TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW ON SUNRISE, CHANNEL 7, 18 November 2020

7:32AM

E&OE

Subjects: Coronavirus, Border Closures, South Australia;

DAVID KOCH

The rest of the country is watching South Australia's COVID outbreak as case numbers climb as a record number of residents rushed to be tested. The Acting Prime Minister joins us now from Wagga Wagga, Michael, Greg Hunt slammed the states for shutting the borders, arguing there is no medical justification for the closures. Tell us, what constitutes a hotspot?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

What constitutes a hotspot is fewer than a number of cases over a three-day period. The fact remains, David, that we have had this small pocket of an outbreak in South Australia, this is going to happen, the Prime Minister has said this over and over. As travellers returned from overseas, there will be – sometimes – quarantine outbreaks. There is going to be these sorts of things. I just spoke to the former Chief Medical Officer, the Secretary of the Health Department, Professor Brendan Murphy. He said that we are going to get these pockets, but as long as the public health response is what it needs to be, as long as the quarantine is what it needs to be - there will be little differences here and there - but as long as we have that public health response and most importantly the contact tracking and tracing, we will get on top of these outbreaks. That is the situation. South Australia, yes, we’ve seen 20 cases, I've spoken to Premier Steven Marshall, he assures me that they have done thousands of tests in just recent days – thousands upon thousands of tests. They’ve isolated the 20 cases, they are making sure they have the proper response to that and as Greg Hunt says, there is no need to have this kneejerk and panic reaction.

DAVID KOCH

No, but yes, everyone is getting tested except hotel staff and mandatory testing of hotel staff. Do we need a national guideline on how you operate these quarantine hotels? Should all staff who work there – whether it be ADF, police or back of house staff – be tested on a regular basis?

MICHAEL McCORMACK

Well, they are being tested on a regular basis as I understand it, they have been. I know when you look at Australia's cases – New South Wales, we haven't had a case for 11 days, Premier Berejiklian is right when she says that she will maintain the borders to South Australia and will maintain the fact they are open, but just wants people that if you don't need to travel to South Australia, reconsider your travel options. She has had the perfectly sensible response and that is what we need, that is what we encourage. There is no need for these internal border restrictions, particularly as we lead up to the warmer months and people want to get out and reunite with their families, particularly leading up to Christmas. Yes, of course, so long as we have the strong public health response and that is what we have, so long as people who have symptoms of a flu or a cough or a sneeze, make sure you go and get tested. It is pretty easy. Testing is free and we can make sure that we nip these outbreaks in the bud and that is what we are doing. That’s what they’re doing in South Australia, Premier Marshall assures me that they have done everything that they can. They’ve got a robust quarantine system. They have isolated the cases. They have made sure that everybody who needs to be tested has been and we have got 104 Australian Defence personnel set up in South Australia and they’re helping as well.

DAVID KOCH

Alright, okay, Michael McCormack, appreciate your time, thank you.

ENDS 7:35AM

Shane Manning