More protests planned for Melbourne prompt virus fears - The Age

Contact tracers were continuing to work with the man to identify close contacts, she said.

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos dismissed calls to release the identity or a photo of the man, saying it would breach the Health Records Act and the government did not want to discourage people coming forward to get tested.

Ms Mikakos said now was "not the time for political protest".

Facing "massive fines from police", the Refugee Action Collective is planning to hold simultaneous rallies of no more than 20 people at eight locations across the city on Saturday.

The protests will be held outside the Mantra Bell City Hotel in Preston, Broadmeadows MITA detention centre and Border Force's Docklands offices, as well as other locations in the CBD.

Victoria Police saysthere will be a "visible police presence" at the protests but they had spoken with organisers and understood the events would not breachrestrictions.

Thousands marched the streets of Melbourne to protest Indigenous deaths in custody and to stand in solidarity with George Floyd.Credit:Chris Hopkins

Simultaneous refugee protests are planned for Perth and Sydney on Saturday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is urging authorities to arrest and charge people who attend unapproved protests.

The organisers of last weekend’s Melbourne rally said protesters should not be deterred.

"It hasn’t changed our stance," said Tarneen Onus, of the Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance. "Black lives are more at risk of dying in custody during the coronavirus pandemic."

Ms Onus said she did feel worried after hearing about the positive case, and planned on getting tested for COVID-19 herself.

Police said on Friday that the high number of attendees at last Saturday's protest, where about 10,000 are estimated to have marched, had dissuaded them from issuing fines beyond three organisers.

“We determined that we could not draw a distinction between one person as opposed to another and it would therefore not be fair to issue any further fines,” a spokeswoman said.

Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone has urged everyone who attended last weekend's protests to self-isolate for two weeks.

Dr Bartone said rally attendees should not be complacent about the health risk just because the protester was wearing a mask.

He said masks were considered compromised after four hours of use, and if they were taken off or exposed the nose. "You've got to wear it properly and know how to use it."

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Murray Willaton, president of the Barmah Brumby Preservation Group, said he was forced to cancel a protest against the culling of feral horses after his application to hold a protest of up to 500 people was rejected by police.

"We’re a little disappointed to have our free speech and right to protest bad decisions taken away from us," he said.

Four new COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Victoria overnight, including two travellers in hotel quarantine.

One case was detected through routine testing, while the other is under investigation.

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2020-06-12 03:55:20Z
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