82 test sites shut to clear backlog amid huge demand in Victoria and NSW

More than 80 Covid testing sites across NSW and Victoria will shut temporarily because of massive demand as queues snake around city blocks.

Fifty-four Covid testing sites across Victoria will shut to deal with a backlog of testing amid overwhelming demand.

Private laboratories 4Cyte Pathology, ACL, Melbourne Pathology and Dorevitch Pathology will temporarily close testing centres in the state.

“I’m afraid that today four of our private sector laboratory partners have confirmed they are closing, temporarily suspending a number of their testing centres,” Victorian Covid commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters on Tuesday.

The labs between them operate 54 testing sites across Victoria, with 41 of them run by 4Cyte.

Mr Weimar said the labs would continue to work 24/7 to process the backlog of tests built up over the last few weeks.

It comes after news earlier that 28 test sites across NSW would also close.

Over 50 privately run test sites will temporarily shut. Photo: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

“It’s in all of our interest that they get on and complete those test results to ensure people waiting for the results can get them more quickly,” he said.

“Then when they’re ready to they will reopen their system.”

Mr Weimar assured Victorians 206 state-run testing centres would remain open.

“We will continue to run and operate our full testing network over the coming days, over the weekend and over the days and weeks ahead,” he said.

“Our hard working staff continue to be there to ensure people can get their test done, we can get those results into both the private labs and into our public sector network.

“We’ll continue to work as fast as we can to get results through to people.

“We’re entering a really challenging month as we face into a far bigger wave that we’ve ever seen before and it’s a wave for the rest of the world is also experiencing.”

Testing at Melbourne Town Hall hit capacity before 9.30am. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Trying to get a covid test in Melbourne right now is absolutely cooked. I know I have it, trying to do the right thing and everywhere you go you get turned away @VicGovDH#Covid_19

— Suddy (@marc014) January 3, 2022

Covid testing at several Melbourne sites reached capacity by mid-morning, with people turned away and lines snaked around city blocks.

The Melbourne Town Hall testing site reached capacity before 9.30am as queues wound their way around several streets.

Several other inner-city sites were also overwhelmed with demand and announced they had temporarily shut due to overcapacity on Tuesday morning.

These included Albert Park, Bourke St Melbourne, Southbank, South Melbourne, Parkville and Collingwood and St Kilda East according to the state government booking website.

One woman said she arrived at the crack of dawn to secure her spot in the St Vincent’s Hospital testing site queue in Fitzroy.

“Up at 5am, in the queue at 5.35am, site opened at 7am, near the front of the queue at 8am, but the site is now at capacity so no one else can join the line,” Che Bishop tweeted.

The Melbourne Town Hall line stretched hundreds of metres. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Retailers in Melbourne that have sold out of rapid Covid-19 tests. Picture: findarat.com.au

Victorian Covid commander Jeroen Weimar on Monday admitted many people were now enduring lengthy waits to receive their PCR results.

Mr Weimar said changes to lab testing in the wake of high rates of positivity meant each test was processed individually rather than in batches, causing longer turnaround times.

“We have to do more work within our labs at a point in time of course where our labs are also seeing very high numbers of cases coming through for a high number of tests coming through and we’re expected to see more tests over days ahead,” he told reporters.

“If you’re thinking about getting a test today, I’d only ask people who are currently symptomatic or already returned a positive rapid antigen test result to come forward for a PCR test.”

The Melbourne Town Hall site wasn’t taking further walk-ins. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

People line up down Swanston St. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Up at 5am, in the queue at 5.35am, site opened at 7am, near the front of the queue at 8am, but the site is now at capacity so no-one else can join the line.#PCR#TestingQueue#Melbourne#COVIDTest#COVIDTesting#VICpic.twitter.com/Lee8blU7an

— Che Bishop (she/her) (@Che__Bishop) January 3, 2022

MAJOR PATHOLOGY LAB CLOSES TEMPORARILY

A major pathology lab has temporarily shut 28 Covid-19 testing clinics across NSW as it struggles to keep up with demand.

Australian Clinical Labs made the decision to shut the labs on Monday and said it would progressively reopen from Tuesday as it cleared the backlog of swabs.

Both drive-through and walk-in clinics have been closed in the massive shutdown.

“These closures have been necessary due to the significant increase in testing volumes across the state,” the company said.

One of the sites in Bella Vista remained open for international travel testing only.

Australian Clinical Labs temporarily closed 28 of its Covid testing sites on Monday as it deals with overwhelming demand. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

NSW Health said testing capacity was under “enormous pressure” and emphasised the only people getting a PCR test should be those who had Covid-19 symptoms, lived in a household with a confirmed Covid-19-positive case or had been told by health authorities to get tested.

The state conducted 96,765 Covid-19 tests on Sunday, with weekends and public holidays often yielding higher demand for tests.

Drive-through sites that are shut include Clarendon Hawkesbury Showground, Dural, Emerald Hills (Leppington), Granville (Parramatta Rd), Hornsby Overflow Car Park, Hunters Hill, Kingswood, Liverpool, Marsden Park, Minto, Parklea, Penrith, Sydney Olympic Park, Warriewood, Windsor and Winmalee.

Walk-in clinics that are shut include Ashfield, Blacktown, Campsie, Fairfield, Frenchs Forest, Harris Park, Manly, Narrabri and Windale.

People are still struggling to get tested at PCR clinics. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

There are increasing calls for the federal and state governments to foot the bill for the at-home tests.

Speaking on Monday, the Prime Minister again ruled out making rapid antigen tests free.

“We already make them free to everyone who is required to have one (and) they are also tax deductible,” Mr Morrison said.

“We are now at this stage of the pandemic we just cannot make everything free because when someone tells you they will make something free, someone will always pay for it, and it is going to be you.”

The Morrison government has come under pressure to follow the lead of other countries, including the UK, and make RATs free amid widespread reports of price gouging. Some Australian retailers selling five packs of RATs for up to $170.