Australian Medical Association slams Dominic Perrottet’s Covid response: ‘Reckless’

The president of Australia’s peak doctors body has issued a scathing criticism of Premier Dominic Perrottet over mask mandates.

The nation’s peak doctor’s body has issued a scathing criticism of NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s Covid response, calling for a national approach to Omicron which includes mask mandates.

Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid on Tuesday said there needed to be a “stronger national approach” to the new variant which included mandatory check-ins, density limits for venues and major sporting events, and an indoor mask mandate.

His plea comes a day before state and territory leaders are due to meet with Prime Minister Scott Morrison for an emergency national cabinet meeting amid rising cases.

“Tightening public health restrictions should not be seen as a policy failure,” Dr Khorshid said.

AMA President Omar Khorshid was scathing of NSW’s approach. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

“Covid-19 has thrown many different challenges at governments, and we need to be able to respond to these, otherwise we put people’s lives and livelihoods at risk.

“There is growing consensus among key medical experts we need to do more to slow down the spread of Omicron.”

Dr Khorshid then unleashed on Mr Perrottet, saying he had taken a reckless approach which had put residents throughout his state at risk.

Currently in NSW - which recorded 3057 cases on Tuesday - masks are only strongly encouraged in areas where social distancing is not possible, but are still compulsory on public transport and planes.

“DIY contact tracing, watered-down check in requirements, the abandonment of mask wearing mandates, and the removal of density limits are together a recipe for disaster and by the time hospital admissions and ICU cases grow beyond whatever benchmark he is working to – it will be too late,” Dr Khorshid said.

“A much more cautious approach is required, at least until we know more about Omicron and its severity of illness.

“The approach so far by the NSW government in particular is risking lives, it is risking an extraordinary impact on the health system into next year and it just does not make sense.”

Dr Khorshid pleaded for Mr Perrottet to start to put more precautions in place.

“We are not going to be able to eliminate Omicron, but we can do a lot to slow its spread, reduce pressure on the health system, save lives and keep businesses open,” he said.

“We also need to see a booster blitz.

Premier Dominic Perrottet is putting lives at risk, the AMA claims. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

“The Commonwealth needs to reverse the funding cuts it has made to both general practices and pharmacies so that they are supported to scale up even further while the states and territories must step up their own efforts as well.”

Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Perrottet said that the health and safety of residents was important.

“But we will make those changes (to rules) based on fact, not fear,” he said, adding there would be new modelling presented to national cabinet on Wednesday.

“The number one thing we can do now is … treat everyone with kindness and respect and if you are in a setting where socially distancing cannot occur, we strongly people wear a mask.

“We have mandated masks in high-risk settings such as public transport.

“Whether it is washing your hands, keeping socially distanced, if we do all these things we will get through this period.”