Pop-up clinics sent to tourist hot spots as borders reopen

THREE pop-up COVID-19 testing stations will be set up in popular tourist locations across the Gold Coast in an attempt to detect cases of community transmission.

The move comes with Queensland having opened its border to all states except Victoria, which on Tuesday recorded 270 new cases.

In NSW, community transmission is on the rise after a person who tested positive for COVID-19 visited the The Star Casino in Pyrmont was identified as one of the 21 cases linked to a cluster at the Crossroads Hotel.

The pub in the southwestern Sydney suburb of Casula is popular with interstate truck drivers and locals.

Gold Coast Primary Health Network chairman Dr Roger Halliwell said the move was a directive of Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles.

“Queensland Health is setting up pop-up clinics to test people who are visiting the Gold Coast from other states, but they are also able to be used by locals,” he said.

It is expected one will open at the Gold Coast Airport and one will be set up at Albert Waterways Community Centre near Pacific Fair.

A third clinic is expected to open on Thursday and will operate out of a mobile van in Surfers Paradise Blvd, after Gold Coast City Council’s recent approval.

Mr Halliwell said other such clinics were being set up at Brisbane and Cairns, as they were also the first point of entry for those from other states.

“This is a crucial move that allows health and hospital services to test and identify early on if cases of coronavirus are arriving with tourists,” he said.