Expert calls on Daniel Andrews to justify playground ban

A top epidemiologist has slammed the closing of playgrounds in Victoria’s sixth lockdown and called for the data behind the controversial ban to be released.

A leading epidemiologist has called on the Victorian government to release the data which justified a Melbourne-wide playground ban.

Infectious Diseases physician Professor Peter Collignon told the Saturday Herald Sun there was no obvious justification to shut down playgrounds.

“When we had the older virus variant, we saw the playgrounds get shut, and in retrospect, it probably did nothing,” he said.

“So far Victorian authorities haven’t provided any decent evidence yet. They say that they are investigating a potential transmission, so please make the data available for us all to see.”

The state government this week doubled down on the controversial ban, despite refusing to provide anypublic evidence of transmission.

But they highlighted that a large proportion of the state’s active cases were children aged under 10.

A worker fences off play equipment in St Kilda Botanical Gardens. Picture: Jason Edwards

Professor Collignon said there was no doubt that the Delta variant had affected kids more so than previous variants.

But he said: “It may be a factor that it’s cause they’re unvaccinated.”

“Children are getting the virus from indoor settings or from their family members, not outdoors at playgrounds,” he added.

It comes as educators warn of the potential long-term social and mental impacts it could have on children.

Outdoor educator and play consultant Lukas Ritson, who has held Ted Talks on the concept of play, said children had a “right to play and participate freely” under the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Children.

“We are already living in an era where childhood is under threat through excessive screen time, extended school hours andextra-curricular activities,” he said.

“To deprive kids of having an outlet or reprieve, it strips them of the right to reflect on a positive childhood.”

Professor Collignon said there’s no doubt the Delta variant has affected kids more than previous variants. Picture: Getty Images

Liberal Democrats MP David Limbrick, who staged a silent protest on the steps of parliament calling for the ban to be reversed, said it was time to let kids play.

“They haven’t released any sort of science around why they’re doing this it’s one of the few thing parents and children have left to maintain their sanity,” he said.

A western Sydney council this week backflipped on its playground ban amid community outrage, with the local mayor declaring there was “no evidence of outdoor transmission” at playgrounds.

The mayor added NSW Health had not recommended the closure.

Two playgrounds in Broadmeadows and a skatepark in Jacana have been deemed Tier 2 sites.

Despite flagging that a possible transmission between children may have occurred at a playground, Victorian health authorities have refused to provide any further information about their investigation.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the virus moved rapidly and the measures were in place to stop more kids becoming infected.

“I make no apology for following the advice of the chief health officer,” he said.

Nita O’Hara with Shanika, 11, and Phoenix, 6, who are devastated their next-door playground is off limits. Picture: Josie Hayden

PARENTS SLAM ANDREWS OVER BAN

Frustrated parents have taken to social media to vent their anger at the Andrews government for banning playgrounds during the extended lockdown.

The hashtag #LetUsPlay is circulating on Facebook, with mums and dads posing their children up with placards and videos showing them walking away from parks and play equipment.

Some more rebellious parents have been seen on private messaging app Telegram encouraging people to flout the restrictions and take their kids to the playground, saying they were not afraid of being fined.

Nita O’Hara, lives next to the local playground with her two children Phoenix, 6 and Shanika, 11 in Carrum Downs.

The distribution worker said her family were often the only ones at the playground and the blanket ban had been difficult.

“I had to tell them no, it’s hard to explain to young kids when they’re seeing the council taping off the play area,” Ms O’Hara said.

Ms O’Hara said she is concerned about the lack of social stimulation between her children’s remote learning and swimming lessons that have been put on hold.

“Because we can’t travel or go to school or leave our 5km (radius), we’d go there everyday,” she said.

The ban had been particularly on Shanika, Ms O’Hara said.

“She’s suffering at the moment mentally a lot. I cry to myself because my kids don’t have any social output.

“The park was a safe place for me and the kids and it was the only place with a sense of normality.”

Premier Daniel Andrews says the measures are in place to stop more kids becoming infected. Picture: Tim Carrafa

Mother of two Natalie McGreevy said she has been taking Xander, 9 and Phoenix, 6, to their local playground regardless of the ban to help compensate for dashed school sports and seeing friends.

“I have tried to take my kids to the playground regardless of the ban,” Ms McGreevy said.

“They should reverse this decision. If all exposure sites were banned we would have many supermarkets, cafes, take away restaurants, construction sites and many other businesses that would need to be closed or banned in the same way.

“My children have expressed sadness that they can’t go to the playground now as it’s all they had left in terms of activities and it was a daily ritual post home school.

It comes as an inner-city council pleaded to the government to reconsider the ban.

City of Stonnington Mayor, Kate Hely, wrote to Premier Daniel Andrews urging the government to put Covid-safe measures in place to ensure playgrounds could reopen safely.

“We understand the motivations of the state government in closing high risk settings at this crucial turning point of the COVID-19 pandemic, however Melbourne’s toughened lockdown is overwhelming our already stressed families, children and community,” Cr Hely said.

The council said it was worried about the mental health impact the ban had on children, with 73.5 per cent of Stonnington homes classified as medium or high density - more than twice the average of Greater Melbourne.

“Our families do not have spacious backyards, so they rely on Council open play spaces. Our playgrounds are an essential service that provides children with a safe and healthy environment for outdoor play and exercise.”

Originally published as Expert calls on Daniel Andrews to justify playground ban