[DJR-351]

Originally Posted by Cav

What's this refusing testing ****?

Third of returned Aussie travellers refusing COVID-19 testing in Victorian hotspots

https://www.9news.com.au/national/co...0-f24e63b31fdb

Almost a third of returned travellers in hotel quarantine in Victoria have been refusing to be tested for coronavirus.

Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen confirmed yesterday about 30 per cent of international travellers, approximately 5,000 people, were refusing to be tested despite multiple offers during their 14-day stay.

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said people in hotel quarantine need to be tested for the virus at the start and end of their stay.

"That 30 per cent is quite a high rate, other states haven't seen the same rate of refusal," he said in Canberra on Friday.
"But states have the powers ... to say to someone, 'Well, we won't let you out of quarantine until you've been tested and had a clear test'.
"We will ... make sure that people understand before they come that this is a requirement. I think most people will co-operate with that arrangement."

Victoria has ramped up testing, conducting 20,000 since Thursday, bringing the total tests in the state to more than 736,000.
The state is concentrating its testing efforts on 10 suburbs with high community transmission: Keilor Downs, Broadmeadows, Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham.
Public health officials are doorknocking the streets of the six local government areas identified as COVID-19 hot spots to ensure residents are doing the right thing.

These areas are the Melbourne municipalities of Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Hume and Moreland.
As the state's cases climb, up to 200 specialist medical and support personnel from the Australian Defence Force will be called in to help with the testing blitz from Saturday.
The number was revised down from the 1000 the government earlier requested.
More than 1700 people have recovered from the virus in Victoria while 20 have died.