Missy Higgins discusses her father’s recovery after his COVID diagnosis

Missy Higgins discusses her father’s ‘lucky’ recovery after he was diagnosed as one of the early cases COVID in Australia

Missy Higgins’ father, Dr Chris Higgins, was one of the early cases of COVID to be reported in Australia, back in March.

And on Tuesday, the singer discussed her father’s indistinguishable symptoms and the backlash he faced after being called out by Victoria’s former health minister Jenny Mikakos. 

The 37-year-old told Hit FM’s Stav, Abby and Matt that her father, who is in his 70s, was doing fine, ‘must have had a really low version of it.’

‘He must have had a really low version of it’: Missy Higgins discussed her doctor father’s ‘lucky’ recovery and bout with COVID after he was diagnosed as one of the early cases in Australia

She said that he did not pass it on the virus on to anyone, despite having seen 70  patients before he knew he was infected.

She added: ‘He’s living in the same house as my mum for two weeks, didn’t give it to her, and he had really mild symptoms.’

‘He had a sniffly nose for two days on the weekend and then that went away. He didn’t even have any symptoms when he went back to work. 

The Scar hitmaker explained that he had a sniffle that went away after two days, which was why he decided to go back to work.

'He had really mild symptoms': She said that he did not pass on the virus on to anyone, despite having seen 70 patients before he knew he was infected

‘He had really mild symptoms’: She said that he did not pass on the virus on to anyone, despite having seen 70 patients before he knew he was infected

But by the second week, Missy said he became very tired and had lost his appetite, adding that ‘he was lucky.’

As to the criticism her doctor father faced from Victoria’s former health minister Jenny Mikakos, she said: ‘I think… she was just trying to make an example of him, which I think was really, really mean and cruel.’

And although her father copped backlash, the ARIA award winner revealed it had actually turned into a positive experience for him. 

‘He got so much support from the medical industry, he was just inundated with letters of support… and people reaching out to him saying how great a doctor he is.’

Positive: And although her father copped backlash, the ARIA award winner revealed it had actually turned into a positive experience for him

Positive: And although her father copped backlash, the ARIA award winner revealed it had actually turned into a positive experience for him 

She continued: ‘He was like “Missy, I never knew I had so many friends.”‘

Back in March, at the beginning stages of the COVID pandemic, Victoria’s former health minister Jenny Mikakos slammed Dr Chris Higgins for treating patients even thought he had the symptoms.

He was then caught in a war of words with the then-health minister, writing online that he was ‘upset about the inaccuracies and unfairness of your comments’.

‘I hesitated to do a swab because I did not fulfil your criteria for testing but did one anyway on Thursday evening for sake of completeness, not imagining for one moment it would turn out to be positive,’ he wrote.

Support: Missy said: 'He got so much support from the medical industry, he was just inundated with letters of support... and people reaching out to him saying how great a doctor he is'

Support: Missy said: ‘He got so much support from the medical industry, he was just inundated with letters of support… and people reaching out to him saying how great a doctor he is’ 

‘I believe you have taken a cheap opportunity for political grandstanding and would appreciate an apology.’

Instead of apologising, Ms Mikakos said everyone has a role to play to prevent the spread of the virus, saying: ‘all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent the spread of this virus.’

In September, Ms Mikakos resigned over the state’s handling of the coronavirus hotel quarantine bungle.

Resign: Back in March, at the early stages of the COVID pandemic, Victoria's former health minister Jenny Mikakos slammed Dr Chris Higgins for treating patients even thought he had the symptoms. In September, she resigned over the coronavirus hotel quarantine bungle

Resign: Back in March, at the early stages of the COVID pandemic, Victoria’s former health minister Jenny Mikakos slammed Dr Chris Higgins for treating patients even thought he had the symptoms. In September, she resigned over the coronavirus hotel quarantine bungle