By Jeremy Sollars
Queensland Health says a drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic at Warwick Hospital will open “when the number of patients presenting to the hospital and meeting the criteria for testing reaches a level that requires a standalone clinic”.
A spokeswoman for Darling Downs Health told the Free Times today – Friday 3 April – that “at present we are not at this point, however, we have allocated specific resources to the drive through testing clinic and have plans in place to activate it quickly when required”.
“The clinic will be located on Locke Street, in front of the hospital,” the spokeswoman said.
The Southern Downs Regional Council this week announced traffic arrangements affecting Locke Street and Wallace Streets in relation to the clinic.
“All Hospital and Health Services across the state have strategies and plans in place to respond to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure adequate supplies, equipment, staff and contingencies across all hospitals,” the Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation.
“All Queensland hospitals, including those in the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, will respond to the outbreak according to existing strategies and plans as the situation develops.”
LOCAL SITUATION…NO NEW CASES…
As of today, Friday, the only known case of COVID-19 in the Warwick and Stanthorpe regions – being Peter Wright, co-owner of Rose City Premium Meats – is still listed as a current case but he is awaiting test results to confirm he is free of the virus. He remains in home isolation for now in accordance with Queensland Health requirements.
As announced earlier in the week Rose City Premium Meats in Rose City Shoppingworld will re-open tomorrow, Saturday 4 April, but Peter himself will not return to work until his final results have come through, expected in the next few days. Staff re-commencing work at the business have all completed quarantine requirements.
Peter said customers will be required to follow safe distance measures and designated shopping zones, while staff will also have their own set of work zones, segregated duties and work hours, and the business has been working closely with Queensland Health on implementation of all necessary measures to allow it to re-open.
REGIONAL SITUATION…
As of today, the Darling Downs Health region has 39 total confirmed cases of COVID-19.
These include –
• Toowoomba 30
• Oakey 4
• Kingaroy 3
• Miles 1
• (Warwick 1)
The Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said there are no new public health alerts for the Darling Downs region at present but contact tracing alerts can be founds here: bit.ly/qhcontacttracing
• More COVID-19 updates at – www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus
