Heat on COVID queues
Clinics overstretched
GOLD Coast COVID-19 test clinics are so overstretched sick people are fainting in the heat, being turned away or giving up after waiting six hours or more, residents claim.
Currumbin resident Virginia Boniface waited from 9am-4.30pm to be tested at Robina Hospital in “searing heat” on Tuesday. She said testing needed “fine tuning”.
“None of us knew it would be that long. There was a few who fainted, older people.
“I am quite sunburnt. There was a pharmacy nearby so we ended up with a litre of sunblock. I had an umbrella in the car and we bought some Gatorade because we were just so dehydrated.
“Staff were good and bringing water. They were great.”
Queensland Health disputes anyone was turned away.
It comes after the State government and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young urged Queenslanders to get tested if displaying even the most minor symptoms.
Reports indicate clinics are straining under the pressure of a rapid increase in testing.
Dr Young has expressed concerns undiscovered cases may be active after the Sydney Northern Beaches outbreak and the discovery of virus fragments in Gold Coast sewage.
Queensland Health said on Monday 16,350 tests were performed statewide in four days – an increase of 66 per cent compared to earlier in the month.
A Bundall resident claimed people were turned away while trying to get tested at the Albert Waterways Community Centre at Broadbeach.
The concerned woman was under the impression the clinic had reached “capacity” on Monday and was not able to perform more tests.
“Queensland Health needs a kick up the bum. They say there’s coronavirus in the sewage, people who are panicky have seen that,” she said.
“I was down at Broadbeach Library yesterday and people were being turned away from testing (at Albert Waterways).
“The security guard was telling people they could only take 150 people and people were being turned away. I knew one who was turned away. She said it was ridiculous.”
Lines at clinics, including Gold Coast University Hospital, stretched along streets.
A Queensland Health spokesperson thanked those getting tests for protecting themselves, family and friends.
“Some fever clinics are experiencing high demand. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
“Our focus is on testing people with symptoms as quickly as possible and we have increased our staffing.
“Staff are monitoring those in line to ensure anyone sick, elderly or vulnerable are not waiting long, and staff are communicating with people to let them know approximate wait times. No one is turned away.”
It’s understood Queensland Health have been taking down the contact details of people unable to linger in line for hours to organise another time for testing.