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Original poster

Melbourne apartment towers complete lockdown

351 replies

Imtootired · 04/07/2020 15:30

In Melbourne, Aus there are five tower blocks that will be put under complete lockdown for five days. I am all for being proactive about stopping the spread of coronavirus but this is madness. They are public housing so people on very low incomes for various reasons including elderly and disabled people, refugees and single parents. There will be police guarding each floor. No one will be able to leave for any reason. There have been many reports of bad hygiene practices for people quarantined in hotels and it makes me so angry that the government and dodgy contacted companies didn’t do their jobs properly and now the most vulnerable are paying the price. How will they be able to attend to all the individual needs of 3000 people? If I was stuck in a tiny apartment with my children with no time to prepare I would be furious. There were no armed guards for rich travellers returning home. I’m so angry and feel so bad for the residents. This is the beginning of a police state and once it’s happened it could happen again. If I was a resident I would be getting legal advice ASAP. I hope someone takes them to court.

OP posts:
Cramitmaam · 05/07/2020 01:58

Why do you think that our quarantine measures are the reason that we've had another outbreak?

Our quarantine measures are actually pretty good. We had almost eradicated the virus in this country, but then 3 people with the virus went to the BLM protests in Melbourne and it caused another spike.

It's not ideal but these things are blind to happen and now we're dealing with it as best we can. We're certainly dealing with it a hell of a lot better than the UK are.

HeIenaDove · 05/07/2020 01:59

From the Guardian live feed.

aths there.

FacebookTwitter
32m ago
01:25
Luke Henriques-Gomes Luke Henriques-Gomes
Residents detained in public housing towers in Melbourne’s inner city will be barred from leaving their homes for a further 10 days if they refuse a coronavirus test, according to new public health orders introduced by the Victorian government.

The detention orders – which prevent about 3,000 people in nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne – were published by Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday night.

The directions apply from 4 July to 18 July, however the government has said it only intends to apply the laws for five days at this stage.

They state that people who refuse to be tested will be “detained for a further period of 10 days from the end of the initial detention period”.

People will not be able to leave their properties for reasons such as work, study or to obtain essential supplies like food, as is allowed in other Covid-19 “hot spot” suburbs which have been placed in lockdown.

However, the orders state that people can leave their home if they are granted permission by authorities to attend a medical facility, on compassionate grounds, or if there is an emergency.

“Except for authorised people, the only other people allowed in your premises are people who are being detained with you,” the order states. The government has said it will provide food and medical services to people who have been detained

Aebj · 05/07/2020 02:00

I agree with the blocks being shut down. When the other post codes went into shut down , the government said other post codes could go into lockdown with immediate effect. People had time to start and think it might effect them and prepare as much as they can. Food and basic needs are being provided. It’s for 5 days and better than catching the virus and spreading it around the state and keeping everyone locked down for longer.
Wealthy areas haven’t been effected yet but they will go into lock down if need be.
I feel that Australia are dealing with this much better than the UK. 108 new cases yesterday in Victoria and lock downs happening. Unlike the uk where daily deaths are still happening and pubs open and you can fly internationally. Then wonder why numbers are high!!!

mrbob · 05/07/2020 02:01

@Cramitmaam

Why do you think that our quarantine measures are the reason that we've had another outbreak?

Our quarantine measures are actually pretty good. We had almost eradicated the virus in this country, but then 3 people with the virus went to the BLM protests in Melbourne and it caused another spike.

It's not ideal but these things are blind to happen and now we're dealing with it as best we can. We're certainly dealing with it a hell of a lot better than the UK are.

Please do not talk bullshit. The BLM protests had NOTHING to do with it. Security guards having sex with those in quarantine and allowing them to mix with each other was the problem. Don't spread lies
Cramitmaam · 05/07/2020 02:03

Please do not talk bullshit. The BLM protests had NOTHING to do with it.

I wasn't having a go at them, I think that people always have the right to protest. But 3 people who are confirmed to have had the virus did go to that protest, and now lots of other people who went to the protest have the virus. It's pretty obvious. I'm not sure why that warrants me being accused of talking bullshit?

sergeilavrov · 05/07/2020 02:03

This was the policy that helped in the UAE, in a diverse community with people from a myriad of backgrounds and experiences. It was explained to people in their own languages, people had food and medical care provided 24/7, and it was for 14 days not 5. I’m sorry you feel that stopping a global pandemic that has killed so many is harming your civil rights. Could you please provide an equally effective alternative that doesn’t?

People need to understand that there is a balance of rights and responsibilities. You can’t have one without the other.

Cramitmaam · 05/07/2020 02:04

Oh sorry, I was wrong, I just checked and it was actually 4 people with the virus, not 3.

eaglejulesk · 05/07/2020 02:08

Are you in Australia OP? I can't actually see anything wrong here, I'm sure if residents need food etc it will be supplied. I really think you are over-reacting to this, and surely people in Melbourne were told this could happen at any time.

AnotherBoredOne · 05/07/2020 02:18

They did have a day and a half notice before lockdown.

AnotherBoredOne · 05/07/2020 02:22

Sorry I take that back, the hard lockdown was immediate.
Are these towers in the suburbs already in lockdown?

AnotherBoredOne · 05/07/2020 02:23

It's the density of the unit blocks and the spreading of the virus which is the concern so I can see why it's been done.

Cramitmaam · 05/07/2020 02:26

@mrbob you've sent me a news article that confirms that people who went to the protest had the virus, and that people who were at the protest have since contracted it. It states other sources of outbreak as well. All sounds very nebulous.

Cramitmaam · 05/07/2020 02:27

Sorry, I meant that you have posted it and tagged me, not sent it to me directly! Morning sickness fog is strong this morning.

StoppinBy · 05/07/2020 02:31

Oh, cut it out. Australia is mostly virus free, as a fellow Victorian I acknowledge that this sucks but that it is the right thing to do.

The government is already doing drop offs of activity packs for kids and also will be supplying anything that is needed during this time. If we don't act quickly and hard we will soon see a huge infection rate.

Better a few weeks of this than months of death and illness as the virus runs uncontrolled.

Beebeet · 05/07/2020 03:09

Seems sensuble.

Cornetto69 · 05/07/2020 03:14

AFAIK Sweden didn't take these kinds of measures and their rates of Covid were relatively low. But perhaps is it is unfair to compare countries as each nation will be having different issues to consider eg for the UK the emphasis has not been so much on eliminating covid but making sure the NHS can cope.

user1471481356 · 05/07/2020 03:16

I live in Melbourne and I’m glad they’ve done it. If so many thousands of people hadn’t refused to be tested it may not have come to this. The government is providing everything that is needed - food, medical supplies, even craft and toys for every child! They will supplement lost wages etc.

Cornetto69 · 05/07/2020 03:17

@AnotherBoredOne

They did have a day and a half notice before lockdown.
Many vulnerable people would need longer than that. I live in the UK and have multple disabilities. I needed longer to put in place what care I would get during lockdown, getting someone to get my meds and help with shopping as well as put a support plan in place with my support worker as regards my MH and lockdown.
Cornetto69 · 05/07/2020 03:18

@user1471481356

I live in Melbourne and I’m glad they’ve done it. If so many thousands of people hadn’t refused to be tested it may not have come to this. The government is providing everything that is needed - food, medical supplies, even craft and toys for every child! They will supplement lost wages etc.
That's great! I hope they will offer pet food as well, if needed. One of my fears before lockdown here in the UK was how my animals would be provided for.
alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 05/07/2020 03:55

I'm in Australia, West coast though so nowhere near Melbourne. I fully support this lockdown and would do the same myself if required, for the sake of my own health and that of the wider community. Western Australia locked down hard and fast and we are now practically COVID free, and life is almost back to normal, as it is in most other states. We all want the same for Victoria, not least so we can open the intra state borders again. And for those worried about people getting food and supplies, these things will be provided. I already saw that they are providing boxes of toys for all the children in those tower blocks, so they are being looked after.

YoTeQuieroInfinito · 05/07/2020 03:59

Once the masses (evidently there is plenty already by the posts on this thread alone) are conditioned to accept it they will roll it out wider for longer

To what end?

beingsunny · 05/07/2020 04:09

There are armed police managing this due to the exceptionally high level of criminal activity in these blocks. There have been very recent issues in the news of African gangs.

There are also a high number of elderly and disabled residents who would be exceptionally high risk of the virus, surely the lockdown for five days to enable testing of all residents is preferable to allowing this to spread through the buildings?

The other suburbs in lockdown had a more gradual increase in cases which is why they had 48hours notice, they are also low density houses and so quite different to 3000 people sharing laundry facilities and two lifts.

This is not discrimination of a particular demographic, it's just unfortunate they are under these living conditions.

differentnameforthis · 05/07/2020 04:13

Do you know how bad Corona virus IS in those areas??