Doctor lashes Tasmania’s ‘pointless’ and inadequate COVID-19 screening tactics

A doctor returning from Brisbane has delivered a scathing assessment of the state’s “pointless” COVID-19 screening measures.

• Mass texting blitz highlights coronavirus risks
• Queensland tourists ignore isolation instructions

A HOBART doctor has slammed Tasmania’s coronavirus screening measures, saying a referral system is “pointless” and that limiting testing to symptomatic people could have dire consequences.

Hobart radiologist and returned Brisbane traveller Philippa Taplin said she was astonished to be told last Friday she did not meet the criteria for a COVID-19 test because she wasn’t displaying any flu-like symptoms.

The health worker said she received mixed messages from authorities across Friday when later that afternoon her phone requests were accepted after greater Brisbane was declared a high-risk area.

“After being told ‘no’ about 10am, I called up the COVID hotline about an hour later when Brisbane was announced as a high-risk area and was told, ‘yes, you qualify now’,” she said.

“They called me back with a 2pm test time, which was good, but they never provided a time for my husband, Owen, who was in Brisbane with me.

“We got through again on the phone, but shortly after the whole system crashed – we tried phoning four times, as did two of my staff members but the calls failed.”

The new drive-in COVID-19 testing clinic has been set up at Melville St, Hobart. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

On Friday, text messages were sent to Dr Taplin along with 5666 other recent arrivals to Tasmania who had indicated they had been in Queensland since January 2.

Dr Taplin, who returned a negative test result and is undergoing 14 days in isolation, said Tasmania’s coronavirus screening measures were inadequate.

“The palava you have to go through is extraordinary and far different to every other state,” she said.

“We are absolutely doing insufficient tests. I could have been a non-symptomatic spreader and if you don’t test all people who’ve come from Brisbane you won’t identify those who are non-symptomatic.”

A driver undergoes a COVID-19 test at the drive-through testing clinic. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Dr Taplin also lashed the coronavirus booking and referral system.

“There shouldn’t be a booking system and there should instead be pop-up mobile clinics as they do interstate,” she said.

“The phone referral process is pointless and just delays things by having to wait for a call back. It could take 48 hours for a result, you need to be able to walk or drive in to get tested.”

A state government spokesman said the priority groups for testing remained people with any symptoms, people who had been to identified high-risk premises, and contacts of cases. “Anyone who wishes to be tested, including those recently returned from mainland jurisdictions, can seek testing by contacting the Public Health hotline,” the spokesman said.