After providing Covid-19 testing services across the Health Service, often seven days a week for over two years, Darling Downs Health Covid-19 testing sites will close at 4 pm on 2 September 2022.
Darling Downs Health looks after a wide region, including the Southern Downs.
Regional testing locations across Darling Downs Health facilities processed over 247,321 during the same period.
Darling Downs Health Acting Chief Executive Shirley-Anne Gardiner praised the efforts of staff to keep the community safe and informed throughout the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“To look back now and see the speed at which we developed this testing capability is really a testament to the hard work and selflessness of our staff,” Ms Gardiner said
“We were dealing with a new virus and amidst the uncertainties of the last two years, these testing sites were able to provide accurate and timely information to our Public Health teams and residents about Covid-19 within the community.”
Acting Executive Lead, Health Emergency Operation Centre Michelle Forrest said the testing sites had been a success in detecting and suppressing Covid-19 in the community for so long, but the response to the virus was now changing.
“That large-scale testing was incredibly effective, but it has served its time. During 2020 and up until December 2021, suppression of Covid-19 was key to ensuring the safety of people in the community, and testing sites like ours really enabled that,” Ms Forrest said
“The response to the virus will continue to change, especially as people choose to use rapid antigen tests themselves and private pathology capability increases. The decision to close the service is another step in our transition to new ways of living with the virus.
While the testing sites will close from 2 September, Chris Pearse, the Covid-19 Testing Coordinator said there was still time for the community to visit a site and receive a test.
“The community will continue to be greeted by our friendly staff until 2 September and receive the test most suitable to them, in line with Government guidelines,” Mr Pearse said.
“It really has been an incredible achievement and the staff that have worked at all of our testing sites should be proud of their efforts in protecting the community.”
From 3 September, members of the community who need access to a Covid-19 test should conduct a rapid antigen test (RAT), visit a Commonwealth Respiratory Clinic or contact their GP to arrange a referral to a private pathology provider.
Eligible concession card holders can access free RAT kits at Queensland Health distribution points.
Covid by the numbers
2,091 new cases of Covid-19 have been announced in the past 24 hours.
Of those cases, 1,379 were reported via Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) and 712 were reported through PCR testing.
The Southern Downs reported 3,161 cases, with a rise of just over 20 cases since Tuesday.
321 people were in the hospital across the state, with 16 in the ICU.
8 deaths were reported in the past 24 hours.
Queensland had 15,660 active cases, with 1,597,470 total cases reported so far in the pandemic.
94.6 per cent of Queenslanders have their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 93 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated.
