Australia’s top doctor hits back at medical commentators saying they are ‘increasing fear’ about Omicron
- Dr Nick Coatsworth said Australian Medical Association was ‘increasing fear’
- He denied their comments that Australia’s booster rollout was ‘falling behind’
- The expert also said snap lockdowns were not the answer to rising infections
One of Australia’s top doctors has unleashed on some medical commentators he claims are ‘increasing fear’ about the recent outbreak of Omicron.
Dr Nick Coatsworth said the large daily Covid-19 case numbers being seen in Victoria and NSW wasn’t cause for concern, due to the country’s high vaccination percentage.
‘We’ve been held back by some medical commentators who insist on focusing on case numbers,’ he said while appearing on ABC News on Thursday night.
‘It’s disappointing they’ve been unable to move forward.’
He said medical experts needed to ‘bring our community forward without fear’.
Dr Nick Coatsworth has unleashed on some medical commentators he claims are ‘increasing fear’ about the recent outbreak of Omicron
‘That means we do need to focus on hospitalisations and getting ourselves boosted and then the most modest restrictions we can possibly have to live our lives as freely as we can.’
The former deputy chief medical officer also hit back at claims from the Australian Medical Association that the country’s booster roll out was ‘falling behind’.
Dr Coatsworth referred to the AMA as the ‘peanut gallery association’ in a scathing tweet and later told the ABC their comments were ‘irresponsible’.
‘We are four weeks into the Omicron variant. To suggest that we are in any way behind on the booster program is in my view an irresponsible contribution to increasing fear among the Australian population,’ he said.
Lockdowns should also not be enforced amid the spike in cases, the infectious disease physician added.
NSW and Victoria have seen large spikes in Covid infections this week but Dr Coatsworth says it isn’t cause for concern due to Australia’s high vaccination rate
‘We have done as much as the public will tolerate now in terms of significant restrictions on their ability to live a full and free life,’ he said.
‘And in the face of a variant that’s milder but more infectious, we can’t go on with a suggestion that we’re going to have snap lockdowns.’
On Thursday NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Stuart Ayres said the government would not rule out localised lockdowns, following worrying case numbers in Newcastle.
‘As we reopen the economy. If we believe it is the right thing to do, that is an option on the table,’ he said.
‘This is why we are asking people to do the right thing, be cautious, get your booster shot, that is the most important thing you can do.’
It comes after the state recorded its highest every daily case total with 1,742 infections.
Meanwhile Victoria suffered another 1,622 cases.
Surging case numbers have been seen in NSW and Victoria but Dr Coatsworth says snap lockdowns are not the answer
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