By Jeremy Sollars
Queensland Health has advised that drive-through Covid-19 testing sites at the Warwick and Stanthorpe Hospitals will be open across the weekend and on Monday as the call for any locals displaying symptoms to get tested is repeated.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young issued the call on Wednesday of this week following the discovery of Covid-19 ‘fragments’ in wastewater samples from Warwick and Stanthorpe the previous week.
Fragments of the virus shedded into wastewater are non-infectious but can indicate that a carrier of the virus has been in the area, including after their own infectious period is over.
Meanwhile the local government areas of Greater Brisbane – Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan – will go into a three-day lockdown from 6pm tonight, Friday 8 January, until 6pm on Monday following a hotel worker from Brisbane having been found with a new strain of Covid-19 (more Greaster Brisbane lockdown details below).
But Queensland Health also requires anyone who travelled through Greater Brisbane on or since last Saturday 2 January – including Southern Downs and Granite Belt residents who did so – “to follow the same lockdown rules where they are now” and to “only leave your home for the essential reasons and wear a mask”.
There are no current active cases of Covid-19 in the Darling Downs region.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said this weekend, the opening hours of local testing sites are –
• Baillie Henderson Hospital drive-in site – Open today (Friday) until Monday 11 January, 8.30am to 4pm
• Warwick Hospital pop-up drive-in site Open today until Monday 11 January, 8am to 5pm Please phone ahead on 4660 3900
• Stanthorpe Hospital pop-up drive-in site Open today until Monday 11 January, 8am to 5pm Please phone ahead on 4683 3400.
• Goondiwindi Hospital pop-up drive-in site Open today until Monday 11 January, 8am to 5pm Please phone ahead on 4578 2400.
“Opening hours for all our testing sites are subject to weather,” the spokeswoman said.
“Keep an eye out on the Darling Downs Health Facebook page for updates.
“Our testing locations can be busy, so please be patient.
“Waiting times at testing locations can vary so please be prepared to wait and bring your Medicare card and other items you may need (for example, your mobile phone, phone charger, medications you may need to take while waiting, food and water, hat and sunscreen).
“For more information about our testing sites, please visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns or phone the Darling Downs Health COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 490 468.
“We’re all working together to keep everyone safe.
“If your local testing clinic is crowded, consider attending another one.
“A full list of testing sites can be found at www.qld.gov.au/covid19testing
“Common symptoms of COVID-19 include –
• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting or nausea
• Loss of taste or smell.
“You can also be tested at local GP respiratory clinics including:
• James Neil Medical, Toowoomba – appointments essential, phone 4632 4888
• Carbal Medical Services, Toowoomba – appointments essential, phone 4580 1400
• Condamine Medical Centre, Warwick – appointments essential, phone 4666 9666.
GREATER BRISBANE LOCKDOWN – QLD HEALTH INFO –
Guidance regarding movement in and out of Greater Brisbane – the lockdown also applies to anyone, including from the Southern Downs and Granite Belt, who visited Greater Brisbane on or since last Saturday 2 December.The lockdown applies from 6pm tonight – Friday 8 December – to 6pm on Monday, 11 December.• Stay at home and in your neighbourhood
• People can choose to enter Brisbane during this period but are bound by the same restrictions for this period. Where possible people are encouraged to delay travel
• People can enter greater Brisbane to attain health care
• People should not leave Greater Brisbane during this period
• Non-residents currently in Greater Brisbane are strongly encouraged to remain until the end of the restriction period.
Reasons for leaving home:
• Essential education and work, although work from home where possible
• Health care or support of a vulnerable person
• Essential shopping but within your local area
• Exercise in your neighbourhood (local area) with no more than one person from your household
Restrictions:
• Masks are to be worn at all times when outside of your place of residence, this includes in workplaces and public transport
• 20 people can attend funerals, 10 people can attend weddings (no dancing or singing)
• Limit of two visitors in homes
• Restaurants and cafes to provide takeaway service only
• Cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, gyms etc to close
• Places of worship to close
