AMA concerned COVID complacency will undo months of hard work
The AMA has written to all members of National Cabinet about the draft Framework for reopening, warning that it will fuel complacency, risking further COVID-19 outbreaks.
“While the AMA acknowledges the efforts by National Cabinet to encourage a more consistent approach across jurisdictions, our overall assessment is that it represents a significant change in direction, sending a message to the community that will drive complacency,” AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid, said.
“This is despite overwhelming evidence from here and overseas that prioritising the containment of COVID-19 is essential to supporting a sustainable economic recovery.
“Living with the threat of COVID-19 means that sensible restrictions must remain part of our lives for the foreseeable future. This will help us avoid large outbreaks and lockdowns.
“Step three of the draft Framework goes too far in dismantling many of the restrictions that have kept Australia safe and instead places an unrealistic reliance on quarantine, surveillance, testing and contact tracing.
The AMA’s response was developed by Federal Council, which met over the weekend. The AMA’s statement recommends that National Cabinet rethink the Framework and aim for an approach that better balances the desire to open up the economy with the need to keep COVID-19 out of the community.
The AMA Statement on National Cabinet’s Draft Framework for Reopening is available here.
