Charles Croucher: Victoria begins tough lockdown as cases grow

Victoria has recorded 74 new cases of coronavirus overnight as thousands of Melburnians get used to their first full day in strict quarantine lockdown across scores of public apartment blocks. Almost 30 cases were identified in the flats, just north of the CBD. Residents of the blocks, who won’t be able to leave home for at least five days, will get $1500 in hardship payments and rent relief for the next fortnight. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said while today’s cases were a reduction on the 108 yesterday he expected “to see some big days with big numbers in the days ahead.” However, he and his state government have been slammed as “incompetent” and “deeply unimpressive” following the COVID surge that began after inept hotel quarantine management. Some residents of the towers have lashed out at authorities claiming the lockdown on some of the city’s most vulnerable was not fair. Andrews has said that for the residents of the nine public housing blocks that are in hard lockdown, the only response to a request they should be tested is “yes”. The government has been caught off guard by reports of up to 10,000 Melburnians refusing to be tested in hot spot suburbs. Andrews said that wouldn’t be happening in the North Melbourne and Footscray flats. He’s told people to call out their non-testing neighbours. The government has said it needs five days to test all 3000 residents and get their results back. The premier hinted that if people refused to test, the tough lockdown could last longer. “I expect that everybody will consent to a test because the sooner we have the testing process concluded the sooner we will be able to make decisions based on the data about the restrictions that are appropriate for those nine towers,” he said at a press conference today. “If someone knocks on your door to do a test the only answer you should give is yes. “And if you see someone in your family group, in your friendship group, in your street, who is not taking this seriously, then call them out.” Andrews said he expected only a “small number” of people to refuse a test. “My message to those residents is content of the test, agree to the test and find out exactly how much of this virus is in these towers”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.