The Sauce: Why is northern beaches COVID outbreak patient zero a secret?
With more than 100 confirmed cases in the northern beaches COVID outbreak, rumours are swirling about the identity of patient zero, writes The Sauce.
NSW
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It’s the rumour that refuses to die.
A northern beaches-based pilot or aircrew member who failed to self-isolate keeps popping up as the source of the current outbreak.
One medico, speaking to The Sauce, said he found it very strange that the “gold standard” contact tracers had failed to identify patient zero.
“Do they even look worried that they have not identified Patient Zero,” the medico, who asked not to be named, said.
“You’d think that would be the main priority. It’s obvious they’re not worried.
“You’d pull out all stops to find that person, but they skip over the question whenever it’s asked in the press conference.
“If Patient Zero was still running around unidentified and had caused 107 cases, you’d be somewhat concerned.
“I’m informed they have decided if this person was identified, his life would be at risk.”
The source claimed it was “widely known” in “Liberal Party quarters” that Patient Zero had been found but there was “no incentive” to publicly identify the person.
“Christmas has been ruined for half a million people on the northern beaches so there is no benefit by identifying him,” the source said.
While declaring the source of the Avalon outbreak was unknown, the state government moved swiftly to change the guidelines around incoming aircrews who must now head to one of two police-managed hotels to quarantine instead of a hotel of their choosing. However Qantas pilots are still able to self-quarantine at home.
One longtime northern beaches resident suggested Pittwater was “full of Qantas pilots”. “There are a lot of them up here,” the source said.
Opposition health spokesman Ryan Park said: “It’s highly unusual they have not found patient zero. I’m suspicious they do know who it is and the rumours are it is an airline crew member”.
IN THE RED ZONE
A number of political types have been caught up in the hard lockdown in the northern beaches “red zone”.
NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes, who is the Member for Pittwater, has lived in the area for years. His federal counterpart, Mackellar MP Jason Falinski, may have had greater freedoms in the “orange zone”, but his Christmas plans were still up-ended.
“I, too, have had to change Christmas plans and so I understand the pain and frustration, but we will get through this,” Falinski tweeted.
Former NSW opposition leader and ex-Pittwater MP John Brogden also lives in the area, with his wife Lucy, who shared a photograph of the couple when they were younger to mark their 28th wedding anniversary.
“Fun lockdown photo find — when we were young,” he tweeted.
Former Howard government minister Bronwyn Bishop is believed to still be a resident, along with State Liberal MP-turned-banking executive Jim Longley.
Other pollie types in the area include ex-Labor minister Greg Combet and deputy Labor leader Kristina Keneally.
Keneally, who lives on Scotland Island tweeted about not being able to see her adult sons who live out of the area: “It will be tough for lots of separated families,” she tweeted.
CASE CLOSED
A protest outside Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Kirribilli residence seemed like a good idea — until the cops arrived.
But Greens MLC David Shoebridge may have had the last laugh, after an attempt by police to overturn dismissed refusal to comply with direction charges relating to the December 19 incident last year failed.
In a letter to Shoebridge last week, the DPP declared it would not be pursuing the case.
“We write to advise that the director has declined to direct an appeal in the matter,” it said.
Got some Sauce? Contact linda.silmalis@news.com.au
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