Wilcannia Covid outbreak: leaked letter shows federal government was warned last year of potential catastrophe

Exclusive: letter to Ken Wyatt in March 2020 outlines ‘grave fears’ for Indigenous town, now ravaged by current outbreak

The federal government was warned 18 months ago of the urgent need to protect the Covid-hit town of Wilcannia, leaked correspondence seen by Guardian Australia shows, with an Aboriginal health service pleading for immediate help at the time to prevent an outbreak.

The Maari Ma Aboriginal health corporation wrote to the Indigenous Australians minister, Ken Wyatt, in March 2020, outlining “grave fears” for the far western New South Wales town if Covid were to spread to the vulnerable population there.

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Coronavirus | The Guardian

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