As Christmas approaches with all the subtlety of a steam train, Australians are rushing to do two things: buy presents and get a COVID-19 test.
Consequently, the lines at both the shops and many COVID-19 test centres are heaving. So much so that some Australians are being forced to wait hours for their swab.
But an Instagram Story by travel savant Shaun Birley, who was recently trying to get tested in Sydney before going to Queensland, shows there might be a quicker way than just rocking up.
Unfortunately for Shaun, the revelation came too late. But if you are, for whatever reason, needing to be tested in the peak hour leading up to Christmas, then it’s not too late for you.
Video: Aussie influencer Shaun Birley lines up for COVID-19 test, realises there could have been a quicker way
In the video, Shaun zooms in on a window in the background behind the queue, where there is a sign saying: “the line is much shorter in the arvo.” He captions his own video: “Dammit!! Wish I saw that 4 hours ago.”
Shaun isn’t alone in getting stuck in a long line. Various Reddit users in the r/CoronavirusDownunder community have taken to the platform to share their irritation with the long waits they have been experiencing.
One, attaching a rather intimidating video of what looks to be in excess of 70 cars backed up, wrote: “Covid testing line this morning at 6:20am, as we left having just been tested. We had lined up from 5:10am.”
Another wrote: “Got to darebin first thing this morning for testing. 4 hour wait then told to leave. Nearly every other place is horrifically long to wait and drive through testings are all full. People will just stop.”
“Update – last two places included walk ins – 3 and 2 hour waits….I am all for abiding by the rules but this really makes me less judgemental to those who may not check in anymore to avoid contact traces (i will still check in). Why is it like this? UK have home kits and results back next day – Testing wait times are not an issue.”
Various comments in the thread supported the same message Shaun saw in Sydney – encouraging those needing to get tested to go later in the day.
One wrote: “Lots of people going first thing in the morning. Yesterday it seemed that testing was better later in the day.”
Another added: “This. I drive past our local testing site every day, and first thing in the morning the cars are around the block. After lunch time it was only 10~20 cars.”
Though it’s understandable if you want to go in the morning to ensure you get it done (as one commenter pointed out: “Around me the clinics shut early because they ran out of testing equipment. It’s screwed people trying to get tested after work”), it’s a useful insight to keep in mind.
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The post Want To Skip The COVID Testing Line In Australia? Here’s How appeared first on DMARGE.
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