Health Minister Hunt Praises NSW, Victoria Over Virus Outbreak Response
The federal government has applauded New South Wales and Victoria’s responses to fresh COVID-19 outbreaks while urging Victoria to allow its residents back home.
The recent outbreaks in NSW could have been on a “vastly larger scale” than the disastrous second wave in Victoria, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday, describing advice from Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.
With seedings at multiple venues across Sydney, a “potentially enormous event” could have occurred but for the extent and speed of the state’s response and the capacity of its contact-tracing system.
Health Minister Greg Hunt (file image) - AAP
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Victoria has been praised for its quick response to fresh coronavirus outbreaks but the state has been urged to let its residents return home.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has also applauded NSW authorities for avoiding a repeat of Victoria s disastrous second wave, noting the NSW outbreak could have been on a vastly larger scale .
The NSW outbreak has seeded across different Sydney venues, and south to Melbourne according to genomic testing, but a potentially enormous event could have occurred, he said describing advice from Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly.
Mr Hunt said Victoria was in a much stronger place this time around, but cautioned any response around border closures had to have a compassionate element.