Pop-up testing clinic opens in virus hot spot Bondi

Bondi residents wearing face masks headed to a new ‘pop-up’ clinic today to get tested for the deadly coronavirus following a local outbreak of the disease among backpackers in the area.

Bondi residents wearing face masks headed to the central Pavilion ‘pop-up’ clinic today to get tested for the deadly coronavirus.

The pop-up clinic was set up in response to a local outbreak of the disease among backpackers in the area.

St Vincent’s Hospital media spokesman David Faktor said the area has been identified by the government and health officials as a coronavirus “hot spot”, with authorities working to contain local clusters of the disease.

Nurses Kurtis Who and Vanesa Hrsto, frontline staff from St Vincents in the clinic today Picture Rohan Kelly

A nurse directs a patient to the mobile coronavirus testing clinic in the Bondi Pavillion. Picture Rohan Kelly

“We realised we needed to respond quickly and have identified the need to set up this testing facility at Bondi, due to hot spots in the community - particularly in the backpacker community,” Mr Faktor said.

“There’s no cost and it’s a rapid testing process. We really encourage people who think they’ve been exposed to the virus to get tested.”

For the rest of the week until further notice, the clinic will be open from 9am to 4pm.

On Wednesday, eight nurses were testing patients from 10am with the facility to shut at 4pm.

The average appointment was 20 minutes, which included instructions and advice from health workers.

Waverly Council rangers patrolled the Bondi Beach boardwalk today Picture Rohan Kelly

Robin Fabiano, 71, told The Daily Telegraph she was getting tested as she had been in contact with Bondi musician, Dan Williams, who has COVID-19.

“I was sitting outside a local cafe and a nice man came in with a baby,” she said.

“He asked if we could share a table because he wanted to sit outside. We started chatting and he was telling he was a musician and had just returned from Japan.

“And then a few days later I was watching Channel 9 News and saw him speaking with Tracey Grimshaw saying he’d just been diagnosed.”

Staff at the mobile coronavirus clinic prepare to begin testing today. Picture Rohan Kelly

Ms Fabiano said she had a dry cough, but no other symptoms.

“I see myself as a very healthy person, but I wouldn’t want to have to go through it,” she said.

“Maybe I’m a carrier - I don’t know. So lucky I can come here and get tested.”