The head of the Australian Medical Association has denied health authorities have lost control of the coronavirus situation in Melbourne after the state recorded its highest spike in new cases in three months.
AMA President Dr Tony Bartone said a second surge of the virus was always a "possibility" after Victoria recorded 75 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, while over the weekend more than 80 people were diagnosed.
"Certainly the situation is concerning, but all the authorities are well in control," Dr Bartone told Today.
"It might not show by the numbers, but the localised outbreaks was always going to be a possibility, right from the beginning.
"It is certainly a signpost of what could happen in any other part of the country, especially if we become complacent."
Overnight, 70 Australian Defence Force personnel arrived at Tullamarine airport with a total of 200 being called in to help.
Australia's deputy chief medical officer Professor Michael Kidd said the federal government was boosting its response to help Victoria tackle the crisis.
"The Commonwealth has agreed to send an additional 800 people down to Victoria to support both with increased testing but also that very important contact tracing so we make sure we are picking up everybody who is infected with COVID-19, making sure they are in isolation and quarantine so we can stem the infections from occurring and spreading further," Professor Kidd told Today.
Ten suburbs have been declared hotspots, with door-to-door testing, including with a new saliva test now rolled out.
The government is considering locking down the suburbs where community transmission is at its highest, with a decision expected in the coming days.
"As we live with COVID-19 of course we are expecting continuing outbreaks to occur," Professor Kidd said.
"We are very prepared for this with the blitzing we are seeing in testing and contact tracing and making sure people are in isolation or quarantine if they are infected or while waiting for results.
"This is part of the new normal which we will be living with as Australia and the rest of the world continues to adapt with COVID-19.
"The response is very vigorous and totally appropriate."
He expected numbers to increase due to a major testing blitz in community hotspots.
"One of the challenges with COVID-19 is that some people may not have any symptoms, but many people have very mild symptoms," Professor Kidd said.
"That's why it is so critical, especially for people in Melbourne, if you or a member of your family has even the most mildest of symptoms of a cold or flu please stay at home and please arrange to be tested and stay at home until you get the results."
Returning travellers from overseas were likely responsible for the resurgence in cases, he said.
"It appears that there may have been some breaches of infection control in some of those quarantine hotels and then some of those workers going back to their families," Professor Kidd said.
"It's really important that we all remain vigilant, that we cannot afford to let our guard down. We are dealing with a very serious infectious disease."
As Queensland's premier prepares to announce when the state's borders will reopen, in NSW Gladys Berejiklian has warned residents to not socialise with those from Victoria.
"I'm worried about outbreaks occurring in all parts of Australia," Professor Kidd said.
"But if we get outbreaks occurring in other parts of the country we will see the same vigorous response that we have seen happening in Victoria."
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