Two Griffith GPs will lead the second COVID-19 testing clinic in the city.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The clinic, which opened on Tuesday, is focusing on testing for respiratory symptoms that are present when someone is infected with COVID-19.
Dr Marion Reeves and Dr Thevashanger Vasuthevan will be testing patients for the virus at the new clinic.
The clinic is funded by the federal government and is one of 100 similar other clinics scattered around the nation.
Dr Reeves said the clinic was there to alleviate the pressure on the testing clinic at Griffith Base Hospital and reduce the risk that a patient with COVID-19 may be sitting in a GP's waiting room.
"The government wants more testing done, so we can identify any cluster or outbreaks early," Dr Reeves said.
"This respiratory clinic is working in conjunction with the fever clinic at Griffith Base Hospital.
"We're set up for testing and assessment of respiratory symptoms, and the majority of (COVID-19) symptoms are respiratory."
While normally this time of year is usually associated with people getting the common cold or influenza, Dr Reeves said anyone with symptoms including a fever, dry cough, sore throat and the lost of taste of smell should get tested for COVID.
Dr Reeves said people should also make sure they get their 'flu vaccine.
She said the more people who were using the COVIDSafe app meant tracking the people that may have come in contact with someone who tests positive would be far easier.
"Otherwise you have to remember who you had contact with four four days," Dr Reeves said.
Strict measures have been put in place to protect the GPs and nurses working at the clinic as well as other patients, which means patients will have to wait in their care before their appointment for their test and will have no contact with anyone else booked in for a test.
"Everyone is in full PPE at all times," Dr Reeves said.
READ MORE
"Anybody who presents with symptoms, we have to assume they have the virus, and they have to assume they're positive until they have a negative result," she said.
Test results will be completed within 48 hours and Dr Reeves said people who had been tested needed to self-isolate until they received the results of the test.
Dr Reeves said people would be working through the weekend to make sure people got their results as efficiently as possible.
Dr Reeves said anyone who was feeling ill should stay home or get tested for COVID-19 and the community should maintain social distancing and good quality hand hygiene.
"If we get an outbreak we will be locked down and no-one wants to go back into lockdown," she said.
There are appointments available at the respiratory clinic and Dr Reeves said people could book appointments by calling 6962 7661 or using the Hotdoc website.
The clinic is located next door to Your Health Griffith in Binya Street.
The Hotdoc website allows patients to fill in some of their details making the process easier, www.hotdoc.com.au/search?in=sydney-NSW-2000&purpose=respiratory&where=service:respiratory