The COVID-19-infected Melbourne doctor accused of putting over 70 patients at risk after treating them while sick has blasted back at his critics.
Dr Chris Higgins, the father of Australian singer Missy Higgins, came under fire from Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos who said she was "flabbergasted that a doctor that has flu-like symptoms has gone to work".
After falling sick on a flight from the US, Dr Higgins returned to his clinic - and also visited a nursing home. He later tested positive for the deadly COVID-19 coronavirus.
"It is irresponsible for people to be going to work if they are unwell, and that is not just healthcare workers, it is everybody in the community who needs to take this very seriously," Mikakos said.
But Dr Higgins has responded to Mikakos, saying he was "upset" about the "inaccuracies and unfairness of your comments".
"I believe you have taken a cheap opportunity for political grandstanding and would appreciate an apology," he wrote in a Facebook reply to the minister.
Dr Higgins claimed he had a "mild cold" when he returned from the US which had "almost resolved itself" by Monday, leading to his decision to return to work.
"I hesitated to do a swab because I did not fulfil your criteria for testing but did one anyway on Thursday evening for the sake of completeness."
He said he "did not imagine for one moment that it would be positive".
Hundreds of other GPs and heath professionals also commented to show their support for Dr Higgins.
"I am a GP and quite frankly, I'm outraged by your comments to the media," wrote Bianca Carroll.
"Your scapegoating of that poor doctor who, by your own guidelines, did not even meet the criteria for testing is outrageous."
Mikakos posted another message to Facebook to defend her handling of the case.
"We are facing unique challenges with COVID-19 which is why it is important, now more than ever, that those who are unwell stay at home and avoid contact with others," she wrote.
"We have a public health duty to the wider community to provide information about exposure points, which require details such as business locations and flights to be made public to allow for contact tracing.
"I know this can be very challenging and distressing for those involved and I am deeply sympathetic to this, but public safety has to be our priority."
People and patients who've been in contact with Dr Higgins have been ordered to self-isolate for two weeks.
Nursing home patients have been isolated in their rooms and health officials are working to provide support care for them.
