Testing mayhem: Kingston clinic closes before it even opens

The state’s newest drive-through Covid clinic, which was meant to operate from 10am-4pm, has taken “closing early” to the next level, shutting before it had even opened. DETAILS >>

TASMANIA’S newest drive-through Covid testing clinic – which was meant to operate between 10am and 4pm – has taken “closing early” to the next level after the site became full by 7.30am.

Queues of cars jammed Kingston View Drive as drivers hoped to get swabbed at the Kingborough Sports Centre clinic on Tuesday.

On its second day of operation, the privately owned TML Pathology clinic in Kingston posted signs between witches hats on the road bearing bad news for motorists: “Covid testing drive through: Closed.”

TML Pathology’s sign informing motorists their Covid testing clinic in Kingston is closed. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones.

A security worker was heard saying the clinic became full at 7.30am – hours before it was even due to open.

Staff in heavy-duty PPE were seen handing out forms to people in the long queues in an effort to speed up the testing process.

Cecilia Billia was turned away within 20 minutes of arriving at the no-appointment PCR clinic at 9.30am on Wednesday.

On Thursday she decided to turn up at 7.30am.

“There was already a big line in front of me, I was maybe 300 or 400m from the start,” she said.

By 11am, she was about 100m from the start of the queue.

Cecilia Billia in the queue at the Kingborough Sports Centre Covid testing clinic. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones.

“I’ve been listening to podcasts, I’ve been napping, chatting with my family back in Argentina,” she said.

“Now I’m getting a bit hungry.”

The 32-year-old said Tasmania “should have been more prepared”.

“It is affecting me because I do work to survive basically, I really need to get tested ASAP,” she said.

State Health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said on Wednesday the state-owned Macquarie Point clinic was doubling its capacity to administer 2000 PCR tests a day instead of 1000.

The Hobart clinic is appointment only.

“We do think that by doubling the state capacity in the south that we will have a significant impact, but it may take us a couple of days to work through in terms of that surge in referrals,” she said.

State Health secretary Kathrine Morgan-Wicks. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Morgan-Wicks said people turning up at drive-through clinics were doing so knowing the risks.

“You are taking your chances in terms of the length of time that you will wait in a queue,” she said.

“If you do not wish to wait in a queue, you need to go online and book with a state clinic for a test or ring the Public Health Hotline.

“That means that you can sit on your couch at home and isolate and we will contact you with that booking time.”