It comes after a week of spiralling case numbers as interstate borders opened, with South Australia and New South Wales recording their highest daily testing numbers on record. In Sydney there are reports of massive queues at North Ryde, Westmead, St Leonards, Bondi, Rushcutters Bay and Sydney International Airport.There are reportedly shortly lines at Fairfield Hospital, Prairiewood, the Rouse Hill Drive-Through Clinic, Rouse Hills and the Redfern walk-in clinic. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned the state’s testing system was under “massive pressure” due to the surge. Mr Hazzard said both testing sites and the laboratories processing the results were feeling the heat. “Obviously they’re trying to access the various products that are required to do the testing, but that’s not the sole issue,” he said.“The issue is also that the staffing from not only doing the actual pathology testing, but also the administration — making sure people are advised of their results — is currently under massive pressure.”More than 426,000 people have turned out to get tested in NSW since Friday with 8,000 returning a positive result. Tuesday saw a record 3,057 new cases on Tuesday.Covid-19 testing in VictoriaThe demand is so high it caused multiple Covid-19 testing sites to shut across Melbourne on Wednesday morning. The Victorian health department’s website listed 10 sites which were shut with the warning, “over capacity – no further accepted”.The following sites are currently shut:Central Bayside Community Health Services CheltenhamHeidelberg Repatriation HospitalSpringers Leisure CentreChadstone Golfers DriveAlfred HealthMontague Street South MelbourneSt Vincent’s Hospital fever clinicLa Trobe UniversityIPC Health Deer ParkWantirna Health trash and treasure marketIn Victoria, the Albert Park testing facility reached capacity shortly after 6am, with some people showing up as early as 4.30am. The chaos has resulted in hundreds being turned away before the facility is even supposed to open. Despite the threat of Omicron, Victoria’s case tally has remained relatively consistent with the state recording 1245 cases and six Covid deaths on Tuesday. Queensland, which is preparing for an influx of visitors during the festive period, requires people from NSW or Victoria to take a Covid test on day five of their trip.So far, more than 200,000 border passes have been granted to interstate travellers and fines will be slapped on those who don’t follow the state’s testing protocols.The state recorded 86 new Covid infections on Tuesday along with shorter quarantine and isolation periods for close and casual contacts.The state now has 61 cases of the Omicron variant and 269 active cases in total.State leaders are preparing for an emergency national cabinet on Wednesday where Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he has “strong recommendations” for the weeks ahead.
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