Black Lives Matter protester tests positive for coronavirus

A Black Lives Matter protester has tested positive for coronavirus after attending a rally in Melbourne. 

The man in his 30s marched with thousands through the city on Saturday and developed symptoms 24 hours later. 

The protester, who is not indigenous, wore a mask and was not symptomatic at the time of the demonstration but officials fear there could be a spike in cases.

Health officials have said anyone who came face to face with the protester for 15 minutes or more will be asked to quarantine as part of the normal process. 

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, who warned people not to attend the protest, said: This case is unlikely to have been acquired at the protest but we were all concerned about the possibility of transmission occurring at that protest.’

Dr Sutton urged people not to attend any future demonstrations.

‘We don’t want people gathering in groups larger than 20 in Victoria because of the risk to others, it is my strong recommendation not to go and it is the law,’ he said. 

In total Victoria reported eight new cases of coronavirus on Thursday, two in hotel quarantine and six from community transmission. 

Reacting to the news, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said: ‘People shouldn’t have gathered in those numbers for those rallies. In doing so, they put the broader community’s health at risk. 

‘That was the obvious message from the medical experts about those rallies. And it was very unfortunate that they proceeded in the way that that did.’