AFTER the coronavirus testing criteria was expanded yesterday (March 22), Canberrans have flocked to the drive-through testing site at Exhibition Park. 

The ACT’s chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman announced the new criteria yesterday, which aligns with the NSW criteria.

The new testing criteria includes:

1. Travellers from overseas with onset of respiratory symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat) or fever (?38C) within 14 days of return.
2. Close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases with respiratory symptoms or fever within 14 days of last contact.
3. Healthcare workers with recent onset of respiratory symptoms AND fever irrespective of travel history. Healthcare workers who have fever OR respiratory symptoms should be assessed for testing on a case-by-case basis.
4. Patients admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illness or unexplained fever (e.g. not associated with a urinary tract infection).
5. Patients with acute respiratory illness or unexplained fever in other high risk settings, such aged care facilities, residential care facilities, boarding schools, and cruise ships.
6. Patients with acute respiratory illness or fever presenting with reported links to settings where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred, in discussion with CDC.