Missy Higgins’ dad Dr Chris Higgins confirmed to have coronavirus

Jenny Mikakos has responded to backlash regarding her criticism over Missy Higgins’ doctor dad returning to work after contracting the virus.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos has responded to backlash she copped regarding her criticism of Melbourne GP Dr Chris Higgins.

Fellow doctors rallied around the Dr Higgins, the father of singer Missy Higgins, who unwittingly treated scores of patients while infected with coronavirus.

Dr Higgins, who confirmed he contracted the potentially deadly virus, hit back at the Victorian health minister who said yesterday she was “flabbergasted” he continued to see patients while sick.

It was reported Dr Higgins, a GP at the Toorak Clinic, treated at least 70 patients at his clinic and saw two others at a nursing home. Mr Higgins said he didn’t imagine “for one moment” he had coronavirus.

Ms Mikakos has since responded saying, “we understand this is a difficult for the GP and for his patients and our thoughts are with them”.

“All workers in the healthcare system do an incredible job caring for Victorians and we understand the pressure they can feel to turn up to work when they are feeling unwell.”

However she said, “but let me be very clear: these are exceptional circumstances... and all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent the spread of this virus”.

Dr Higgins had asked Ms Mikakos for an apology for what he claimed to be “unfair” and “inaccurate” comments.

He also accused her of using his case for “political grandstanding”.

Dr Chris Higgins with his daughter Missy in a photo from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Facebook video. Picture: Facebook.

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On Saturday, Ms Mikakos told the media of her surprise he had returned to work. She did not directly name him.

“Patients have been contacted via text message this morning, or were called this morning, they will be followed up with emails,” Ms Mikakos said.

“The two nursing home patients have been isolated in their rooms and the department is working to provide support care for these residents.

“I have to say I am flabbergasted that a doctor that has flu-like symptoms has gone to work,” Ms Mikakos added.

“I understand our medical and healthcare workers are dedicated to the work they do. But it is irresponsible for people to be going to work if they are unwell, and that is not just healthcare workers, it is everybody in the community who needs to take this very seriously

Ms Mikakos’ Facebook page has been flooded with comments from people claiming to be GPs or doctors criticising her comments. One said, “thanks for throwing a hard working GP under the bus”.

Doctors have accused Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos of throwing Dr Chris Higgins, who contracted coronavirus, under the bus. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross.

APOLOGY DEMANDED
This afternoon, representatives from the Australian Medial Association this afternoon backed their colleague and said her comments could lead to patients going untreated.

AMA President Tony Bartone said Mr Higgins made a decision “in good faith” to work based on the “available information” at the time.

“It is clearly very unfortunate and disappointing that the Minister saw fit to make the comments she made yesterday. They are a concern to the frontline medical profession who have nothing but the wellbeing of the community and, indeed, their patients (in mind).

“It was really quite unhelpful what the Minister said.”

Mr Bartone criticised the Government’s approach to tackling COVID-19.

“We have unexplained panic and hysteria. A situation where people are fighting in supermarket aisles for toilet paper and then at the same time there are inconsistencies in messaging.

“There are approximately 35,000 GPs in this country. About 2.6 million consultations that occur every week. If we have a proportion of the GP population staying away from work and the flow on effect would be significant.”

‘LIKELY PANDEMIC’

The confirmation of Dr Higgins’ diagnosis made him the 11th case in Victoria.

Mr Higgins became unwell on a flight from Denver to San Francisco on February 27, and then flew on to Melbourne on United Airlines flight UA60, arriving on the morning of February 29.

On Monday, he went to work at The Toorak Clinic and saw at least 70 patients between then and Friday.

Mr Higgins' comment on Facebook.

‘CHEAP POLITICAL GRANDSTANDING’

Last night Dr Higgins hit out at Ms Mikakos in a reply to a Facebook post by the minister.

He said he was “upset” about the “inaccuracies and unfairness of your comments”.

“I believe you have taken a cheap opportunity for political grandstanding and would appreciate an apology,” he wrote.

He claimed he was upfront with health officials about the circumstances of his diagnosis.

Dr Higgins said he had what he thought was a “mild cold” on his return from the US which had “almost resolved itself” by Monday morning and so he felt well enough to return to work.

“I hesitated to do a swab because I did not fulfil your criteria for testing but did one anyway on Thursday evening for the sake of completeness.”

He said he “did not imagine for one moment that it would be positive”.

The doctor received an outpouring of support over his comments, with one saying doctors around Australia “stand in solidarity with you”.

“We are all flabbergasted that a fellow doctor has been treated in such a way – wishing you a speedy recovery and the strength to weather this,” the user wrote.

Victorian Health authorities have been in touch with those who came in contact with Mr Higgins, urging them to self isolate for 14 days.

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Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Brett Sutton told reporters there was a chance he infected some of his patients.

The Toorak Clinic has been shut down until further notice.

Federal authorities are also working to obtain the passenger manifest from the flight the man was on, so those who came in contact with him on board can be contacted, she said.

“Passengers will be contacted as soon as it is made available.”

Originally published as Missy Higgins’ dad Dr Chris Higgins confirmed to have coronavirus