Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that he supports Victoria’s seven-day lockdown, which will start at 11:59pm on 27 May, 9News reports.
Mr Morrison warned that the struggles facing the state should serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of Covid-19.
The Prime Minister praised the efforts of Victorian authorities and health workers and added that the Commonwealth would offer their support should the state request any.
Health Minister urges people to heed the call to get vaccinated
Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that 130 000 additional vaccine doses have been allotted to Victoria. Mr Hunt emphasised the importance of getting vaccinated and responding to the government’s renewed push for vaccinations.
Getting the Covid-19 vaccine is one of the five approved reasons to leave your home during the upcoming seven days of lockdown.
“In the coming days, there are more supplies which will be provided,” Mr Hunt said.
Dr Omar Khorshid, the head of the Australian Medical Association, also encouraged people to get vaccinated. He referred to the Victorian outbreak as a “wake up call.”
“It is here now and the best thing you can do as an Australian, not just for your own health but the health of the people around you is to go and get your vaccine as soon as it is available to you,” Dr Khorshid said.
Albanese critiques government response to outbreak
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said that the rest of Australia stands with Victorians as they enter another lockdown.
He criticised the Federal Government’s handling of the vaccination rollout. Mr Albanese suggested that dedicated quarantine facilities would help contain the virus.
He detailed a four-point plan that Labor has to address the ongoing pandemic:
“The first of those is dedicated quarantine facilities, second, to get the vaccine rollout right, third, an appropriate public information campaign, and fourth, the manufacture of mRNA vaccines here,” he said.
ALSO READ: Latest Victoria lockdown: Businesses go ‘to hell and back’ – again
