Victorian Greens MP and doctor advises masks as Covid cases rise

Millions of Australians have been urged to once again mask up as Covid-19 cases rise for the sixth week in a row.

Victorians have been urged to once again mask up as the state’s Covid-19 cases continue to rise.

The plea was issued by Greens MP, Dr Tim Read as the number of new virus infections spiked for the sixth week in a row.

“So the hospital numbers published on Friday were about 550 average over the past week, Victorian hospital beds with Covid patients in them,” Dr Read told 3AW.

“That’s gone up every week for the previous six weeks, so it’s not ‘like’ the next wave, we’re in the wave now.

“We have to confront it and say ‘what can we do, now?’”

Melburnians have been warned of rising Covid-19 cases ahead of Christmas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

Dr Read said Victorians should be mindful of vulnerable members of the community when in public or crowded places.

“If you get on a tram, you just should wear a mask because there’s a lot of people packed in to a small space,” he said.

“The government needs to be thinking, ‘What can we do to reduce Covid transmission.’”

It comes after the progressive party called on the state government to start the “intensive promotion” of some pandemic mandates.

In a conference on Saturday, Dr Read, the Greens’ spokesman for health, deepened his call on the re-elected Andrews government to introduce an “intensive education campaign”.

The Greens’ Dr Tim Read has advised Victorians to wear masks before Christmas. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

“The government really needs to introduce an intensive education campaign for people to wear masks indoors or in crowded venues, shops, public transport and to improve air quality,” Dr Read said.

“We’re not seeing enough air purifiers in shops and venues; we need to see more open windows and outdoor events and outdoor dining, and we need to be prepared for further recommendations from the chief health officer.”

In the past week, Covid numbers across Victoria have spiked another 20 per cent, with more than 23,000 active cases, and more than 500 people in hospital with the virus.