Thread by @drvyom

Questions for tomorrow's presser, pls consider!
1/ Vic CMO said y'day we might be the only nation using n95 masks on COVID wards. Considering it's widely known that Singapore, S.Korea, HK etc adopted this practice in MARCH, is it concerning that our top med officer isn't aware?

https://twitter.com/drvyom/status/1315879488106844162

2/ How's the trial of isolating 'contacts of contacts' progressing in Kilmore progressing? Do you have plans to roll it out elsewhere? Are you considering significant $ incentives to encourage people to comply, as it might be difficult to convince contacts of contacts to isolate?

3/ Workplaces: Looking for infections in hi-risk settings is critical when we open. Gov announced asymptomatic testing of 95 such businesses 2 weeks ago.
But atm, owners can only ask 25% of workforce to be tested per month. How can we increase this? Can new antigen tests help?

4/ Hospitals: At box hill, where we have another outbreak, staff who've worked on a COVID ward can work a consecutive shift on a non-covid ward, when they might be incubating and transmitting the infection. Why aren't we co-horting staff so they only work on covid wards? &

If not possible, have you considered a buffer period of 2 weeks during which they can't work on non-covid wards?
Or even a 5 days buffer by which point 50% of infections would become apparent?

If THAT is impractical, simply a day 5 & 11 test after ending shifts on covid wards!

5/ There is growing recognition for the role of aerosol transmission, and it seems Vic government recognized this when they announced VENTILATION studies in Victorian hospitals a month ago. What have you heard about the results? When can we expect to hear findings?

6/ What is the origin of the hospital outbreak, a patient or staff member working on the COVID ward?
If answer is 'unknown' or staff: then how can the CMO yesterday on ABC radio dismiss the relevance of fit-testing of masks worn by staff on COVID wards? abc.net.au/radio/melbourn…

7/ @DanielAndrewsMP said recently he is not aware of what is happening in fed run aged care in Victoria as it's a fed/regulator's responsibility. However the aged care taskforce is a collaboration. What further measures would you like to see from feds to safeguard Victorians?

@bridgerollo @Raf_Epstein @sumeyyailanbey @andrew_lund @BlakeJohnson I hope you consider these questions. Thank you for your work, very grateful.

I do apologise, one of these is a bit of a 'gotcha' question. But the concern behind it is that top level officers are being misleading, or ignorant regarding infection prevention and control. I'd love for our cho/deputy cho, who are doing a great job, to set record straight.