The ACT’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, has announced new expanded testing criteria for Coronavirus COVID-19:
- Travellers from overseas with onset of respiratory symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath, cough, sore throat) or fever within 14 days of return.
- Close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases with respiratory symptoms or fever within 14 days of last contact.
- 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.
- Patients admitted to hospital with acute respiratory illness or unexplained fever.
- 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.
- Patients with acute respiratory illness or fever presenting with reported links to settings where COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred, in discussion with CDC.
For those who meet the testing criteria, there is a drive-through Respiratory Assessment Clinic which operates seven days per week 9.30am-6pm at Exhibition Park in Canberra. The drive-through clinic complements the dedicated Respiratory Assessment Clinic operating from the Weston Creek Walk-In Centre (7.30am-10pm daily).
Calvary Public Hospital Bruce has put arrangements in place to manage presentations to the Emergency Department and established a dedicated COVID-19 clinic for assessment and testing of individuals who present to the hospital.
A Respiratory Assessment Clinic at The Canberra Hospital will be used for testing staff from Canberra Health Services, as required. For further information and updates, visit www.health.act.gov.au
