Victorian Greens encouraging mask wearing indoors to help hospital and ambulance system

The Greens have accused the Andrews government of sleepwalking towards a health crisis, urging them to unveil a new campaign promoting mask use ahead of winter.

Premier Daniel Andrews has slammed the Victorian Greens after being accused of sleepwalking towards a health crisis.

The Greens are urging the government to unveil a new campaign promoting mask use ahead of winter.

Victorian Greens health spokesman Dr Tim Read on Friday urged the state government to do more to reduce the rate of community transmission of Covid and influenza through a campaign.

The campaign would help to create a culture of wearing masks indoors and paying attention to air quality, while also promoting free flu vaccines and Covid booster doses.

It would also push employers and venue operators to perform a ventilation analysis and use HEPA air purifiers to reduce virus-containing aerosols on their premises.

The Greens want to promote greater mask use. Picture: Getty

Dr Read argued the government needed to do more to reduce transmission to avoid a serious hospital crisis or another Code Brown.

“If we’re serious about helping our ambulance and hospital system, we can’t keep watching these numbers increase without doing something,” Dr Read said.

“Asking Victorians to mask up for winter, use an air purifier or have a Covid booster or a flu shot, is preferable to asking them to wait longer for an ambulance or a hospital bed when they need one.

“In mid-March, we had 175 Covid cases in hospital and that’s gone up to 571 which is like closing a very large hospital just when we need it most.”

The Premier fired back on Sunday, accusing the minor party of trying to make a political point ahead of November’s state election.

“I’m terribly sorry but I’m not taking public health advice from them, I’m just not,” he said.

“That’s just pure rank politics. And it doesn’t work against this virus. To make those sorts of comments is not an accurate way of describing the government.

Brunswick state Greens MP Dr Tim Read says the Andrews government needs to do more.

“I won’t be following the advice of the Green political party, I will instead consult with medical experts and I don’t think Victorians would want it any other way.

“They certainly wouldn’t want me to be consulting with the Liberal party or the Nationals party, who I don’t even think necessarily realise that we’ve had a pandemic.

“As for the Greens, they’re entitled to their views, but they’re not entitled though to pretend to be experts — because they aren’t.”

A government spokesman also hit back at the Greens’ plan.

“We are already running highly public campaigns on the importance of wearing masks, social distancing and getting vaccinated – with advertisements running online, on TV, in print and even on our public transport network,” he said.

“Victoria was also nation leading in the take-up and distribution of air filters with thousands distributed across the community.

“We are investing $12bn to increase staffing, perform more surgery, build new hospitals, provide important upgrades at regional hospitals and boost local public health units.”

But Australian Medical Association Victoria president Roderick McRae said the call was exactly what was needed.

Victorian AMA President Dr Roderick McRae says all Victorians must do their party to help a healthcare system in crisis. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“I’ve been saying this for two years: everyone can assist by any and all simple means to minimise the transmission of not one but now two highly contagious respiratory viruses as we approach winter,” Dr McRae said.

“We all have to do our own small part to help a healthcare system in crisis. What other evidence does the community require?

“AMA Victoria is fully supportive of all mechanisms to reduce illness.”

Dr McRae said the entire healthcare system is facing a workforce-based crisis.

“All Victorians should be pleased to assist as much as they can,” he said.

“Using a mask in relevant circumstances will help. Being vaccinated when you are eligible is another form of assistance to the broader community.

“AMA Victoria is working with government to ensure there is a pragmatic delivery of free influenza vaccination to all Victorians who want it, noting it is safe and highly recommended for all Victorians. We are all in this together.”

Mask mandates were scrapped in primary schools, retailer and hospitality on April 22.

Mask rules on public transport and airports remain unchanged, along with mandatory face coverings in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.

It comes as an already-strained health system battles to deal with increased demand, on top of nurses, midwives and paramedics being forced off work due to illness.