Victorians who are faking illnesses to dodge mandatory face mask requirements on medical grounds should be ashamed of themselves, Premier Daniel Andrews has declared.
It’s almost two weeks since donning a mask when out and about become compulsory in Melbourne, and the coronavirus containment measure has now expanded to the whole state.
But reports that some people are claiming exemptions due to illness when stopped by police – with no need to show proof – have angered Mr Andrews.
The Premier was asked about the anti-mask sentiment in the community at a press conference this morning when he became visibly frustrated.
“On masks, is there …” he began, before pausing. “I’ll just take a deep breath.
“Is there anything worse than someone pretending to be unwell in order to get out of wearing a mask? Like, seriously?
“That notion of lying about your health status to avoid wearing a mask and in fact putting other people’s health at risk, that’s shameful. Shameful.”
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Mr Andrews will discuss the matter with Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton about what can be done to crack down on anti-maskers.
“You need to wear the mask. You will be pulled up. If I’ve got to go further (with mask rules), then of course we will.
“We’re not going to have police being lied to. We’re not going to have people just flouting these rules.”
Frontline health workers in intensive care units across the state or caring for those Victorians ill with COVID-19 wear face masks, he pointed out.
It’s not too much to ask everyone else to cover up when out and about, to “keep you, your loved ones and every Victorian safe”.
A string of anti-mask activities have taken place in Victoria, from a woman defiantly refusing to wear one in a Bunnings and filming the incident for her followers, to protests in Melbourne organised by conspiracy theorists.
Last night in Frankston in Melbourne’s south, police approached a woman who wasn’t wearing a mask and were allegedly attacked.
Mr Patton described it as a sickening incident.
“Last night a 26-year-old policewoman was on patrol with another partner down in a Frankston area near the Bayside Shopping Centre,” he said.
“During that time, they approached a 38-year-old woman, who wasn’t wearing a mask. After a confrontation and being assaulted by that woman, those police officers went to ground and there was a scuffle.
“In that scuffle, this 38-year-old woman smashed the head of the policewoman several times into a concrete area on the ground.”
Mr Patton said the alleged offender was arrested and charged with significant offences, but bailed “due to (having) no criminal history”.
Health and Fitness | news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site