Coronavirus Australia: Victoria calls in military as virus cases surge

Victoria has called in the military and asked other states for help as it struggles to contain a new surge in coronavirus cases.

The Australian Defence Force will deploy 300 soldiers to patrol COVID-19 hotel quarantine sites and assist in hotspot suburbs amid rising concern over a spike in virus cases.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews requested the assistance, confirming it was finalised in consultation with the states Wednesday morning.

“Victoria has requested the assistance of other states as we continue to ramp up testing and community awareness in key coronavirus hot spots,” a spokesman said.

“This support will mean we can get even more tests done and results back quickly – and a stronger effort to remind Victorians if you are sick, stay home and get tested.

“We thank our neighbouring states for agreeing to provide this support – which will ensure we keep Victorians safe.”

Victoria recorded 20 new cases on Wednesday as it confirmed a man in his 80s had died with coronavirus, bringing the national death toll to 103.

The state has had 128 new cases of COVID-19 in the past week, with active cases jumping from 58 to 143 in the past eight days. The rest of the country combined has reported just 20.

RELATED: Follow the latest coronavirus updates

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has requested assistance from the Australian Defence Force. Picture: AAP/James Ross

The ADF was previously deployed to Tasmania in April amid fears a COVID cluster was getting out of control. Picture: Supplied

Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the majority of Victoria’s new cases were linked to known outbreaks. One is a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.

But 21 current cases were detected through routine testing, confirming that community transmission is occurring among people with no known contact with a COVID-19 infected person.

RELATED: Victoria records double-digit increase

Mr Andrews’ request for support was ticked off in discussions with New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland.

Victoria has also requested ADF logistic support from the Australian Defence Force and discussions are ongoing with the Commonwealth.

The ADF was previously deployed to Tasmania in April amid fears a COVID cluster was getting out of control and assisted with a deep clean of local hospitals.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said the ADF “stands ready to assist Victoria with the current outbreak of COVID-19”.

“I have tasked the Defence Department to liaise with co-ordinating agencies to assess what additional assistance may be required,” she said.

Coronavirus tests are now in high demand and panic buying has returned. Picture: William West/AFP

A spokesman for Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal health and defence departments were working with Emergency Management Australia to “to expedite a request for assistance from Victoria”.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said the state would provide Victoria with up to 300 COVID-19 tests daily.

It comes as community engagement in the Victorian areas of Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Hume and Moreland has ramped up after they were identified as coronavirus hot spots.

The areas consist of large migrant populations, with many speaking languages other than English at home.

Coronavirus advice in Pacific Islander languages was published only four days ago.

Members of Melbourne’s Pacific Islander community, many of whom live in Brimbank, have felt frustrated by the lack of native language information and have requested it for months.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that coronavirus information in Pacific Island languages such as Tongan, Samoan and Cook Islands Maori, was first published on June 20.

“There was nothing,” Pasifika Community Organisation president Tonya Helu told AAP.

“We felt discriminated … we didn’t have anything.”

Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said engaging with linguistically diverse communities was not as simple as handing out translated pamphlets.

“You do need that community leadership, community champions, and all of the modes and methods available to you,” he said on Wednesday.

Four hour-long waits have been reported at some sites drive-through testing sites. Picture: AAP/James Ross

RELATED: Second wave of panic buying hits

Since the spike in new cases, drive-through testing sites have experienced extremely high demand, with four hour-long waits at some sites and people turned away at others.

Panic buying has also returned, with Coles and Woolworths reinstating purchase limits on toilet paper and other items.

Victoria’s total number of infections is 1884.

– With wires