Experts have their say on whether Victorian border should close to NSW
Health experts are divided over whether Victoria should close its borders to NSW, but Herald Sun readers have already made up their minds.
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Health experts are divided over Victoria closing its borders, in the wake of the latest NSW coronavirus outbreak.
University of Melbourne epidemiologist Tony Blakely said people from the Northern Beaches should be barred from travelling to Victoria because of the seriousness of the outbreak.
“I’d be surprised if we (Victoria) don’t ban arrivals of anyone from the Northern Beaches or anybody who has spent time there in the last 10 days or so. It’s just too risky,” he said on Thursday night.
Professor Blakely, who helped provide modelling for the state government’s road map, said there was no need to panic and slam shut the Victoria-NSW border completely.
But he said it would be appropriate to have a targeted response to stop people from affected areas travelling freely to Victoria.
“Let’s hope this is contained in the next 72 hours,” he said.
“If it’s not then boy is this the start of a superspreader Christmas event. Let’s not panic yet, the next 48 hours will be telling, but it would be astute of other states to protect themselves.”
However, as of midday on Friday, Herald Sun readers overwhelming believed that the border should be shut.
About 800 agreed that a swift closer was needed to stop the outbreak seeding in Victoria.
Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said it was too early for Victoria to impose any restrictions.
She said it was more likely NSW health authorities would advise people from affected areas not to travel.
“It’s really hard to actually manage from other states’ points of view to check where people are from and crosscheck certain postcodes,” she said.
“At this level it’s not necessary and it’s also hopefully enough for people in Sydney’s Northern Suburbs to think ‘if I was going to travel up to see grandma for Christmas maybe I won’t now’.”
Monash University Head of Microbiology Professor Stephen Turner said it was “a bit early” to make the call on Victoria’s borders.
“It’s a hard one, there is still some lack of clarity how widespread this cluster is,” he said.
“NSW have a pretty good track record of being able to get on top of them (cases) pretty quick.
“But, it is a bit early to make that call (about borders).”
He said the virus was a contagious beast and it was not surprising it had re-entered the community.
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