New COVID-19 testing site opens in Toowoomba

To cater to an influx of residents wanting to be tested for COVID-19, Darling Downs Health has opened a third major testing site in the city.

Darling Downs Health Service's COVID-19 coronavirus drive-through self-test centre at O'Mara Road, Charlton, Tuesday, March 30, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Highfields Sport and Recreation Park will play host to a third major COVID-19 testing site in Toowoomba.

This comes after the Baillie Henderson and Charlton testing sites hit capacity within hours of opening on Monday and Tuesday, after the snap lockdown in Brisbane was announced.

The site will open on Wednesday at 9am and people can be tested until 4pm.

The testing site will remain temporarily open through Easter from 8.30am to 4pm.

Mayor Paul Antonio said the council was co-operating to provide signage and traffic management at the site, and explained the structure of the testing site.

“Motorists will access the Highfields Sport and Recreation Park from Kuhls Road and into Cabarlah Park Road before proceeding one-way through the main park road to the three, drive-through, undercover testing sites at the car park closest to the Cronin road exit,” he said.

“This is a positive way for the council to support Darling Downs Health’s testing services.

“Competitive sporting fixtures take a break over the Easter weekend and the council is notifying all park user groups about the closure of the facility for sport and recreation until further notice.

“Council appreciates this is an inconvenience for regular park users and will update our user groups with additional information as it becomes available.

“The children’s playground also will be closed as a safety precaution during the testing.

“We must not lose sight of the primary goal which is to safeguard our community.

“That’s why it is important for residents to follow the established health and safety guidelines that have served us well to date.

“I thank residents for abiding by the health advice and willingly acting to keep everyone safe.”

“Testing helps us find as many cases in the community as quickly as possible,” a Darling Downs Health spokesman said.

“This will ensure we are doing everything we can to manage Queensland’s response to the pandemic.”

If you have any of the following symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested.

– Fever

– Sore throat

– Runny Nose

– Diarrhoea

– Loss of smell and/or taste

– Cough

– Shortness of breath

– Fatigue

– Vomiting or nausea.

All COVID-19 testing sites can be found at: www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing.

If you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms and planning to present to a hospital for testing, please phone ahead to discuss your arrival with staff. In an emergency, please phone triple-0 (000).