Melbourne have refused a coronavirus test
'That might be for a range of reasons, including that they may have already been tested in a different location.
'We are analysing that data to see exactly why people are refusing, but it is concerning that some people believe that coronavirus is a conspiracy or that it won't impact them.
'What I want to stress here is that coronavirus is a very contagious virus.'
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Ms Mikakos also suggested a super spreader could be responsible for the second wave of cases in Victoria.
'There seems to be a single source of infection for many of the cases that have gone across the northern and western suburbs of Melbourne,' she told reporters.
'It appears to be even potentially a super spreader that has caused this upsurge in cases.'
Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos (pictured) claims residents in COVID-19 hot spots think the deadly virus 'is a conspiracy'
Genomic sequencing revealed on Tuesday a big proportion of Victoria's new coronavirus cases were related to infection protocol breaches in hotels hosting returned travellers.
Undisclosed cases of Victorians testing positive and attending family gatherings had previously been highlighted by Premier Daniel Andrews.
There were 66 new cases of coronavirus in Australia on Friday, all from Victoria.
It marks the 17th day of double-digit increases in the state, but the numbers are slightly better than the 77 new cases on Thursday.
Pictured: Victoria Police set up a check point in Melbourne on Friday as 36 suburbs return to lockdown
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said the number hasn't been rising substantially day-to-day despite the high volume of tests being conducted.
'This is a strong indication of the effectiveness of the measures which are being implemented in Victoria,' he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.
'The figures are showing some signs of stabilisation but it is too early to confirm.'
More than 880,000 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the state since the start of the pandemic, with 24,430 tests completed on Thursday alone.
Residents from 36 red zone suburbs in 10 postcodes have been put back into lockdown as the state attempts to control the second outbreak.
Residents from 36 suburbs in 10 postcodes have been put back into lockdown as the state attempts to control the second outbreak
