COVID-19 Update

Need a COVID-19 test?

Book online through Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service by scanning this QR code or visit their website.

Testing helps us find as many cases in the community as quickly as possible. This will ensure we are doing everything we can to manage Queensland’s response to the pandemic.

If you have any of the following COVID-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, get tested:

Please stay home from work, school, daycare if you are unwell and be tested.

COVID-19 Diagnosis and Testing

Tests are not perfect (30% failure rate especially early in the illness) but it is all we have.

When people are diagnosed we must not demonise them but be thankful they are identified. Then appropriate quarantine of them and people they have been in contact with can shut down local spread quickly.

It seems clear that spread by people with little in the way of symptoms is going to be the biggest problem. Social/Personal distancing 1.5m, washing/sterilising hands often, cough/sneezing into your elbow, don’t touch your face,  are still the most important habits to keep.

Masks remain tricky to give advice on. On public transport, planes or when social distancing is difficult (Rusty’s market etc) wearing a mask may protect others from you but probably not you from someone coughing/sneezing in front of you.

COVID 19 APP

The Covid 19 app, COVIDSafe, may help in the future. Hopefully, its issues on some phones will be sorted out by the time it is really useful in a few months.

Our Telephone Appointments Are Still Available

To help streamline testing for you we are keeping appointments open for telephone consultation each day.

Social distancing is key.

If you have a cough, sore throat or fever please contact reception to book a Telehealth appointment with one of our doctors. Do not come into the practice.

Patients who are unwell and their workplaces are requesting a clearance certificate should stay at home until they feel better, then self certificate or give a statutory declaration to their employer. Employers need to be flexible at this time not send mildly unwell employees to overstretched GPs please.