Coronavirus Victoria: 500 doctors beg Daniel Andrews to end ‘negative’ lockdown

A group of medical professionals have penned an open letter calling for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to end the state’s lockdown.

A man is tested for COVID-19. Picture: Robyn Beck / AFP

A group of medical professionals have penned an open letter calling for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to end the state’s lockdown.

The Australian Covid Medical Network argue the harsh restrictions are more harmful than coronvirus itself in many cases.

“The current restrictions are unnecessary, disproportionate and must be lifted,” the letter reads.

“The response to the virus will cause more deaths and result in far more negative health effects than the virus itself.”

Doctor Eamonn Mathieson was one of 500 doctors who signed the letter, and he told Sunrise this morning he believed the lockdown had caused “a massive collateral damage in health and mental health”.

“There (is) a growing number of doctors who are gravely concerned about the impact of this lockdowns and we are calling for them to cease.

“We believe that they are disproportionate and unscientific. We have the evidence to back this up and we will be presenting at on our new website and calling for more doctors to join us.”

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Police officers walk amongst beachgoers at St Kilda to ensure that they are wearing masks and obeying distancing rules. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has slammed the letter as “fatally flawed”, arguing that a premature easing of restrictions could cause a fresh spike in cases.

“The absolute worst thing that could possibly happen would be another lockdown and it is important while this lockdown is working – which it clearly is – that it is followed through to achieve the road map the state government has set out,” AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said, according to 7 News.