Thousands flood to COVID testing clinics across Adelaide as new restrictions come in

People are again turning out in their thousands to coronavirus testing clinics across the city – including huge lines at Victoria Park.

Thousands of people are flocking to testing stations at locations across greater Adelaide following the emergence of a new COVID-19 cluster in South Australia.

The number of positive coronavirus cases in the new SA cluster has now reached 20, with one new case overnight, forcing the State Government to reintroduce coronavirus restrictions.

On Tuesday, Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said there was well over 3000 people tested in the past 24 hours. “It’s early days in this cluster but what we can say is we think this is an early pickup,” Dr Spurrier said.

There has been a huge turnout for testing at Victoria Park, where the queue started forming early this morning and now reaches Greenhill Rd.

People have been told they could have to wait up to 72 hours for a result, due to the huge demand.

On Monday, Prof Spurrier said 1875 tests were conducted on Sunday and praised South Australians for being proactive in getting tested on Monday.

Well over 100 cars lined up across the Jervois Bridge to access the Port Adelaide testing site, in a queue which stretched for more than a kilometre.

Commuter Sarah Curnow, stuck on the other side of the bridge, said she had been waiting for hours to get a COVID-19 test.

People are turning out in droves to coronavirus testing clinics across the city on Tuesday, including huge lines at Victoria Park. Picture: Emma Brasier

Cars line up across Jervois Bridge for the Port Adelaide COVID-19 testing clinic on Monday, November 16. Picture: Ben Cameron

“I’ve been queuing since about midday,” Ms Curnow said.

“Work said I had to come here.”

Fellow commuter Janne said he had been waiting even longer and that he was a potential close contact with an infected person.

“I was at Parafield Shopping Centre on the Thursday,” he said.

In the northern suburbs, Thomas More College, Mawson Lakes primary and preschool and the majority of shops at Parafield Plaza Shopping Centre have been temporarily closed as SA Health attempt to contain the virus.

Hundreds of people waited in the testing queue along Kings Road at Parafield Airport from early Monday.

Among them was self-employed electrician Mario Lupoi, whose son attends Thomas More.

Mr Lupoi said he was trying to “do the right thing” with his wife having a sore throat and his son also been feeling unwell in recent days.

However, he estimated they had moved about 40m in about 45 minutes as several people in the queue said they had heard the wait could be as long as five hours.

“We’re definitely frustrated… there’s two booths going,” Mr Lupoi said.

“It’s a bit of a joke.

“I’ve had a little bit of a cold, but my son goes to Thomas More.

“The way it’s going we’ll be here all day today.

“We thought we’d do the right thing.”

By Tuesday, there were reports the wait time had risen to 11 hours.

In the Parafield testing line Mario Lupoi (right), whose son (centre) attends Thomas More College, which has been temporarily closed since the northern COVID-19 outbreak. Picture: Ben Cameron

Hundreds are queuing at the COVID-19 Testing site at Parafield Airport. Picture: Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

However, two businesses, a Liquorland and an independent supermarket, remain open at Parafield Plaza Shopping Centre.

A Liquorland staff member said she had been told not to speak to the media while the owner of the supermarket, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had not been given any directions from SA Health.

Local shopper and carer Tammy wondered why the businesses remained open while others were closed.

“They should not be open,” Tammy said.

“I don’t get it.”

Another man, who did not want to be named, was concerned as he had to pick up medication at his local pharmacy, which had been closed.

An independent supermarket and Liquor Land outlet remain open at Parafield Plaza shopping centre. Picture: Ben Cameron

Meanwhile, hundreds also flocked to a testing centre in the middle of Elizabeth, with most appearing to keep a safe distance from each other and a healthy number wearing masks.

One woman in the middle of the queue, Sam, said she had been waiting for several hours to be tested at offices shared by Playford Council and Adelaide United Football Club.

Another, Olivia, said she had a cough last week and wanted to ensure she was virus-free.

However, a security guard out the front of the office refused to say how many people had come through the doors.

There was also a long wait at Elizabeth Park Medical Centre, with scores of cars snaking down Butterfield Road, with one driver still waiting after nearly three hours in the queue.

There were also lengthy lines at drive-through testing sites at Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and Victoria Park.

SA Health on Monday released urgent alerts for a swathe of locations across Adelaide’s northern suburbs, including bus routes and stops, a major shopping centre as well as an aquadome.

Anyone who visited these locations on the dates and times specified should monitor themselves for symptoms but do not need to self-quarantine.