Drive-through COVID-19 testing clinic in Alice Springs for new arrivals

The Central Australia Health Service will open a COVID-19 clinic at 17 Wilkinson Street and be open Monday to Friday from 9am until 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to noon.

"The aim of establishing a drive-through screening clinic is to offer an additional testing service to people arriving in the Territory from interstate after the borders open," said Dr Belinda Greenwood Smith, Coordinator Disease Control, Public Health Unit, Primary and Public Health.

"Anyone wanting to be tested at the drive-through clinic will need to make an appointment first by calling 1800 008 002," Dr Greenwood Smith said.

"Only people arriving in private vehicles will be tested. Anyone arriving in a taxi, on a bicycle or a motorbike or on foot will not be tested and will have to call the 1800 number to make an appointment.

"Also, people without an appointment arriving with someone who has an appointment will not be tested."

CAHS will have security guards monitoring the access to the drive-through testing clinic to ensure vehicle traffic flows efficiently through the driveway.

"If you are unwell and turn up to be tested you will be transferred to Alice Springs Hospital for assessment," Dr Belinda Greenwood Smith said.

"It is important that we protect the wellbeing of staff members and other people who are being tested at the Wilkinson Street clinic."

The drive-through testing clinic is the preferred testing site in Alice Springs.

Please note that appointment bookings can only be made by calling 1800 008 002 between 8:30am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

Children under 12 years of age will not be tested at the drive-through testing clinic. Parents need to make an appointment with their GP.

Alice Springs residents also can make appointments to be tested at Central Clinic, Mall Clinic or the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.

In Tennant Creek residents can make an appointment to be tested at Anyinginyi Heath Aboriginal Corporation and Tennant Creek Hospital.

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