Additional Townsville COVID testing site to open Tuesday
Date published: 9 August 2021
An additional drive-through COVID-19 testing site will open in Townsville tomorrow (Tuesday 10 August) in response to a sudden increase in demand for testing locally following a case in Cairns.
The site will be located at the Reid Park pit complex on Boundary Street in Railway Estate and will operate from 8am-4pm.
Members of the public wanting to be tested must bring their Medicare card with them.
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group, at the request of the Townsville Hospital and Health Service, is supporting the establishment of the site and has liaised with private provider Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology to operate it.
TLDMG chairperson Jenny Hill commended Townsville residents for taking the threat of COVID-19 seriously.
“The Chief Health Officer put the Cairns and Yarrabah local government areas into a three-day lockdown at 4pm yesterday (Sunday 8 August) after a taxi driver in Cairns tested positive for COVID-19 and was potentially infectious in the community for up to 10 days,” Cr Hill said.
“We know plenty of people travel between Townsville and Cairns every day for work and recreation and it is encouraging that so many Townsville residents are taking the threat of COVID seriously and are getting tested.
“We want the testing process to be as efficient as possible for these people. That’s why the TLDMG is pleased to provide this support to the Townsville HHS.”
Townsville Hospital and Health Service chief executive Kieran Keyes said the additional testing site was important in identifying any potential cases of COVID-19 as soon as possible.
“We’re pleased to have worked with the Townsville Local Disaster Management Group and Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology to make this happen,” he said.
“Cairns and Yarrabah local government areas have been placed into lockdown to protect not only those communities, but to prevent cases in other regions like Townsville.
“It is still important for people who have been to an exposure site in Cairns or have any symptoms of COVID-19 to not delay getting tested at one of the two testing sites available tomorrow.
“People should isolate at home until they receive their result.”
TLDMG is continuing to work to identify a third testing site for Townsville. More details on this site will be released when confirmed.
