NATALIE BARR:
Back now on a Monday morning with breaking news from Sydney right now. These are live pictures from Casula.
DAVID KOCHIE:
Now, drivers are lining up for COVID testing at the Crossroads Hotel; more than 100 cars ready to go after patrons were infected, the testing doesn't start 'til 9. There are growing fears about the cluster at the pub, the New South Wales Premier has warned of a second lockdown if the outbreak is not brought under control.
NATALIE BARR:
Meantime the surge in coronavirus cases in Victoria is showing no sign of slowing down, with more outbreaks in hospitals, in aged care homes, and in public housing precincts in recent days. For more on this, I'm joined by Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd. Morning to you. What is the greatest challenge in trying to contain Victoria's outbreak?
PROFESSOR MICHAEL KIDD:
Well, the greatest challenge is making sure that everybody adheres to the restrictions which are in place, restrictions which are in place obviously to protect everybody in Melbourne, but also everybody in Australia to contain the outbreak that we're seeing at the moment. So please, follow the advice that you've been provided, please stay at home unless you leave for those 4 essential reasons.
NATALIE BARR:
So, what difference has the border closure had on limiting the spread?
PROFESSOR MICHAEL KIDD:
Well, border closure was a decision made by the 2 premiers of New South Wales and Victoria with the support of the Prime Minister, and to prevent further spread from occurring into New South Wales and beyond. We have seen that 1 outbreak related to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula; very important message that anyone who attended that venue between 3 and 10 July should be staying at home in isolation for the next 2 weeks and arranging to get tested. And very heartening to see all those very responsible citizens lining up to get tested around that venue today.
NATALIE BARR:
Yeah, it is. We're just showing live pictures of people lining up to get tested. And the Government saying even if you have no symptoms and you're in that pub area, get tested. What are the chances that New South Wales is going to go into a second wave like Victoria?
PROFESSOR MICHAEL KIDD:
Well clearly, we hope that's not going to happen and we have a very vigorous response under way around this outbreak that we've seen at the Crossroads Hotel. And you're quite right, Nat, people need to get tested whether they have symptoms or not, if they were attending that venue. Of course, the incubation period for COVID-19, usually 5 to 7 days, but can be up to 14 days, and as we know, some people can infect other people in the day or 2 before they actually develop symptoms. So, thank you to everybody who is doing their part in helping to stop the spread there in New South Wales.
NATALIE BARR:
Okay. So, we've got days before we can really see the whole effect of this. Professor, thank you very much for your time this morning.
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