Military frontline to combat COVID-19

On Sunday, 50 members of the Australian Armed Forces were at test sites across Melbourne.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the drive-through COVID tests on the showgrounds had proven to be a “mega-test site”.

She said that the ADF, with a capacity of 25,000 tests to be run daily across Victoria and 1,000 workers who are now breaking out in the streets of suburbs, “assisted us at the large sites with fixed locations and our employees in healthcare releases part of this test flash ”.

After a difficult summer with support for areas affected by bush fires, some of the nurses and medics now stationed in Melbourne have been instrumental in testing other COVID-19 outbreak sites, including Burnie, Tasmania.

Commander Miller said the ability to “provide support and contact” during the tests was important to his team.

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“My members really commented on how open the public was, both in terms of their willingness to be tested and in the side talks where they were asked where they came from and who thanked them for it that they came to help, “he said.

“It’s a positive mood – I think everyone is on the same page, everyone has a role to play in tackling this problem.”

The state government asked 850 ADF members to participate in the fight against COVID-19 on Wednesday evening, but the order for this number was canceled the next day.

Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said on Sunday that “it is not a matter of not wanting them,” but that the ADF is reviewing Victoria’s return travel arrangements to hotels and that they “are doing nothing else” than what they already do was an event.

“If more support is needed – whether it is more testing from laboratories in other states, more health clinicians or contact tracking experts from other states, or whether the federal government supports those in uniform or not – we will not hesitate.” to ask, “he said.

“It’s fluid, it changes very quickly.”

Commander Miller said military involvement in Victoria’s fight against COVID-19 is perpetual.

“We will be here as long as the Victorian government requires … Ultimately, we as armed forces are what we train for.”