Some of Canberra’s iconic events, including Summernats and the Royal Canberra Show, will be back at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC) in 2022 after the long-standing Covid-19 testing clinic closes this week.

The booking of events at EPIC brings forward a welcomed “Covid-normal summer”, said ACT Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith. 

Ms Stephen-Smith said the clinic has been the “backbone” of the ACT’s testing network since its opening in March 2020, performing nearly 250,000 tests, but it’s time for EPIC to return to normal.

“This is another important step for Canberra’s economic recovery as events help to stimulate our economy and assist with social benefits for the community. We will ensure there is ample capacity across our testing clinics over the holiday period so that anyone who needs to get tested can do so in a timely manner,” she said.  

The Covid-19 testing centre at EPIC will be permanently closing on Friday 17 December at 10pm. 

Joining the existing clinics in Garran, Kambah, and Nicholls, a new drive-through testing site in Mitchell will be opening at 2 Tooth Street, mirroring the arrangements at EPIC, and operating from 8am to 10pm seven days a week.

“While the Mitchell site is smaller than EPIC, it is just one in a network of testing clinics available across the ACT. We will ensure there is ample capacity across our testing clinics over the holiday period so that anyone who needs to get tested can do so in a timely manner,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

“Over the holiday period, it’s still really important for Canberrans to get tested if they experience the mildest of symptoms or are identified as a close or casual contact. Covid-19 isn’t taking a holiday.”

The Covid-19 testing sites that are operating across Canberra over the holiday period are:

•             Mitchell COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Centre – 8am-10pm, seven days a week (including public holidays)

•             Garran COVID-19 Testing Centre – 7am-9pm, seven days a week (including public holidays)

•             Kambah COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Centre – 8am-4pm, seven days a week (8am-12 noon on public holidays)

The Nicholls COVID-19 Testing Centre will be closed from 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022.

Visit covid19.act.gov.au to find out more information on Covid-19 testing sites in the ACT.  

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