One in four Victorians who tested positive were not home when doorknocked

One in four Victorians infected with COVID-19 were not home when doorknocked by the ADF yesterday, Premier Daniel Andrews says.

Premier Daniel Andrews says “foolish” Victorians who tested positive to COVID-19 and were not at home when doorknocked by the ADF on Thursday could be subject to increased penalties if Victoria Police ask for that.

There were more than 130 infected Victorians who were not home when visited yesterday. That is roughly one-in-four of all positive cases. They have been referred to Victoria Police and could receive a $1602 fine.

The Premier said the reports were “disturbing” and that people should not be “going about their business” as usual while waiting for test results.

RELATED: Read our latest coronavirus updates

If people with Covid-19 don’t have the sense to remain in iso at home,they should be compulsorily placed in quarantine at their own expense or fined for leaving home. Had Andrews deployed resources to this vital task earlier, Vic wouldn’t be in the midst of tragedy & catastrophe https://t.co/i2v5gCuN4E

— Tim Smith MP (@TimSmithMP) July 31, 2020

He said current penalties are appropriate, but he will not rule out increasing them.

“On the spot fines are $1602,” he said. “That’s a significant impost for anybody. We think those penalties are appropriate. If Victoria Police came to me and said we need further tools, I wouldn’t hesitate.

“The fact is now, those 100 people have been referred to police. They perhaps thought they would be able to ignore their positive case … they were very foolish to do that.”

Mr Andrews had a similar message for Victorians who were doing the wrong thing on Thursday after it was revealed a number of Victorians who tested positive were “at work”.

“You cannot go to work if you are sick,” he said. “You simply can’t. All you will be doing is spreading the virus and putting people at risk. And it’s not a matter of judgment, it’s not a matter of criticism.

“I’m not criticising people. It’s the wrong choice to make, but I understand it, I understand why people would make that judgment.

“We are not judging them, just asking them, there is support for you and please don’t go to work if you have symptoms. That is our request of you and I cannot be any clearer. If it

continues than these numbers will continue to go up.”

ADF members have been doorknocking in Melbourne. Picture: NCA NewsWire /David Crosling

Mr Andrews said ADF members have doorknocked 798 properties including 269 on Wednesday.

“Now, I don’t want this to be seen as criticism or blame, but I’m obliged to point out that there were a number of people who were not home,” the Premier said.

“They will be referred to Victoria Police. There were also a number of other people who, when there was a discussion, the person that the ADF and the Health Department, as a joint team, were looking for, the person who has a confirmed diagnosis having coronavirus, they’ve got a positive test, they weren’t home, but a family member was.

“And the family member helpfully pointed out that that person, a positive coronavirus case, was, in fact, at work.”

Victoria recorded 623 new cases on Friday. There were a further eight deaths added to the state’s death toll.