'People will die': Premier clashes with reporters over social distancing question
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was seemingly irritated by reporters over their persistence in asking that he repeat coronavirus messages multiple times.
The premier addressed reporters with an update on the unfolding COVID-19 crisis Wednesday morning, once again stressing how important it was that people stay inside their homes unless absolutely crucial.
“If you don’t have to go out. Don’t go out. That’s the key message,” he said, emphasising that people needed to use their “common sense” when interpreting social isolation and distancing rules.
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“These are actually really simple messages, they’re small things in scheme of everything, but they make a massive difference in terms of the number of people who will die because of this virus.”
When pressed on an individual case of coronavirus, he asserted how that was not what he was there to discuss, and repeated his earlier message about the importance everyone followed the rules.
“If you break the rules, there are significant penalties. If these rules aren’t followed, people will die. It’s a simple as that.”
He was then asked about Health Minister Greg Hunt's earlier claim police needed to be harsher on people who broke the two-person rule, to which he snapped back: “I'm not in the business of telling police how to do their job”.
“I've given them the power and resources that they need and they will catch you if you do the wrong thing. That is the simple message. I'll leave it to Victoria Police,” he said.
The reporter probed him harder, saying: “It's pretty bad behaviour”, and the premier sharply responded saying it was the wrong thing to do.
“And if that's not the grab that you want for your piece tonight, I'm sorry. But it's the wrong thing to do and the fines are significant, and you will be caught,” he said.
‘Not here for lines in your stories’
Another reporter then asked about why couples were banned from visiting each other in separate households in the state of Victoria.
“That's not work, that's not caregiving, that's not medical care, that's not shopping for things when you need them. It does not comply with the rules, so people should not do that,” Mr Andrews said.
She questioned again why they were able to exercise together but not visit each other at home.
“Oh look, I try and make these press conferences as factual as possible,” he said.
“If you want lines for your stories, really, that's not what I'm here for. I'm here to give you the information and the facts and to answer questions as simply and as plainly as I can.
“If you don't need to do it, don't do it.”
Mr Andrews reiterated that “people will die” if Australians don't follow strict rules implemented across the country to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The premier announced his approval of a $1.3 billion funding package to be spent in the Victorian healthcare system to buy crucial protective equipment and hygiene products.
There are now 968 cases of coronavirus in Victoria, which is 51 more than Tuesday.
Mr Andrews said 32 of those cases were being treated in hospital, and six in intensive care.
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