A DRIVE through testing centre will open at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) tomorrow (March 20) as a place for people to go to get tested for COVID-19. 

But, it’s not for everyone, says Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith, who says the drive through respiratory assessment clinic will be for people who meet the testing criteria.

“The respiratory assessment clinic at the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre has been experiencing strong demand, so to assist with meeting this demand we will be providing Canberrans with the option for drive through COVID-19 testing at EPIC,” she says.

“We’re asking people presenting for a COVID-19 test to check prior to attending that they meet the meet the criteria for testing, just as we are with the respiratory assessment clinic at the Weston Creek Walk-in Centre.”

The clinic will only test people who have travelled overseas recently, or have developed symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of leaving an overseas country, people who have been informed by their local public health unit that they’ve come in contact with someone with COVID-19 and have developed symptoms of the disease within 14 days, and people who are a healthcare worker and have been in direct patient contact, and, people who have fever and acute respiratory symptoms, even if they have not recently travelled or had contact with someone who has COVID-19.

“You must also be driving or a passenger of a motor vehicle or motorbike. You will not be able to access the drive through testing service from public transport, or as a pedestrian,” Ms Stephen-Smith says.

“For north side residents who are not able to drive to EPIC, both the Belconnen and Gungahlin Walk-in Centres can undertake assessment and testing for COVID-19, but Weston Creek remains the recommended location.”

People presenting to the drive through respiratory assessment clinic will first be screened to ensure they meet the criteria for testing before proceeding by vehicle into the Budawang Pavilion for testing, Ms Stephen-Smith says.

They will not be required to leave their vehicle and security and traffic operations will be on site to assist with traffic flow.

The drive-through clinic will operate seven days per week, from 9.30am to 6pm, and be staffed by experienced nursing and administrative staff from Canberra Health Services.

The ACT’s public health services have already tested more than 1800 people for COVID-19 since February 10 and in recent days have tested more than 200 people per day.

For ongoing up to date information on COVID-19 please visit health.act.gov.au