SA Covid-19 testing site operating hours to be extended following long queues again on Thursday

SA Covid-19 testing sites will operate for longer to cope with the increasing demand – the Victoria Park one will run 24 hours a day.

The opening hours of Covid-19 testing sites around Adelaide will be extended to cope with increasing demand, as urgent calls are made to 30,000 South Australians who have not yet responded to a survey about their time in Victoria.

Premier Steven Marshall announced on Friday that the Victoria Park testing site would remain open 24 hours a day until at least midnight on June 1.

Mr Marshall said “we’re doing everything we can” to expand the times that testing sites are open, in response to people waiting up to four-and-a-half hours to get swabbed on Thursday.

“We’re talking to Dr Tom Dodd, the clinical lead at SA Pathology, about continuing to flex those hours for the coming days,” Mr Marshall said.

“We've kept a very good capacity across our testing facilities in SA, and the good news is we’re able to flex those up …”

A large queue began forming as early as 5am at the Victoria Park testing site, with people having to wait up to three hours to be tested.

ADV NEWS - Covid testing at Vic Park on the 27th May, 2021. Picture: Russell Millard

People faced excessive delays at the Firle Covid testing centre on Glynburn Rd.

One person, who declined to give his name, said he waited four-and-a-half hours to be tested after arriving at 9.30am, describing the situation as a “shambles”.

“We started lining up around the block but you didn’t expect it would take more than four hours,” he said. “They reckon they could only process 10 cars an hour. They had three staff and one was scrambling around trying to get patient information from cars before we got to the testing area.”

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier asked federal health authorities to allow GP respiratory clinics in SA to now test asymptomatic people, instead of just people experiencing Covid-19 symptoms, in an attempt to cope with the demand.

“Thank you all for being patient when you’ve gone to get your testing done, you really are doing a great job to keep South Australia safe,” Prof Spurrier said.

Prof Spurrier revealed SA Health had so far sent out about 50,000 text messages to people who had recently entered SA from Victoria, requesting they fill out a survey about their travels.

“We’ve had a response of about 20,000 people filling in that survey,” she said.

“If you have had an SMS from us and you have not responded, can you please get on and do it as soon as possible.”

Mr Marshall said about 7500 people were tested on Wednesday when fear of the Melbourne outbreak hit, compared with just 2202 people on Sunday, 2743 on Monday and 4364 on Tuesday.

The last time that many people were tested on a single day was on February 12, when 7092 were swabbed amid another Victorian Covid scare.

Before that, 12,332 people were tested on November 12 last year during the Parafield cluster.

People who visited any of the 80 exposure sites in Melbourne must quarantine for 14 days and get tested on day one, five and 13.

Long lines at the Victoria Park testing clinic. Picture: Russell Millard

The state government also announced the mass vaccination hub at the Wayville Showgrounds would stay open during the Royal Adelaide Show in September.

The hub, which is now delivering more than 1000 jabs a day, will offer walk-in appointments during the show, instead of having to book through the SA Health website.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said it was an important measure to “help people access the vaccine”.

Rural clinics run dry

Many rural clinics that are now allowed to offer Covid-19 vaccinations to people as young as 16 are yet to book in any appointments because of supply problems.

A survey of SA Health country clinics shows huge discrepancies in the state government’s vaccine rollout, with some unable to offer any appointments for months while others have plenty of places available.

Officials are blaming the situation in some towns where bookings cannot yet be made – including Berri, Lameroo, Pinnaroo, Victor Harbor, Waikerie and Millicent – on a lack of vaccines.

They are calling for patience until supply improves.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said on Thursday she was proud to see the strong response from regional South Australians to the appeal to “roll up their sleeves and get vaccinated”.

“We ask people to be patient and should they not be able to secure their appointment at the time they are hoping for at their first attempt, please keep trying,” she said.

“We continue to receive vaccine supplies from the commonwealth government and as more vaccines become available, more appointments will be added and more clinics will open in regional areas.”

Some towns, including Murray Bridge, have plenty of Pfizer shots for under 50s but no AstraZeneca for those aged over 50. Some clinics are offering only Pfizer jabs for the under 50s, others only AstraZeneca for over 50s, while some are offering both, but based on age, not personal choice.

Late on Wednesday, The Advertiser checked for online bookings at all 33 regional clinics.

Clinics at Cowell, Cleve, Kimba, Tumby Bay and Lock had no availability before well into August, while places such as Cummins, Coober Pedy and Kingston SE have appointments from next week.

Port Lincoln Hospital had ample spots for under 50s from Tuesday, and for over 50s from the following Monday – a similar story to the Port Pirie GP Plus clinic.

Quorn Hospital had spots for both age groups from June 16, the Mount Barker Medical Clinic has Pfizer appointments on June 20 but then not until July, while Mount Gambier has Pfizer appointments from next week.

Under the rollout, people aged 16 and over are now eligible to receive a vaccination if they live in a regional council area. This does not apply to people who work but do not live in a regional area, or to those who own a regional property but live in Adelaide.

Proof of address is needed at an appointment, such as a driver’s licence, utility bill or student ID with an address. An appointment is also required.

The survey found Narac­oorte had availability from June 3 and Clare, Wallaroo and Roxby Downs also from next week, Bordertown from June 9, Tanunda and Leigh Creek from June 10 and Penola from June 17.