Covid clinics in state’s North and South increase opening hours amid lengthy queues

A woman who needed a Covid-19 test within 24 hours of arriving in Tasmania has described her “upsetting” and difficult experience in trying to follow the rules. SEE NEW CLINIC HOURS >>

A WOMAN who travelled into Tasmania experienced confusion and delays when she tried to take her Covid-19 test within the designated 24 hours.

It comes as testing clinic opening hours were extended on Monday to meet a surge in demand.

There were 2209 tests conducted on Sunday, and 1396 on Saturday, according to statistics from the Department of Health Tasmania Facebook page.

One woman told the Mercury she flew in from Sydney and went to the Hobart Showground coronavirus testing clinic on Sunday as she was required to take a test within 24 hours of arrival.

“Basically all of the advice on the website said that you just turn up there,” she said.

“That gives the impression that it is easy, quick.

“Instead, I turned up, there was just miles and miles of cars.”

She was turned away, later finding out from a Facebook user she could head to the Macquarie Point site without an appointment.

“I was never told that you can actually just rock up,” she said.

Drivers at a Covid testing station at Macquarie Point earlier this year. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The woman had instead tried to book an appointment at Macquarie Point, but waited about five hours for clarity on when her test could be booked.

That night, she was booked in for a test the following late morning – several hours after her required 24-hour test.

She went to work the next morning, but her colleagues felt uneasy about having an untested Sydney traveller in the office, and she soon left.

“My experience was very upsetting, my colleagues were upset too,” she said.

“I’m lucky I can work from home, but not everybody can.”

The Macquarie Point clinic and Launceston’s Dowling St site have now extended their opening hours to 8.30am to 7pm on Monday to meet the surge in demand.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said additional resources were helping to resolve the “long queues”.

“Importantly, if you have been at a low-risk exposure site, you do not need to get tested unless you develop symptoms,” she said.