CORONAVIRUS testing has increased to record levels as Mount Gambier testing numbers jumped by 30pc this week, with the region’s medical chief attributing the increase to changes to testing criteria.
On Tuesday, South Australia recorded its largest single-day COVID-19 testing number since the pandemic struck with 2507 tests undertaken across the state.
Compared to last week, testing at Mount Gambier has increased by 30pc with Limestone Coast Local Health Network executive director of medical services Dr Elaine Pretorius attributing the increase to GP referrals no longer being required for testing.
Dr Pretorius said the drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic had tested between 50 to 100 people each day since the GP referral requirement was removed.
She said was pleased with the high numbers and said any changes in testing was likely to be determined by future cases.
“I think the numbers will reduce as most people who wanted the test, have it,” she said.
“It will increase if we have a case.”
COVID-19 testing is now mandatory for individuals crossing the South Australian border from Victoria and between 40 and 60 tests are being undertaken on Victorian travellers each day across the state.
Dr Pretorius said approximately 20 inpatients at the Mount Gambier Hospital were being tested each week, with 30 tests undertaken at the Millicent and District Hospital each week and seven at the Bordertown Memorial Hospital.
She said the Millicent numbers were steady while the comparatively low Bordertown figure was likely a result of the newly implemented testing station at the Dukes Highway border crossing.
It follows the roll out of a fleet of SA Pathology mobile testing vans across South Australia, including border crossings near Mount Gambier, Bordertown and Yamba.
SA Pathology clinical director Dr Tom Dodd said the mobile testing clinics had been established at the key border crossings – including at the Princes Highway border crossing – to bolster the government department’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The flexibility of the mobile testing vans means we can take testing straight to the border which is an important tool given the current outbreak in Victoria,” he said.
Dr Todd said the border testing services are specifically for South Australians entering the state from Victoria and are not available for routine swabbing of Limestone Coast individuals.
Mobile COVID-19 testing services are currently in operation at Tailem Bend from 8am to 4pm and no GP referral is required.
SA Health said the breakdown of collections performed at mobile COVID testing vans was currently not available, but is understood operators have undertaken less than a handful of tests each day.
Yesterday, South Australian chief medical officer Professor Nicola Spurrier added two cases towards South Australia’s COVID-19 tally, including a woman in her 50s who had returned two negative results while undertaking compulsory hotel quarantine in Melbourne.
However, only one of the two new cases is considered active.
Prof Spurrier said the woman recorded a negative on her arrival to the state on July 10, but a second test on day 12 of her compulsory South Australian quarantine was ambiguous.
“Sometimes when you do these PCR tests, it was reported as equivocal, so my team has taken a bit of time to repeat that test and we have decided to call that a positive test,” she said.
“We have decided to be particularly cautious and call this an active case.
“She will be remaining in isolation for 10 days from the beginning of that diagnosis.”
The second case is a woman in her 30s who returned to Adelaide after being repatriated on a flight from Mumbai last month.
The case is considered an old infection but has been added on South Australia’s COVID-19 tally, now at 446 cases.
