'Where's your mask?': Astonishing moment Melbourne COVID-19 tester says he HASN'T been given a mask despite coming into contact with thousands of potentially infected people
- Concerning video has emerged showing Victorian health workers with no masks
- Health workers have been sent door-to-door in Melbourne's COVID-19 hotspots
- Footage shows one doorknocker telling a local: 'We haven't been given masks'
- Second wave is currently gripping the state with 10 areas returned to lockdown
Public health workers have been sent door-to-door in Melbourne's hotspot suburbs without being given protective masks, a shocking video has revealed.
Hundreds of doorknockers this week hit the streets of 36 suburbs across the city to hand out information and assess people for potential flu-like symptoms.
Victoria is currently experiencing a second wave of COVID-19 and 10 postcodes were this week returned to strict lockdown by premier Daniel Andrews.
Mr Andrews also ordered a door-to-door testing blitz in a bid to limit the outbreak.
But shocking video filmed by one local shows doorknockers revealing they are yet to receive protective masks, despite coming face-to-face with up to 4,000 people each day.
Public health workers have been sent door-to-door in Melbourne's hotspot suburbs without being given protective masks, a shocking video has revealed
The footage shows a Melbourne couple driving past a street corner where two dozen health workers are standing around.
'What are you doing?' the woman can be heard asking one worker.
'We are collecting the information regarding COVID-19,' replies the man, showing off his COVID-19 Public Health staff badge.
'The Victorian Government wants us to let them know what are the conditions of the people, what are the symptoms people are having and encouraging them to get the test,' his colleague then said.
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As the couple continue driving through the suburb they come across another group of health care workers.
Again pulling up the kerb, the man asks the group why they are not social distancing and then quizzes them on why they are not wearing masks.
'Excuse me, can you tell me where your mask is? Why are you not wearing a mask?' the man asks.
'We don't have any masks,' the health worker admits.
Hundreds of doorknockers this week hit the streets of 36 suburbs across the city to hand out information and assess people for potential flu-like symptoms
Close to 30,000 tests are being carried out across Victoria every day, with the government desperate to stamp out the risk of the outbreak spreading beyond Melbourne (pictured)
'Did the government not give them to you?' the man asks again.
'Yeah, we didn't receive (a mask) but I hope from tomorrow onwards we'll get them,' the health worker said.
Premier Andrews this week said the state was on a 'knife's edge' amid reports many people in the hotspot suburbs were refusing to get tested.
The Labor leader said he believes many were knocking back tests because they fear being forced to take time off from work and being left in a financial difficulty.
'If someone knocks on your door and says "I've got a test kit for you", your only answer should be yes,' Mr Andrews told The Project.
'I think you have to understand why that is the answer.
'I think there might be some people that don't have access to pay, whether it be sick pay or holiday pay.
'Their economic circumstances might be very uncertain and the notion of having two days away from work while you wait for your test result may be a big challenge.
'That is why we’ve put in place essentially a no questions asked hardship payment, a $1500 payment to deal with that perhaps as a disincentive to getting tested.'
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services for comment.
People have swab samples taken during testing for COVID-19 in a suburban park in Melbourne (pictured on Wednesday)
