Coronavirus fever clinic opens on Gold Coast

At least 130 patients are presenting to Gold Coast clinics each day to be checked for coronavirus as authorities work to ward off an outbreak.

A NEW coronavirus pop-up testing clinic opens today on the Gold Coast – where two new cases emerged yesterday – to help hospitals cope with screening.

At least 130 patients are presenting daily to an existing Gold Coast University Hospital specialist clinic to be checked for the virus. The active fever clinic on level 5 of GCUH operates as an isolated testing facility – taking pressure off emergency wards.

But Health Minister Steven Miles, visiting the ward yesterday, revealed another fever clinic would open today at Robina Hospital.

“That will be important in ensuring the Gold Coast is well covered for fever clinic capacity,” he said. “This is ensuring we can assess people as appropriate and the … emergency department isn’t affected and other patients in the emergency department are not potentially exposed.”

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Health Minister Steven Miles announces the opening of second coronavirus testing facility on Gold Coast. Pic Tim Marsden

It is understood the new fever clinic will open across the road from Robina Hospital.

Two more Gold Coasters with coronavirus were confirmed yesterday – a 32-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both of whom are in isolation in GCUH in stable conditions.

It brings to three the number of live cases on the Coast, with a beauty salon staffer, 63, who was diagnosed last week, still in isolation and stable. Five previous cases have been released.

At the new Robina clinic, arrivals will be told to wash their hands and don a surgical mask.

They will be met by a triage nurse who will determine symptoms and whether they need to be tested. They will be swabbed and meet with a doctor.

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The patients must then self-quarantine until they receive test results 24-48 hours later.

Most of those coming to Coast clinics meet criteria for contracting the virus. These include individuals with risk factors, people who have recently returned from overseas and those who have been in contact with infected individuals.

Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus is meanwhile expected to reopen today after closing yesterday as a precaution after a visiting staffer from the Philippines tested positive.

Jeremy Wellwood exec director medicine education and research. H Pic Tim Marsden

An estimated 8000 students had to stay home, with the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker saying the man had worked at the Gold Coast and Lismore campuses last week.

About 45 people who shared meetings or workshops with the staffer were contacted and Prof Shoemaker said people outside of that group “can consider themselves at extremely low risk”.

GC Health clinical governance executive director Jeremy Wellwood said Gold Coasters should have every confidence in their healthcare workers.

“We have had significant planning in place for a long time and what we are doing is just enacting those plans,” Dr Wellwood said.

“What you are seeing is healthcare workers rising to the occasion. We have planning that takes into account all the potential scenarios that may unfold.

“As the need arises we will turn on extra support to make sure we keep people safe.”

Dr Wellwood said the hospital was working closely with primary health care workers, those in medical schools, private clinics and the aged-care sector.

“COVID-19 for most people is a mild illness, however we do know that those who are older and have other medical conditions are potentially people that may get a more serious illness,” he said.

The Southern Cross University Gold Coast campus at Bilinga was in shut down on Wednesday after a visiting staff member was identified with COVID-19. Photo: SCOTT POWICK

He said the hospital was therefore aggressively testing for it.

Queensland Health is also planning to scale up its winter bed strategy to deal with flu and coronavirus – ultimately tripling ICU capacity by making vacant space and beds available.

Another two coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Brisbane and one on the Sunshine Coast.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has outlined funding for initiatives for health services, including the ability for GPS bulk billing over the phone or for video consultations, for those at risk or those who are suspected of having the virus.

The Gold Coast Medical Association had been heavily pushing for it as up until now patients unable to visit clinics were charged private fees of $40-$90.