Around 3,000 tenants living in 9 public housing estates in the suburbs of Flemington and Kensington have been told to not leave home for whatever reason, under an order enforced by strict police supervision.
The ‘hard lockdown’ will last for at least five days with 500 police officers deployed on Saturday to monitor movement both outside and inside the buildings.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the aim is to test “every single resident”.
“The lifting of this restriction will be determined by our success in testing and tracking this virus.”
The measure based on the state’s health authorities’ advice, was announced on Saturday afternoon following 23 confirmed cases in the towers, with Victoria’s deputy chief medical officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, stating there were hundreds of high-risk close contacts across the estates and citing concerns of a potential “explosion” of new cases amongst the most vulnerable residents.
A discriminatory singling out?
Meanwhile, accusations have emerged on social media for a singling out of lower socioeconomic status communities, with advocates, including CEO of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) Kon Karapanagiotidis, pointing to a contrast of not locking down residents of ‘wealthy’ suburbs when similar outbreaks emerged.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos, Mr Karapanagiotidis states this comparison prompts the realisation that “we’re not all in this together”.
He says it is important not to miss out on the bigger issue at hand, worrying that people might think it’s only about providing support to residents for the days under ‘hard lockdown’.
“This crisis is highlighting the desperate need to invest in social housing.
“The fact that you have to shut down these communities shows the failure to provide adequate housing conditions in the first place,” he says stressing it’s not the residents being at fault when living in housing that is “overcrowded” and “unsafe”.
The ASRC is one of the organisations backing a call to action led by the Victorian Unions movement.
More than $150,000 have been donated so far by members of the public to support residents of the public housing towers under lockdown.
Total funds raised will go to residents with the Victorian Trades Hall Council collaborating with community groups, residents and the Victorian Government.
“We’re directing people to support this coordinated response,” Mr Karapanagiotidis says speaking of a holistic response needed, starting – but not ending with – essential food supplies’ provision.
‘Not a decision taken lightly’
Indeed, the ‘hard lockdown’ order has caught the people concerned off guard with the logistics of providing essential goods and other necessary support for those restricted in their units still to be resolved, according to testimonies that have emerged.
Abdirahman Ibrahim, a resident of the tower blocks told the AAP, he first heard of the measure watching the 6pm news.
The father of five, thinking the order would come into effect at midnight ran downstairs to get baby formula for his twin toddlers, but was stopped by police.
“What the Victorian government is doing is discriminating the people who don’t have a voice. We are not different from the rest of the Victorian community which is in lockdown now,” Mr Ibrahim said.
Premier Andrews mentioned in an early statement that “residents will be supported with onsite clinical care, as well as food delivery and care packages.”
As per a Sunday state government press release, translators are onsite and will be doorknocking to explain the new directions and act as mediators for any assistance needed by tenants.
A $750 hardship payment has also been announced for affected households.
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Backing the state government’s call, Victorian Minister for Housing, Richard Wynne said the “it was not a decision taken lightly.”
“But it was taken in the best interests of keeping people safe[…]These high-density high-rise towers are home to some of the most vulnerable in our community. These residents are also some of the most vulnerable to coronavirus. It’s the reason we need these residents to stay inside their homes and stay safe.”
On Saturday, Victoria recorded its second highest case tally since the pandemic began, with 108 new patients confirmed.
The list of Melbourne areas under lockdown was expanded to include postcodes 3031 (which also covers Flemington and Kensington suburbs), and 3051 of North Melbourne.