Victoria is set to record almost 300 new coronavirus cases as the state's aged care crisis deepens and Daniel Andrews is exposed for failing to follow crucial medical advice
- The state is enduring an aged care crisis with 769 cases across 61 homes
- On Monday Victoria suffered six deaths and a record 532 new virus cases
- Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said that figure could mark the peak
- On Tuesday Victoria had 364 new cases and today fewer than 300 are expected
Victoria is set to record fewer than 300 cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, giving hope that the worst of the second wave has passed.
When the state recorded 532 cases on Monday, Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said he hoped that was the peak of the crisis.
On Tuesday Victoria had 364 new cases and today fewer than 300 are expected.
Despite the decreasing daily totals, Melbourne's aged care sector continues to suffer from outbreaks and chronic staff shortages.
Ambulance officers remove a resident from the St Basil's Home for the Aged in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner on Monday
Victoria is set to record fewer than 300 cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, giving hope that the worst of the second wave has passed
Hospital staff and Australian Defence Force medics are being sent into Victoria's coronavirus-stricken aged care facilities.
On Wednesday morning Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said the care homes were struggling to cope as infected staff are told to isolate.
'No business in Australia has a business continuity plan that accounts for their entire workforce not being able to go to work,' he said.
'I think in a lot of ways that has led some of the most affected institutions to where they are now.'
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It comes after government sources told news.com.au that Premier Andrews was reluctant to cancel elective surgery to free up staff.
The publication reported that the federal chief medical officer advised Mr Andrews to make the move last week but he held out until the Prime Minister texted him on Monday.
Four of Victoria's six deaths on Tuesday were linked to outbreaks in aged care, bringing the state's toll from the virus to 83 and the national toll to 167.
There are 4,775 active COVID-19 cases across Victoria, with 769 of those are linked to aged care homes and 414 among health workers.
Premier Andrews on Tuesday announced elective surgeries would be suspended in metropolitan Melbourne, except for category one and the most urgent category two procedures.
Australian Defence Force personnel and Victoria police officers patrol the Royal Botanic Gardens on Sunday, ensuring everyone wears face masks
He said the move would free up hospital beds to treat residents and allow health workers to go into aged care homes to cope with the staff shortages.
He said it would also allow staff to provide care and support to the most vulnerable residents in and coming out of private sector aged care, noting resident transfers would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The premier told reporters he would not want in his mother in some of the federally regulated homes, prompting an emotional defence of carers and nurses from federal Health Minister Greg Hunt.
Mr Hunt's father Alan, who was a state politician for more than three decades, spent the final months of his life in aged care.
'The idea that our carers, that our nurses are not providing that care, I think, is a dangerous statement to make,' the health minister said.
'They are wonderful human beings and I won't hear a word against them.'
Outbreaks at meatworks across Melbourne have also increased, with 99 cases linked to Somerville Meats Retail Services in Tottenham and 89 associated with Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said there was some good news regarding an outbreak at the Royal Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit, where a baby, two parents and a health care worker tested positive on Monday.
She said all other babies in the unit had tested negative, with just one result pending.
Daniel Andrews says he wouldn't want his mother in aged care
Daniel Andrews said he would not want his mother to be in some of Victoria's coronavirus-ridden aged care homes.
The Victoria Premier was asked by a journalist if he would be happy for his 75-year-old mother Jan to be a resident in one of the 61 care homes that have suffered COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria.
Mr Andrews replied: 'Well my mother is in her mid 70s, she has some underlying health conditions but she lives at home.
Daniel Andrews said he would not want his mother (pictured together after election victory in 2018) to be in some of Victoria's crisis-hit care homes
'Some of the stories we have seen are unacceptable and I wouldn't want my mum in some of those places,' he said, referring to reports that some residents have been left lying in soiled sheets and without enough food.
'I would not let my mum be in some of these places, I wouldn't.
'But that's not a decision I have to make at the moment because she's very happy to be at home and if she's watching this she'll be very angry that I'm even contemplating the notion of going into residential aged care,' he joked.
The comments sparked anger, with many saying Mr Andrews' language was 'disrespectful'.
