New QUT Covid clinic opens as testing chaos subsides

Chaos at Covid testing clinics across Brisbane is beginning to subside following weeks of chaos, but some people have reported waits of up to four hours at a major new drive-through facility after a hospital clinic was closed.

Wait times at Covid testing clinics across Brisbane have begun to subside following weeks of chaos which even ended in a road rage incident at a Murarrie clinic, but many people have reported still being stuck in hours-long queues.

A drive-through clinic opened at QUT Kelvin Grove on Friday morning, with traffic diverted from the old Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Fever clinic in Herston.

The RBWH fever clinic was shut down on Thursday evening to allow the hospital to “treat Covid-19 patients and other vulnerable patients who require healthcare”.

Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital Covid testing is closed, Friday, January 7, 2022 – Picture: Richard Walker

A woman, who was in the queue at 4:40am, said there was 10 cars in front of her.

Another woman, Mandy Page, said she got to the new QUT testing clinic about 5:30am and “left four hours later at 9:30am”.

“It was so slow doing everything manually … not great when you’re feeling so sick but everyone needs testing to go back to work.”

People are directed to QUT Kelvin Grove drive through COVID testing as RBWH Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital COVID testing is closed. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Page said she thinks testing clinics will calm down in another two weeks.

Meanwhile, about 9am on Friday morning there were reports of a two-hour wait at The Prince Charles Hospital and one hour at QML Murarrie.

The QUT Kelvin Grove clinic is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.