Spike in new Covid cases triggers new PCR testing advice

Guidance to ease extreme wait times for PCR tests has been offered to patients, as soaring Covid-positive cases push Cairns medical services to the limit.

ADVICE to ease extreme wait times for PCR tests has been offered to patients as soaring Covid-positive cases push Cairns medical services to the limit.

Soon after opening on Tuesday QML Pathology’s Florence St facility had a queue more than 100m long stretching around the corner down Grafton St.

On Monday six-hour waits were reported at the Portsmith drive-through centre and the Cairns Hospital facility.

In the 24-hour-period reported on Tuesday 221 new cases were recorded in the Cairns and Hinterland region bringing the total number of cases since the pandemic’s onset to 967.

Long waits for Covid tests have been reported at QML Pathology's Florence St clinic in the Cairns CBD. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Cairns GP Aileen Traves stressed it was only people with symptoms that should be lining up for PCR tests.

“What we really need is only the symptomatic to go and get tested, not the worried,” she said.

“GPs are still trying to get the message out that everyone with symptoms should wear a mask and go to get a PCR test.

“But there are clearly major issues with so many people now sick and trying to get tested.

“Lines and waiting times are putting people off and I can understand that.”

Chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said Queenslanders should only be getting a PCR test if they’ve got symptoms, been notified as a close contact or have returned a positive rapid test.

Private testing labs have been pushed to the limit by new Cairns infections. Picture: Peter Carruthers

He said if people were sick and were not easily able to get tested, they should assume they had Covid and stay at home.

Late Tuesday Queensland Health released information to help patients determine if a rapid antigen (RAT) or PCR test was required.

All patients with respiratory symptoms, that live with Covid positive cases or have tested positive to a rapid test need a PCR swab, the health authority stated.

Rapid tests should be used for people needing to leave home quarantine and those that “have been around people with Covid-19”.

Cairns is experiencing a severe shortage of Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test kits, following the Queensland Government's announcement this week that the tests can be used in certain circumstances to replace the more expensive and slow Covid-19 PCR tests. Picture: Brendan Radke

However rapid tests are in short supply.

Calanna Whole Health Pharmacy Woree stock controller Catherine Hackett had been inundated with phone calls requesting rapid tests.

“It’s to the point where we have thought about (recording) a message to have while people are on hold to say ‘we have no tests’,” she said.

“The issue for us is supply. We are hopefully going to get more stock next week.

“I have been letting people know we will update our Facebook page”

Ms Hackett said it was important for people to wait until the store announced the arrival of stock on social media.

“(And) if you are not well, you don’t want to be sitting on the phone ringing around for rapid antigen tests,” she said

Cairns GP Dr Aileen Traves urged patients to be honest and disclose symptoms when making appointments. Picture: Brendan Radke

Dr Traves said skyrocketing case numbers had put the medical system under huge strain but care was still available.

“A lot of patients are saying GPs won’t see them with any Covid symptoms but we are still providing care,” she said.

“We just need people to be honest and disclose their symptoms so we can talk to them on the phone or via video Telehealth to risk assess them before getting them in for face-to-face review if needed.”

Originally published as Spike in new Covid cases triggers new PCR testing advice