[FairmontGS]

Victoria health authorities accused of scaremongering about Covid-19 variants after false positives emerge

Premier James Merlino says he only learned of two false positive cases — partially used to justify Melbourne’s extended lockdown — overnight. It comes as four new cases were recorded and the Health Minister prepares to face the media at 10.45am.

Two “fleeting” transmission cases partially used to justify Victoria’s extended lockdown were false positives with the state government now under increasing pressure to publicly release its health advice.

An expert panel on Thursday ruled the cases — a woman who was said to have caught the virus at a display home in Mickleham and a man allegedly infected while dining outdoors at the Brighton Beach Hotel — were “false positives”.

Acting Premier James Merlino admitted on Friday morning that he only learned of the false positive cases overnight on Thursday, after the extended lockdown was announced.

He refused to answer further questions on the timeline of when the government was told by health authorities about the cases.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronav...43e535b4553652