Reference to Squawk comment re the allegation that this was one mutation:
The Premier and the Chief Health Officer addressed this specific “rumour” on the news tonight in intricate detail and said it is nothing but a rumour and there is absolutely no substance.
The latest SMH article explains that they were perhaps economical with the truth.
On the same day Andrews announced Melbourne’s return to lockdown, senior figures leading Victoria's COVID-19 response were briefed on the latest developments. This briefing contained information from the Intelligence Section of the COVID-19 Public Health Incident Management Team which, every week, receives genomic data from the MDU.
This information went beyond what the Premier had publicly revealed a week earlier when he said a “significant number and potentially more" of the outbreaks in Melbourne’s northern suburbs were attributable, via genomic sequencing, to quarantine hotel staff. It was now clear that, when the virus first broke out of Rydges Hotel on Swanston Street and subsequently the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Little Collins Street, Victoria was all but COVID-free.
The entire second wave - every known infection - had been traced back to these quarantine hotels.
‘’Some of you, except Squawk, seem to have no idea of the knife edge we are balanced on. The Government, in fact all sensible governments, go to great pains to make sure you never know because it would cause unnecessary disturbance. Covid 19 is still a national and international threat to this country. You have no idea what is being done to support our supply chains (and neither do I, just that it’s happening). There is massive amounts being done behind the scenes and when a mug like me lifts the curtain a tiny bit your response is derision.