How to get a fast coronavirus test
One hospital is offering COVID-19 testing and results within 48 hours. But it doesn’t come cheaply.
One of Melbourne’s leading private emergency hospitals, The Epworth, is conducting coronavirus tests for $350 and telling suspected victims they will have the results within 48 hours.
The fast-track coronavirus diagnostic service is being offered as Victorians suffering symptoms are directed by GPs to call public emergency lines, which are being swamped by demand.
Those Victorians, who eventually get through to an expert on the lines, are then being subjected to cursory questioning which has, in some cases, resulted in advice to simply self-isolate.
But for the $350 fee, the Richmond-based private hospital is able to test patients within an hour of them attending the emergency department.
The Epworth said coronavirus tests will only be performed on patients with the clinical criteria, not everyone who presents to our emergency departments.
An Epworth spokeswoman said the $350 fee was the hospital’s standard emergency
department charge, and confirmed that suspect coronavirus victims would be charged
this fee.
Ambulance Victoria are working to increase the capacity of the Victorian Coronavirus Hotline 1800 675 398 as well as the Nurse-On-Call Hotline 1300 60 60 24, including increasing the number of staff working the phones.
A spokesperson thanked the public for their patience and said information on the coronavirus was available on the website www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
“The dedicated Victorian Coronavirus Hotline 1800 675 398 and Nurse-On-Call Hotline 1300 60 60 24 are currently experiencing system issues due to extraordinary call volumes,” the statement said.
“We thank the community for their patience as we work to increase the capacity of the hotlines - including putting on additional staff.”
Melburnians are advised to call their GP before presenting themselves at clinics if they suspect they have contracted the highly contagious virus.
The total number of confirmed cases in the state has risen to 16 after a teacher at the elite Carey Baptist Grammar School in the east Melbourne suburb of Kew returned a positive result on Monday night.
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