Coronavirus Testing

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:55): My questions are to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding COVID-19.

1. Has the minister received any advice about the wait times at COVID-19 test sites; if so, what are those wait times?

2. Is the minister aware of any testing stations that have turned people away?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (14:55): I am still waiting for final figures for yesterday's test results, but the lowest estimate I have received so far is more than 4,000. It is a very strong response from the people of South Australia within less than 48 hours: the positive test result was received either about quarter to 12 on Saturday night or half past 12—in that sort of time frame—and it went to the Chief Public Health Officer, as appropriate. In slightly more than 24 hours we had an extraordinary response from South Australians going to get tested.

We saw it again today. I had a report of one clinic that at 6 o'clock—in other words, two hours before its opening time—already had 60 people lined up. There has been an extraordinary response by the people of South Australia and we thank them for that. We have now had more than half a million samples taken in South Australia, and the percentage of the population is almost 20 per cent.

In terms of the honourable member's comment in relation to wait times, there certainly have been delays, and we are grateful to the people of South Australia for their patience, because with these sorts of numbers presenting it is just not possible for the clinics to deal with the spike in demand. Even on the first day, the Monday—which is yesterday—opening hours were extended for key COVID clinics: Victoria Park, Parafield Airport, Elizabeth and Magill all stayed open until 8pm.

I understand that on ABC Radio this morning Tom Dodd, from SA Pathology, said that by midnight last night SA Pathology had processed 3½ thousand test results. What was extraordinary was that he indicated the turnaround time of nine hours was maintained; that is quite extraordinary when you have such a large number of tests.

The SA Health team has not only added the Parafield clinic—which I understand was opened yesterday—and not only extended hours, they are actively looking at what they can do to improve the flow in the context of the outbreak. There is a significant number of people who are being tested due to self-presentation, and there would also be many people who, as a result of being part of contract tracing identification, would either need to or might want to have a COVID test.