GOLD Coast coronavirus testing clinics are so overstretched sick people are fainting in the heat, being turned away or giving up after waiting six hours or more, residents claim. Currumbin resident Virginia Boniface waited from about 9am-4.30pm to be tested at Robina Hospital in searing heat on Tuesday after interacting with Sydney travellers. She applauded staff who did their best in trying times, but said testing needed fine tuning . None of us knew it would be that long, she said. There was a few who fainted, older people. I am quite sunburnt, but it could have been a lot worse. There was a pharmacy nearby so we ended up with a litre of sunblock. I actually had an umbrella in the car and we bought some Gatorade because we were just so dehydrated.
Health by Luke Mortimer, Andrew Potts and Kyle Wisniewski 22nd Dec 2020 7:37 AM
Premium Content MAYOR Tom Tate has pleaded with Gold Coast residents and visitors to do the right thing as maskless Christmas crowds pack in shoulder-to-shoulder at bustling city shopping centres. He has warned social distancing and other COVID-19 prevention measures are crucial to avoid tougher restrictions being imposed, and the potential spread of the virus. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate speaking to the media. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Steve Holland The State Government has already closed the border to almost five million Greater Sydney residents in response to an outbreak in the metropolis, which reached 83 cases on Monday.