Andrew Bolt: What’s behind Andrews’ mask request?
Daniel Andrews’ request that Victorians wear masks is not backed up by the science, and looks like more empty actions from a man who likes to look busy, writes Andrew Bolt.
Andrew Bolt
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I no longer trust what Premier Daniel Andrews says about the coronavirus. That includes his latest order to Victorians: wear face masks.
On what medical basis is this necessary?
For six months of this virus crisis we didn’t have to wear masks.
Why now, when the federal Health Department says when community transmission is low “the routine use of face masks in the community is not recommended” and “is not a substitute for other precautions”.
Why, when the World Health Organisation says “the wide use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not supported by current evidence”?
Why, when the WHO says this “may create a false sense of security, with neglect of other essential measures, such as hand hygiene practices and physical distancing, and may lead to touching the face under the masks and under the eyes”?
I smell politics. The Premier desperately needs to look like he’s Doing Something, with another 363 new infections announced on Sunday.
But Andrews realises that statewide bans like he imposed during the first wave cause too much damage. Making Victorians wear face masks looks like taking action, without killing more jobs.
I may be too cynical, but Andrews has a history of being tough with things that don’t work, and slack with what would.
He once banned even golf and fishing, but did not do the most critical thing: make sure trained professionals – not private security guards – ran his quarantine hotels to stop the virus getting out again.
There’s one more elementary thing he did not do.
Of the 11 people to die in Victoria’s second wave, four were in their 90s, six in their 80s, and just one in his 70s.
This virus overwhelming kills the very old, and almost every Victorian under 65 who has got sick survived.
Yet it was only last week that face masks were made compulsory in nursing homes, hit hard in this second wave.
Even now, casual staff may still work between several homes, increasing the risk of the virus spreading. Homes that locked out visitors were blasted by the Prime Minister, who demanded residents be allowed two visitors a day.
But millions of Victorians must now wear masks or pay a $200 fine.
That may show their Premier is tough. But he’s not – on the things that would work best.