Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has reiterated her focus on the “fight” against the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria after journalists asked the minister to elaborate on a series of Twitter posts from Aug. 8.
“I’ve been concerned that the focus hasn’t been, in terms of the public commentary, on the fight against the virus, and I think that’s absolutely where the focus needs to be right now,” she said noting that this should be the common purpose for all Victorians.
“There are more and more Victorians losing loved ones each and every day and I know that is heartbreaking for all Victorians,” she said
“We are the front line and we can turn it around if we all focus on the task at hand,” Mikakos explained.
“Mistakes Were Made Along the Way”
While drawing comparisons between the plague of ancient Athens (430-427 BC) and Victoria’s virus second wave, Mikakos admitted mistakes were made in Victoria’s response to the global pandemic.She also noted that due to the rarity of the pandemic governments had no manual to follow and had to respond to the evolving situation rapidly.
This she said in another post meant that errors occurred because the “work needed to be done quickly and nimbly because the virus would not wait and no doubt, mistakes were made along the way, because humans are flawed yet contagious viruses are unforgiving.”
When asked what mistakes Mikakos was speaking of at the Aug. 10 press conference Mikakos said: “I won’t be a commentator on myself.”
COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry
The Victorian government established a Board of Inquiry into Victoria’s COVID-19 Hotel Quarantine Program on July 2.Senior health officers in the Victorian government also knew about the “ill-equipped” private security guards a month before the first case was recorded.
Hearings for the inquiry have occurred on the July 20 and Aug. 5 and will continue on Aug. 17.
