THE Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) is continuing to explore potential locations to relocate and improve access to COVID19 testing in Mount Gambier and Naracoorte.
It follows the network undertaking more than 5500 tests between July 29 and August 9 when demand for testing significantly increased as a result of a new emergency management direction.
The change resulted in long queues and threehour wait times at the Mount Gambier Hospital and triggered calls for a second testing site in the Blue Lake city.
With testing demand remaining steady, LCLHN chief executive Ngaire Buchanan said the potential for a new site continued to be explored.
“It is pleasing to see a large number of people in the Limestone Coast community continue to present for COVID-19 testing,” Ms Buchanan said.
“We are continuing to look at potential locations to relocate and improve access to testing at Mount Gambier and Naracoorte hospitals.”
However, Ms Buchanan revealed the wait times had been somewhat eased thanks to increased staff at the Mount Gambier Hospital’s COVID-19 testing site.
“Staffing numbers at Mount Gambier hospital’s COVID-19 clinic has recently increased with the on boarding of six additional staff members and we will continue to monitor the situation and respond to demand.”
While no new cases of the virus were recorded in South Australia yesterday despite 4029 tests, Ms Buchanan said the region’s health sector remained alert.
“We remain on high alert to the potential of COVID-19 entering our community and continue to encourage people to take all necessary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including maintaining good hand hygiene and physical distancing,” she said.
She said the hospital was well-prepared with sufficient stocks of personal protective equipment available for staff.
“As we have done from the beginning of the pandemic, we continue to monitor its usage and availability,” she said.
“We are well placed to respond to any increase in demand for PPE through the Incident Management Team (IMT) and are working closely with SA Pathology to monitor testing demand.”
Across the border Victoria recorded 331 new cases yesterday, while New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed her heightened anxiety about a second wave in her state following 22 new positive cases.
