Eleven clinics in greater Melbourne were over-capacity on Thursday with queues around the block at the St Vincent’s Hospital in Carlton as people waited for as long as four hours for a test. | heyracheddie TimnaJacks COVID19
There are 260 state government-run testing sites in Victoria, an increase from 212 in May.
“I do worry that the build-up to Christmas is going to put a load on the testing, which might make it harder for someone who’s actually got symptoms or has an exposure to get tested,” Professor Bennett said. Almost half of all tests bought online from healthylife have also been shipped to Victoria, particularly in areas linked with outbreaks, and demand was still increasing in the lead up to Christmas.Paul Guerra, the chief executive of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has been advocating for testing requirements to be softened to help businesses maintain staffing levels.
Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, who runs a private clinic at Altona North, in the city’s west, has been testing about 80 people a day and said maintaining the service was sometimes tough to manage. Test providers said demand was driven by school outbreaks, people becoming increasingly exposed to COVID-19 out of lockdown, pollen triggering hayfever symptoms, and those preparing to leave Melbourne for end-of-year holidays.
A cohealth spokeswoman said most people were tested within 15 to 20 minutes while 23 per cent of people waited about 45 minutes. Just 1 to 2 per cent of people waited two or three hours in “extremely unpredictable and rare” mornings.
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