The State Government’s announcement of a ‘major testing blitz’ of 100,000 people for coronavirus has caused a testing frenzy across the state.
The government implemented the current state of emergency on March 16, and will make further decisions on May 11.
Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) had a significant surge in numbers on Monday, with 53 people presenting for testing, far more than on any other day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hospital staff are reiterating to East Gippslanders a person must have symptoms in order to be tested at the hospital.
“This is important in order to make best use of the supplies needed to conduct tests,” BRHS media and communications coordinator, Jake Lynch said.
There are exceptions, with asymptomatic (no symptoms) healthcare and aged care workers able to be tested, as well as people with compromised immune systems, namely the elderly, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Nurses from the emergency department conduct the testing in the carpark, donning suits, gloves and masks, throwing each set out before they set foot back into the hospital.
Those wishing to be tested must ring the phone number on the board at the entrance to the main hospital carpark and are triaged by phone and put into the system.
“If people don’t call that number from the car park, they won’t be on the system and can’t be swabbed,” BRHS nurse unit manager of the Emergency Department, Trish Young, said.
“If they’re really sick we bring them in.” People do not leave their cars and most do the swabs themselves, one at the back of their throat and one down the nostril. The swabs are double-bagged and sent to pathology for testing on site, with results available between 24 and 72 hours, depending on the caseload.
On Monday the lineup of cars snaked out the hospital car park as 53 people were tested. Eleven of those were asymptomatic (had no symptoms).
On Sunday 18 people were tested, five asymptomatic, Saturday, 21 were tested, four asymptomatic and on Friday, 23 were tested, five of those asymptomatic.
Aged care worker, Bev Townsend, was tested on Tuesday morning after waking up with aches and a cough, unwilling to go to work in her role as a diversional therapist.
Mr Lynch said pop-up testing sites for all asymptomatic people were not yet happening in East Gippsland but there were other testing sites including the Bairnsdale Medical Group, Advantage Health, Orbost Regional Health and Mallacoota District Health and Support Service among others.
There is a list of testing sites in this area at the BRHS website.
IMAGE: Testing for COVID-19 outside the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, registered nurse, Erin Bransden, talks to a healthcare worker with symptoms.
