Coronavirus latest: Gold Coast Council prepares to help set up fever testing centres to alleviate pressure on hospitals

Council has offered to help Queensland Health set up fever testing centres to help ease the load on Gold Coast hospitals faced with an influx of patients reporting flu-like symptoms.

COUNCIL will assist Queensland Health in setting up fever testing centres on the Gold Coast as it sends some of its own staff home due to the coronavirus.

More than 100 people turned up to the emergency department of Gold Coast University Hospital late last night wanting to be tested, putting huge stress on the public hospital system.

Mayor Tom Tate, after meeting with senior council staff today for a briefing, revealed the city’s disaster management was on “lean forward” as it prepared to help health authorities.

He urged residents to conduct personal basic hygiene like washing their hands, but also for employers to send home employees showing flu symptoms.

“We’ve had some officers sent home,” he said, adding that one employee was employed in city parks.

Ambulances lined up at the Gold Coast University Hospital.

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The Mayor is awaiting advice on Queensland Health on risk assessment for the staging of Chinese New Year.

“We will make that decision whether we or not go ahead with Chinese New Year before the day is out. It’s more precaution, there is no need to panic,” he said.

Councillor Tate said council staff would be searching with Queensland Health for locations to set up fever testing centres if needed.

He said the Gold Coast University Hospital, which would normally deal with 20 people at midnight, last night had 120, with most of those patients seeking advice on flu-like symptoms.

“It will alleviate the emergency department where people are attending for heart attacks and emergency treatment,” he said.

Cr Tate urged patients experiencing fever to go first to their GP for a test.

“We’re working together at the moment (on fever testing centres). We have areas that we can activate,” he said.

Community centres would be made available and council staff could help health employees work with residents.