Cairns Hospital Testing Clinic – DeJarlais Function Centre, Cairns Showgrounds
Event by Cairns and Hinterland hospital and Health Service.
On Tuesday 11 January we will no longer have our PCR testing clinic at Cairns Hospital. We will be moving to the DeJarlais Function Centre at Cairns Showgrounds.
This will give us a larger capacity for testing as the bigger venue will allow for more staff to be conducting swabbing simultaneously.
The clinic will be open 7 days a week, 8am – 4pm, and will extend opening hours to 10pm when necessary.
The new clinic has ample parking at the showgrounds and the surrounding streets. You can access the clinic through the Severin St gate or through the main entrance on the corner of Mulgrave Rd.
We suggest you consider bringing a bottle of water, consider wearing sunscreen and a hat, umbrella, a book, and any important items you may need such as medications.
This is a walk-in only clinic. Our drive-through clinic is still located at 43 Aumuller St, Portsmith and open 7 days a week 8am-10pm.
Reminder: PCR testing clinics should be only for patients presenting with symptoms of COVID-19, who cannot access at Rapid Antigen Test (RAT); a close contact of a COVID-19 case who cannot access a RAT; or those who require a COVID-19 test to leave home quarantine and cannot obtain a RAT.
UPDATE FROM 14TH January 2022:
In Cairns, because we have very limited stocks of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), we can ONLY provide RATS for:
– Close contacts (ie. household members) of a confirmed case who DO NOT have symptoms and require a Day 6 test to exit quarantine.
– Cairns essential workers (must be able to present ID) with symptoms of COVID-19; OR who require a RAT to return to work
If you don’t meet the above criteria – please get a PCR test instead.
Essential workers in the Cairns area are:- Frontline health care staff from all agencies including GPs / – Emergency services staff /- Defence /- Corrective services /- Public transport operators /- Freights, maritime and aircrew / – Those who maintain power and water connection, waste and sewerage.
We are not yet able to provide RATs for other people (such as concession card holders and people who aren’t critical essential workers).
You may not need a RAT to leave isolation if you tested positive to COVID-19 AND have: – FINISHED 7-days of isolation since your positive test, and SYMPTOM-FREE for the past 48 hrs
You do not need a RAT to leave isolation if you meet the above criteria.
Thank you to all our fever clinic staff who are working tirelessly in this FNQ heat to help our community!
For further info on fever clinic testing, visit: visit www.qld.gov.au/health/covid19/testing
