This week some of the public swab clinics are struggling to keep up with demand, in particular the drive-through clinics at Rozelle and Summer Hill. There are lots of other options, so check the map for what’s closest to you – eg .Canterbury Hospital, Redfern Community Health, the pop-up clinic in Surry Hills.
One of our doctors can provide you with a request form for any of the private pathology companies, and this might be a quicker option. They include a drive-in clinic at Stanmore, and some pathology services at Marrickville and Earlwood. Please call for a quick appointment to organise a request form.
NSW Health recommends that anyone with respiratory symptoms or unexplained fever should be tested for COVID-19.
Relevant symptoms that could be COVID-19 related are fever ≥37.5, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell and loss of taste.
Other reported symptoms of COVID-19 include runny nose, muscle pain, joint pain, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting and loss of appetite.
If you have these symptoms you should stay at home and arranged to get tested.
In particular, we ask you to keep an eye on the hot spots and information about venues in NSW where known positive COVID cases have been traced, and follow the advice here. Note there are businesses listed here in several suburbs in the inner west and inner city, as well as the recommendation to have a low threshold for anyone who has been in the whole of Potts Point.
When attending a COVID swab clinic you should take your Medicare card and/or ID, wear a mask to attend, and be self-isolating before and after attending. This means that you need to wait for your test result until you go to work, shopping, go on public transport, attend the gym or do anything outside of your house that involves interacting with other members of the public. The turnaround time is about 48 hours.
As per the Public Health Order you are required to self-isolate for 14 days if you arrived in NSW from Victoria from 8 July. Call if you need a phone consultation during this period
If you have severe symptoms, like increasing shortness of breath, you should call you local Emergency Department and present there either by Ambulance 000 or taken by a family member. You need to let people know that you fit the criteria for suspect COVID-19 case so that they can treat you appropriately.
For further information, see this link about who to call.