There are some important changes happening at our COVID-19 testing centres this weekend, ACT Health has announced.

From 3.50pm on Friday 10 June, the COVID-19 testing centre in Nicholls (Gold Creek) will be permanently closed. Staff from this testing centre will take over operations at the Mitchell drive-through testing centre. This will allow the current Canberra Health Services (CHS) staff at Mitchell to be redeployed to Canberra Hospital and elsewhere across the healthcare system as needed.

On Saturday 11 June, the Mitchell drive-through testing centre will only be distributing rapid antigen tests (RATs) to allow staff from Nicholls to set-up their operations at the Mitchell site. No PCR tests will be available at Mitchell on Saturday.

From Sunday 12 June, the Mitchell drive-through testing centre will open for all age groups. Previously, only people aged 5 and over could use this facility. A new dedicated ‘Park and Test’ bay will be set-up to allow children and babies under 5 years to get tested.

The Mitchell testing centre will remain open on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday (Monday 13 June) for the current hours of 10.30am to 6pm, along with the testing centres at Garran (7.30am to 9pm), Holt Capital Pathology (8am to noon) and Kambah (8am to noon).

From Tuesday 14 June, the Mitchell drive-through testing centre will operate with expanded opening hours from 8am to 6pm daily.

Other ACT COVID-19 walk-in and drive-through testing centres at Holt, Garran, and Kambah will continue to operate as normal. Winnunga Nimmityjah respiratory clinic will continue to operate and provide testing services for First Nations people, while appointments can be booked at YourGP@Crace and Ochre Medical Centre Lakeview general practitioners.

ACT Health thanked its colleagues at CHS who have staffed the Mitchell testing centre.

For all ACT COVID-19 testing centre locations and opening hours, visit www.covid19.act.gov.au/testing-locations.