Victoria’s testing centres overrun as cases continue to rise
Victoria’s testing centres are being placed under extreme pressure with holiday and travel plans believed to be causing facilities to be overrun.
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Covid testing sites in Victoria have reached breaking point, with centres overrun and people turned away in the lead-up to the holiday period.
Several testing centres on the Victorian government’s own website have already been flagged at being at capacity and no longer accepting people for a test.
Others have reported long wait times of up to 150 minutes, with others turning people away.
Testing centres at Albert Park, Brighton, Broadmeadows, Bundoora, Craigieburn, Cranbourne East, Emerald, Epping, Heidelberg Heights, Melbourne’s Alfred Health and Bourke St walk-ins, Mooroolbark, Melbourne University’s Testing Clinic, South Melbourne, Sunshine West and Wantirna have all been closed down due to the demand, with fears more across the city could shutter.
Long wait times were also reported at testing sites over the weekend, as people flooded the facilities before the holidays.
Dozens of centres spanning from Melbourne’s inner to outer suburbs, and even as far as the regional city of Wodonga, have reported staggering wait times.
Multiple centres have reported a minimum wait time of one hour, with others causing those desperately seeking a Covid test to wait up to 90 minutes.
The worst wait times have been reported at a testing site in Ferntree Gully, where the current wait time sits at 180 minutes.
Box Hill, Cranbourne and Wodonga testing sites are also experiencing long wait times, both at least 150 minutes.
Testing centres at Brunswick East, Coburg North, Collingwood, Lilydale, Mill Park, Sunbury, Tarneit and Yarra Junction all have a wait time of two hours.
@VictorianCHO
— Stopleering (@HamaraBJP) December 16, 2021
Covid Testing in Melbourne Victoria is a nightmare. Drive through is 1-2 hours wait, walk ins are 2-5 hours wait. This is pathetic I got tested in 3 other countries in the world didn't take me more than 10 minutes.
Melbourne Showgrounds #covid testing is packed and itâs 730amð
— Sarah De Nicolo (@SarahDeNicolo1) December 17, 2021
I spent just under 6 hours queuing in a crowded Melbourne street today (when I was supposed to be self isolating) waiting for a Covid-19 test. The testing centre was shut at 4pm with 100+ people still outside untested. Is there a contingency plan to prevent backlogs accumulating?
— Mike*Lacey (@MikeLac14367278) December 17, 2021
Victoria recorded 1302 new coronavirus cases on Monday, with fears the country is on the brink of a fourth wave.
There are 406 people in hospital with the virus – the highest number the state has recorded in a month – including 81 cases in intensive care and 43 patients on a ventilator.
Testing requirements for those wanting to travel interstate and for those who have arrived in Victoria are playing a huge part in the demand.
A fraction of the testing queue on Bourke Street this morning. People already facing a wait of several hours, and the line is growing. @10NewsFirstMelbpic.twitter.com/FD8VQapDiK
— Patrick Murrell (@pamurrell) December 19, 2021
Extra staff have been rostered on to help the centres deal with demand, and other facilities have expanded their opening times.
The director of the Covid response at Western Health, which runs the Melbourne Showgrounds testing site, Kate Cranwell, urged people to remain patient.
“With that does come frustration and sometimes challenges in behaviour with some people, so we really do ask that people just remember that people working at the testing sites are there to support access to testing,” she told ABC News.
With Victoria entering its third day of testing delays, shadow health minister Georgie Crozier said the government was “unprepared” for the weekend of chaos.
“Yesterday we saw more people turned away from testing sites at a time when Victorians are coming out to get tested as the government has demanded Victorians do,” she said.
“It again demonstrates the unpreparedness by the government whose had months to response to Covid and for this reopening that we knew there would be a spike in cases.”
rhiannon.tuffield@news.com.au
Originally published as Victoria’s testing centres overrun as cases continue to rise