Adelaide residents lining up at a COVID-19 testing clinic at the centre of the city’s recent outbreak have reportedly been told to expect wait times of up to eleven hours.
Long queues formed outside the Parafield pop-up testing site this morning, as the city responds to a cluster which today grew to 18 confirmed cases – an increase of one from yesterday’s total.
JUST IN: Wait times here at the Parafield mobile testing centre are now at 11 HOURS. There has been a huge response, this centre has the capacity to process around 50 swabs an hour. @TheTodayShow @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/h81Qc34AA2
— Mike Lorigan (@mikelorigan) November 16, 2020
In a statement, SA Health advised folks across the city to expect lengthy wait times.
“We ask that you please be patient with staff who are working hard to organise logistics and collect samples,” SA Health said.
“Be prepared for delays by bringing water and snacks with you.”
SA Police have also warned of “very heavy traffic congestion” near testing sites in Daw Park, Victoria Park, and Port Adelaide, advising motorists not to queue over intersections.
Today’s encouraging community response follows from yesterday’s testing blitz, which SA Health said resulted in several testing sites reaching capacity.
Queues spanning several hundred metres are forming outside a covid-19 testing clinic next to the Elizabeth Aquadome. SA Health says anyone who was at the Aquadome on Sat, Nov 14 between 11am & 1:30PM should get tested immediately if you develop symptoms @abcadelaide pic.twitter.com/yeBauMligo
— Claire Campbell (@clairehcampbell) November 16, 2020
SA Health yesterday said the blitz had brought the total number of tests to more than 590,000 since the dawn of the pandemic.
Anyone with symptoms has been urged to get tested.
The recent cluster caused the reintroduction of several restrictions in South Australia.
Hospitality venues will be forced to cap attendance at 100 patrons, and a maximum of ten people will be allowed per booking. The state will also reverse the ‘vertical consumption’ drinking rules it introduced in October.
Gatherings at private residences are now capped at ten people, while gyms and indoor recreation facilities will also close.
Public events scheduled for the next fortnight which had approved COVID-19 safety plans will be suspended.
Those restrictions, along with other patronage limits on funerals and places of worship, will continue for the next two weeks.
In addition, international flights to Adelaide Airport have been suspended, while QLD, WA, Tasmania, and the NT have closed their borders to the state.
The recent cluster is another grim reminder that the virus refuses to let up, and marked SA’s first confirmed cases of community transmission in seven months.
Take care, folks.
