The government knew where there were existing cases and where there had been no reported cases. To lock down all towers just felt like an overkill. You had to wonder if the government would do this with other towers that weren't public housing. Has there been cases in high density tower blocks that we don't know about. We don't know because this information isn't made public.
The problem really is whilst it may have been possible to have a rolling testing of towers and thus only lock down sections at a time doing so wouldn't have been fair. Who do you pick first? There's no real easy answer.
Now that testing is completed and the results are known, it's good that it's largely over. The following article was a good summary of the outcome of the testing.
Approximately 3,000 residents living in 1,345 units.
There were 2,515 tests completed, with 159 returning positive.
33 Alfred Street, North Melbourne: This tower will remain in lockdown for another 9 days. There were 53 cases.
9 Pampas Street and 159 Melrose Street, North Melbourne: No cases detected. Move to stage 3 restrictions.
12 Holland Court, 120 Racecourse, 126 Racecourse Road and 130 Racecourse Road in Flemington,
12 Sutton Street, 76 Canning Street in North Melbourne: Low level of cases. Move to stage 3 restrictions.
According to the following article there are 472 residents at 33 Alfred Street.
It really doesn't make sense why they'd leave so many people who aren't infected in a building with around 11% of other residents infected. I understand why infected people would rather stay in their own homes rather than into a hotel (as offered), where you don't know what level of facilities would be available. That's a pity because of the potential of people to infect others around them, or in their own family. There needs to be a better way.
I do hope all ends well for the residents.
Kelvin Eldridge
No comments:
Post a Comment