Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Covid-19 vaccination, testing ‘best way forward’

Daniel Andrews has made a snarky remark about Sydney’s Covid-19 numbers as Victoria struggles with its own outbreak.

Daniel Andrews has sensationally claimed Sydney is to blame for Victoria’s growing Covid-19 outbreak.

After the state posted 24 new locally acquired infections on Tuesday and Melburnians woke to even harsher public health measures, the Victorian Premier slammed Sydney for the state’s struggles.

“We wish them all the success. Their success will be our success, just like their problem has become ours,” he told reporters.

“I can‘t rewind – I can’t send it back to NSW where it came from. We’ve got to deal with what is here.”

NSW recorded 452 new cases and one new death overnight as the state approaches nearly two months in lockdown.

While it was a slight dip in cases from Monday’s 478 new infections, the NSW Premier warned September and October would be “the most difficult” months for the state.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Sydney’s problem is now Victoria’s. Picture: David Crosling / NCA NewsWire

Victorian authorities this week announced an extension of the current lockdown for Melbourne and introduced a night curfew for the city.

The lockdown features are similar to Melbourne’s strictest 2020 lockdown, which took the state’s 700 daily count to zero.

Mr Andrews said he did not want to see the state spiral into hundreds of cases a day.

“We are determined not to get to that point,” he said.

“I don‘t want a limbo position where, (while) we don’t have the hospitalisations that NSW have, we don’t have the tragic deaths that they are dealing with, but we have too many cases to open up.

“That is why we have to drive this down as low as we can and maybe zero is possible.”

Premier Daniel Andrews says he doesn’t want to see the state spiral into hundreds of cases a day like in NSW. Picture: Bianca De Marchi / NCA NewsWire

Mr Andrews said health authorities were aiming to avoid the escalating situation north of the border happening in Victoria.

“No matter what any other state is doing or choosing to prioritise in their daily briefings, the national strategy remains the national strategy and that is to actively suppress the virus as best we can,” he said.

“Sometimes that means you get down to zero cases, sometimes you won’t be able to achieve that.

“We won’t be indefinitely locked down – we have to do our very best to avoid what Sydney is going through at the moment.”

Victoria recorded 24 new local cases on Monday. Picture: David Crosling / NCA NewsWire

The Premier said the “best way forward” for the state was to get tested immediately if anyone was showing symptoms and to get vaccinated.

“We have got an agreed plan that says when we get to 70 per cent (vaccination rate) based on the Doherty Institute modelling,” Mr Andrews said.

“When we get to 70 per cent things are possible, at 80 per cent you are not in lockdowns.

“This is a degree of protection and certainty and the future looks different – that is the agreed plan and no one is walking away from that.”

Originally published as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says Covid-19 vaccination, testing ‘best way forward’