Coronavirus Qld: Steven Miles unrepentant over Trump tweets
Queensland has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, with the Health Minister taking the opportunity to highlight US President Donald Trump’s plight, saying “he has repeatedly made ridiculous comments about this disease”.
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Queensland’s Health Minister has wished US President Donald Trump “a speedy recovery” hours after he tweeted the leader asking if he had “tried intravenous disinfectant” after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Steven Miles took the opportunity on Saturday morning to remind Queenslanders of the stark difference between the state’s dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, and that of the United States.
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Speaking at a press conference, he said Queensland had reported no new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to Saturday morning. There are now just six active cases in the state.
Mr Miles said the announcement that US President Donald Trump has been taken to hospital with COVID-19 was a timely reminder that nobody was safe from the virus.
Mr Miles said it appeared he’d kicked an “internet hornet’s web” after he tweeted about US President Donald Trump’s new COVID-19 diagnosis.
“I think it gave me a chance to highlight that some of the treatments that he suggested don’t work, he won’t be using them himself,” he said.
“He as a world leader has repeatedly made ridiculous comments about this disease.”
In a series of tweets shared on Friday night, Mr Miles seemed to be criticising Mr Trump for the way he has handled COVID-19.
“Have you considered intravenous disinfectant?” he replied to Trump’s tweet in which he revealed he had tested positive.
In April Mr Trump sparked outcry from medical experts after he suggested there should be research into whether coronavirus might be treated by injecting disinfectant into the body.
Doctors said it was dangerous and irresponsible.
Trump made the comments at a White House coronavirus task force briefing where US government research had found bleach could kill the virus in saliva within five minutes in saliva and isopropyl alcohol could kill it even more quickly.
Have you considered intravenous disinfectant? https://t.co/4QutsVmEil
— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) October 2, 2020
Well played @Telstra, well played https://t.co/PPe6MCN8oM
— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) October 2, 2020
Mr Miles’s Twitter activity was immediately met with criticism, including someone updating Mr Miles’ Wikipedia page, labelling him “disgraceful”.
Oh my gosh. Just googled him. Someone has edited his Wikipedia page. pic.twitter.com/7oKjmujHkZ
— Helen Robinson (@helenjr10) October 2, 2020
“I won‘t apologise. I hope he apologises... to everyone who believed him.”
Mr Miles said it showed even the “standard bearers for the argument of putting the economy ahead of lives” can be afflicted with this disease.
“We first, before we can focus on getting people back to work and businesses open, we have to get the health advice right,” Mr Miles said.
“That’s precisely what we’ve done here in Queensland.”
Nationals senator Matt Canavan said Mr Miles’ “childish comments” were embarrassing.
“For a health minister, Steven Miles doesn’t have a very good bedside manner,” Mr Canavan told Sky News host Chris Kenny.
“I think almost everyone’s human reaction would be to wish someone well in such circumstances, whatever disagreements we have as politicians.
“It’s pretty childish coming from the deputy premier nonetheless, a bit embarrassing for us in Queensland.”
Mr Miles said there had been traces of COVID-19 found in sewage in North Rockhampton, Cannonvale and Cairns.
It follows the announcement that Queensland will open the state borders to all of New South Wales on November 1 if there have been 28 days of no unlinked cases.
He said he was disappointed to see 110 Queensland defence force troops removed from the Queensland-NSW border to assist other states with their border lockdowns.
He said the Federal Government lied when they said they removed those troops from assisting the Queensland border to prepare for storm season.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said they were not quite sure what it meant to locate traces of COVID-19 in sewerage and has asked anyone in the areas who has symptoms to come forward.
She said some positive traces in sewerage were also located in Goodna.
“This is still a very new virus,” she said.
“We’re still struggling to fully understand it, we know people can shed virus for a very long time but we have no idea how long people can shed virus through faeces.”
Mr Miles said the State Government would buy a PET-CT scanner in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundation for the Queensland Children’s Hospital.