Central West Health launches pop-up Covid testing clinic at Longreach

A positive Covid-19 case visited the region, but more than 60 per cent of eligibly residents have already rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated. Here’s where you can get tested.

Central West Health Executive Director of Medical Services Dr David Walker.

Anyone wanting to get tested for COVID-19 can expect a two hour delay at the pop-up clinic at Longreach Showgrounds on Friday.

This comes after it was revealed a flight attendant on-board a Qantas flight between Longreach and Brisbane tested positive.

Central West Hospital and Health Service has encouraged attendees to pack water and snacks, as they can only leave their vehicle to access to the onsite bathrooms once the vehicle is in the queue.

Executive director of medical services Dr David Walker said Covid testing was a vital measure in quickly identifying and isolating positive cases and reducing the spread of the disease.

“If you have any of the COVID-19 symptoms – fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea or lack of taste or smell – you should be tested,’’ he said.

“You can also do your part to stay safe by practising good hygiene – and staying home if you are sick. Washing your hands is the gold standard of health advice as far as coronavirus goes.”

The pop-up testing clinic has been launched at the Longreach Showgrounds until 9pm on Friday.

Testing will continue to be available in Longreach over the weekend and on Monday at the following locations and times:

24 July: 9 am to 3 pm – Longreach Showgrounds

25 July: 9 am to 3 pm – Longreach Showgrounds

26 July: 9 am to 12 noon. Back of Longreach Hospital

Testing is also available at all Central West health facilities throughout the region on any day.

Dr Walker said the new Queensland case should be a wake-up call to all Central West residents.

“We have been lucky so far that we have had no local cases of COVID-19 within our health service,’’ he said.

“But we cannot rely on luck to continue protecting us.”

Dr Walker said vaccination was the best and only way to protect Central Queensland communities.

“While no vaccine is 100 per cent effective, current evidence shows that people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine have a much lower chance of developing more serious symptoms from the virus, compared to those who did not get the vaccine,” he said.

“And remember, I cannot emphasise enough that once you have had a first dose of vaccine, you must not neglect to have your second dose.

“You need two doses of the same vaccine for maximal effective protection, so please make sure you have both – whether that’s two doses of AstraZeneca or two doses of Pfizer.”

More than 180 people were vaccinated at the AstraZeneca catch-up clinics at Barcaldine, Aramac, Muttaburra, Blackall and Tambo this week as well as at Pfizer clinics at Bedourie and Longreach.

The vaccination program is continuing at Boulia on Friday.

Dr Walker said about 61 per cent of eligible Central West residents had received at least a first dose of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine, with about 36.4 per cent of all eligible Central West residents fully vaccinated with both first and second doses.

Central West Health is offering the AstraZeneca vaccine to everyone who has had the first dose of the vaccine without any serious adverse effects, including adults aged under 50 years.

Everyone else, aged 16 and over, who has not yet had a first dose of Covid – 19 vaccine, is being offered Pfizer.