Mixed reactions to three-day Covid-19 testing clinic

Covid-19 Update

Howard Salkow

Senior Journalist

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The Port Douglas Community Centre where Covid-19 testing is being provided from 17-20 December from 8:00am to 3:00pm.


The decision to operate a three-day Covid-19 testing clinic in Port Douglas from 17-20 December has been greeted with mixed reactions.

While it has been seen as a great outcome in some circles, others have bemoaned the fact that three days is hopefully insufficient and described as ‘woeful’.

Ruth Crimmins, Acting Director of Nursing, Mossman Multi-Purpose Health Service, said in a statement yesterday to Newsport: “Given current demand for testing, QML are opening up a COVID-19 pop-up testing clinic at the Port Douglas Community Centre on Mowbray Street from Friday, 17 December through to Monday 20 December, 8:00am-3:00pm. No bookings are required.

“We will look to extend the operating period of this clinic, if there is increased demand for testing in the community after Monday.”

Tara Bennett, CEO, Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, was buoyed by this news.

“I think this is a great outcome and Queensland Health has responded to our needs here in Port Douglas.

“The clinic will be well used and I am confident the current time period from 17 December to 20 December will be extended,” she said.

Shirl Lyons, President of the Douglas Chamber of Commerce, questioned why it’s only available for three days.

“It does not make sense. It should at least have been operative until the New Year. For those who will arrive in Port Douglas after 13 December, the current situation will not cover the required five-day testing.

“And while I offer plaudits to Adrenalin for providing a shuttle, I believe this will open up further issues. This is not ideal and there is every chance of people on the bus being tested positive which then impacts a number of travellers,” she said.   

Perhaps the most vehement reaction came from the community group Protect our Paradise (POP), who are running a petition which has attracted nearly 400 respondents.

“Thousands of interstate travellers start to arrive in Port Douglas from today. Most are from ‘hot spots’ and are required to have a COVID test on day five of their holiday.

Hundreds upon hundreds of Port Douglas COVID tests are going to be required and it is therefore beyond belief that Queensland Health are refusing to commit to permanent COVID testing site in Port Douglas,” a spokesperson for POP said.

The spokesperson said the two steps announced by Queensland Health this week to address this matter are, with respect, woeful.

“Their decision to operate a temporary Port Douglas Clinic for just three days from 17 – 20 December is both redundant and perplexing. Interstate travellers only start arriving today which means that the earliest they can have their five-day test is on 23 December.

“And their announcement that they have organised a 13-seat minibus to transport Port Douglas holidaymakers to Mossman Hospital show how little understanding Queensland Health have of the volume of holidaymakers in Port Douglas.” 

Forgetting the inconvenience to our guests having to give up a day of their holiday to go to Mossman Hospital, a 13-seater to Mossman Hospital is not going to begin to meet demand, especially given the fact that Port Douglas holiday makers in the main do not have a car, the spokesperson said.

The community group is asking Queensland Health to do the following:

  • Respect the fact that Port Douglas is one of Australia’s most popular destinations. It might be a small town, but it has thousands of visitors at any one time – mostly from current interstate hot spots;
  • Recognise the consequent high-volume demand for COVID testing all the time Queensland Health require visitors to have a fifth day holiday test;
  • Accept the fact that Port Douglas needs a COVID testing station while the fifth day test is required by Queensland Health. If you do not. The result will be frustration and chaos.

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