Army snubbed, big business called to help virus contact tracing
As Victoria’s coronavirus caseloads surge and contact tracers become overwhelmed, call centre workers have been asked to help monitor patients and their contacts, while repeated offers of assistance from the Defence Force have been refused.
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Melbourne’s biggest businesses have received an SOS from the state government, asking them to provide call centre workers to help trace and monitor thousands of coronavirus patients and their close contacts.
The call for help went out to companies including the big banks, Telstra and Medibank on Friday afternoon amid growing concerns that Victorian authorities were failing to meet national standards to stem the mounting second wave.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Department of Premier and Cabinet turned to the private sector despite repeated offers from the federal government of Defence Force personnel to bolster Victoria’s team of disease detectives.
More than 5000 close contacts of the state’s 1172 active cases are supposed to be called every day, but some have not been called for days to check whether they have symptoms and are isolating.
It has also taken days in some cases for close contacts to be told they may be infected.
The latest move mirrors Premier Daniel Andrews’ decision to turn away 800 Defence members to run the state’s troubled hotel quarantine system, with flight attendants and pilots instead called in to help.
About 120 National Australia Bank staff have already agreed to make calls this weekend, while Medibank and the Commonwealth Bank were considering what aid they could provide on Friday night.
The Herald Sun understands Victoria’s contact tracing and monitoring effort has been the key focus for federal health officials as the state’s caseload has surged.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that Victoria would have “everything they need” from the commonwealth and other states to bolster its health response.
“The pressing issue in Victoria … is on the tracing. That support is there right now,” the Prime Minister said.
“They are not short of anything they need from any part of any government in Australia. Which requirements the Victorian government seek to be filled is a matter for them.”
Mr Andrews said managing close contacts was “always a challenge” and the government was “always looking to add to that team of coronavirus detectives”.
“They’re all working day and night to bring stability to these numbers and then to drive these numbers down,” the Premier said.
He said he was “very grateful” to other governments for their support, adding that “if we need more, I’ll certainly ask for more”.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Defence Force was ready and willing to help.
“The ADF is capable and it’s I think a potentially important addition to assist with that contact tracing where the standard has to be every case, every day,” Mr Hunt said.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said close contacts were being called every day “where feasible", with an automated service also used to monitor them.
The Herald Sun understands the banks may be limited in providing staff.
Telstra said it was unable to assist, while a Medibank spokeswoman said the company had already pledged its support.
A state government spokeswoman said: “We continue to explore new ways to further expand our massive public health team, as we all work together to slow the spread.”
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