The challenge to control the new outbreak in Melbourne has been amplified by fears of a super spreader and the growing number of people refusing to be tested.
“I know it is frustrating, I know it is very challenging, and people would prefer not to be in the circumstances we are in, I understand that,” Mr Andrews said.
“Many hours over the weekend will be spent analysing, considering, discussing back and forth what the status of other postcodes are and then we’ll have further announcements to make if we need to based on what that data tells us.”
Victoria yesterday recorded 66 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the state’s total to 2368.
“We have had more than 10,000 people who have refused to be tested, now that might before a range of reasons. It is concerning … that some people believe that coronavirus is a conspiracy or that it won’t impact on them,” Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.
Last night there were 442 active cases across the state.
The number of patients in hospital has grown to 23, with six patients in intensive care.
Super-spreader suspected
Ms Mikakos said a “super spreader” of the virus may be behind the spike in Victoria’s infections.
“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,” Ms Mikakos said.
“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 on them.”
Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen said a super spreader theory was being investigated but there was no “definitive evidence” it had caused the spike.
“We don’t have a single super spreader per se, but it is one of the epidemiological theories that is being looked at by our team of very experienced epidemiologists,” she said.
“The current outbreak is possibly looking more like a point source outbreak.”
Source: 9News
