COVID-19 Gold Coast: Fever clinic doctor refused entry to Queensland to work
A doctor has been blocked from crossing the Queensland border to work at a southern Gold Coast fever clinic. Meanwhile, long lines formed outside city’s COVID-19 testing centres today.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A DOCTOR staffing the only COVID-19 testing station south of Palm Beach was denied entry into Queensland this morning.
The medic lives “outside the arbitrary border bubble line”, with a source telling the Bulletin that fever clinic services to “Coolangatta and beyond will now be limited”.
HUNDREDS EVACUATED FROM POPULAR COAST SHOPPING CENTRE
TWO TEENS IN CUSTODY AFTER ARRIVING FROM NSW COVID-19 HOTSPOT
“This virus hasn’t diminished our workforce for over six months because of our careful precautions. The Premier and Chief Health Officer have now done what the virus couldn’t,” said the source.
“The doctor has been told to apply because no system to handle their entry has been established beforehand. It could take a week to get an answer to a written inquiry for exemption.”
LNP Shadow Health Minister Ros Bates criticised the “health bungle on the border” saying it could put the lives of Gold Coast locals at risk.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk closed the borders for health reasons and yet won’t let in a doctor who staffs the only COVID testing clinic south of Palm Beach,” she said.
“There needs to be some common sense, especially for essential workers such as our doctors, nurses and paramedics.”
TESTING WAIT
GOLD Coast residents looking to be tested for COVID-19 at the state government drop in clinics were facing hours waiting for testing today.
As of 10am Monday long queues could be seen stretching along the road for the Gold Coast University Hospital fever clinic in Southport.
“The nurse came out and told us it would be an hour and a half wait,” one resident said.
WHAT IT IS REALLY LIKE TO GET THE COVID -19 TEST
Another who was being tested at around noon said he had been in line for over two hours.
The huge influx of locals seeking tests follows a recent outbreak in Logan in late July.
It is understood wait times to get test results back currently sit at around 72 hours.
As of this morning 987 locals are under self quarantine orders waiting for their test results.
Across the state 6,704 individuals have been tested in the last 24 hours.
BORDER CONFUSION
RESIDENTS on the Tweed Coast who have to travel to Brisbane for work say they made it through the border check points this morning, despite major confusion about passes over the weekend.
As of Saturday a hard border for Queensland has come into place.
CHIEF HEALTH OFFICER’S SHOCK WARNING TO BORDER RESIDENTS
Despite announcements, NSW Banora Point couple Shannon and Jake Turley, who had to get to Brisbane for work, told the Bulletin they could not locate the right forms online or get a straight answer from State Government hotlines or at border checkpoints.
“My husband works on the Queens Wharf project which is outside of the bubble,” Ms Turley said.
“He had the relevant documentation and needed to be on the site at 4am Monday but no one has told us how to access the S (specialist) pass.”
Over the weekend the website asked individuals to present to the border to fill out a hard copy form to access an S pass – but the mother of three said multiple visits to checkpoints proved fruitless.
“We went to different checkpoints three separate times like the website says and they didn’t know about the passes.
“I then rang the COVID hotline and he was told not to go into work. My husband rang a different number and a guy said he should be OK.
TEENS ARRESTED, SHOPS CLOSED AMID NOOSA COVID SCARE
“He went to the border this morning again hoping he would be let through and was given an X pass to get to Brisbane instead of the S pass we were told to get.
“There has been lots of unnecessary confusion – we just wanted him to get to work.
“We can’t afford to lose our only income to this. We might consider him moving for a short time if there are no other options.”
Originally published as COVID-19 Gold Coast: Fever clinic doctor refused entry to Queensland to work