Covid testing lines blow out as Robina, Southport QML clinics close due to staff shortage

Testing clinics have been thrown into chaos as wait times blow out to nine hours amid a string of snap closures, mounting pressure on an already strained health system.

Testing clinics have been thrown into chaos as wait times blow out to nine hours amid a string of snap closures, mounting pressure on an already strained health system.

QML Pathology, which operates drive-through clinics at Southport and Robina, was forced to closed eight sites across the state as health workers were forced into isolation.

Bruce Fraser’s daughter was among thousands caught up in Tuesday’s debacle, turning up to the testing site at Cbus Super Stadium about 4.45am only to find it was closed without notice.

“There was no one around when it was supposed to open at 6am,” Mr Fraser said.

Cars lined up outside Covax Australia’s Bond University test site – where queues reached Cottesloe Drive at one point – and were told by security to go home as “staff did not show”.

Covax Australia director Mannu Kala said the Bond Univeristy’s site did not close due to staff shortages but instead at the request of Pathology Queensland due to testing result backlog.

“All the security could tell me was that the uni was trying to chase down what was happening,” Mr Fraser explained.

“It’s obviously putting all this pressure on the sites, which is having an effect on all those people who are trying to get tested.”

Gatenby Criminal Lawyers director Michael Gatenby told the Bulletin he was stuck for hours waiting for testing at the Southport centre on Tuesday.

He got in the line at 5.30am and did not complete testing until just after 3pm.

“I came yesterday (Monday) at 8.30 but they closed it after about an hour,” he said.

Four Sullivan Nicolades testing clinics, five of 4cyte’s and eight of QML private pathology’s were closed.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath reveals 5699 new cases in Queensland on January 4. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said state government’s testing handling needed more resources: “People are lined up like cattle waiting at a trough for hours on end in sun because of a government that can’t plan properly.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath defended the efficiency of the public health system despite reliance on private pathology services: “We’re as prepared as we can be.

“Have a look at what is happening around the world, there is not one country, not one state that can say you don’t have to wait in lines for tests.”

Ms D’Ath said authorities were in constant contact with private clinics, but had assumed many would reopen Tuesday after closing over Christmas.

“Some staff have turned up positive themselves or they are close household contacts and they are needing to stay away from the work places,” she said.

Hundreds of cars lined up for Covid testing. Picture: Richard Gosling

“We know that causes pressure on the system and I in no way criticise the private pathologists for not being able to open today.

“ … We can’t direct a private pathologist to open, we can’t force staff to go to work if they’re positive.”

Ms D’Ath also blamed traffic issues at testing sites, after reports of people being turned away.

She said people should only be getting PCR tests if they symptomatic, tested positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT), or were a close contact on day six of their isolation and they couldn’t get RAT.

Ms D’Ath said she understood Sullivan Nicolades had been sequestered to go into aged care facilities where there have been positive cases, and she would be contacting federal health minister Greg Hunt about the redeployment of resourcing.

Testing queues at Gold Coast University Hospital have blown out as the state government says only to test if you're experiencing symptoms. Latest here: https://t.co/IyBl4Ow09f#qldpol#[e-mail]/ztcFYiuu5t

— Navarone Farrell (@navaronefarrell) January 4, 2022

Chief Health Office Dr John Gerrard advised people who believe they are Covid-positive and unable to access testing to isolate at home.

Ms D’Ath added: “If you are symptomatic and you aren’t able to get a test today, you should assume you are positive and follow all advice for Covid until you are able to get a PCR or rapid antigen test.”

She said the millions of new RATs acquired by the state government will be used at testing clinics to “ease some of these pressures”.

“We’re sourcing those as quickly as we can, and once we know our private pathologists are able to come back online we hope that will take some pressure off.”

Hundreds of thousands: Dire case number warning

January 4, 2021

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath urged only symptomatic Queenslanders to get tested, as 5699 cases are recorded.

One-hundred and seventy of the cases are in hospital, 11 people are in ICU, and seven lives have been lost to date due in Queensland. There are currently 25,924 active cases.

Ms D’Ath said if Queenslanders aren’t showing symptoms, not to clog up testing queues, and be patient while waiting for PCR results.

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath addresses the media during the Covid-19 press conference at 1 William Street. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“If you don’t have any symptoms you don’t have to turn up for a PCR test,” she said.

“There should only be three reasons you line up for a PCR test … that is if you have Covid symptoms … secondly that you have done a rapid antigen test and it’s coming up positive … and thirdly you are a household close contact and it is day six, and you haven’t been able to get a RAT test.”

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard warned that the Covid-19 cases throughout January will be “very high”, pushing into the “hundreds of thousands”.

“The Omicron strain really has changed everything … (it) has completely changed all the planning,” he said.

“When one person is on average infecting between seven and 10 others … that bears no resemblance to the Covid we’ve been dealing with up until now.”

Dr Gerrard did not rule out changes to Queensland’s border testing, which is set to be wound back when the state reaches 90 per cent vaccinated.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard addresses the media. Picture: Zak Simmonds

He said he death of a local man, aged in his late 30s and believed to be vaccinated – the Gold Coast’s first potential Covid-19-related death – was before the coroner, and couldn’t comment further.

Queensland is creeping towards its 90 per cent double jabbed, with 86.82 per cent of the state, over 16+, vaccinated.