A POP up COVID-19 testing clinic at Bendigo Marketplace has closed suddenly, with reports that up to 40 people waiting were asked to leave.
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A prospective testee reported that Marketplace management told a waiting queue to leave on Monday morning.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, said the manager cited negative feedback from shop owners and bad publicity.
The clinic opened on Friday. Bendigo Health chair Bob Cameron said on Friday the organisation had a five day arrangement with the Marketplace.
But a Bendigo Health spokesperson said on Monday the clinic was set up on a day by day basis.
The clinic was designed to test members of the public without COVID-19 symptoms, as part of the state government's testing blitz.
A witness said he was among those at the Marketplace manager asked to leave about 10.55am.
The man said he had queued for about 40 minutes to get tested, with about 35-40 people in line.
When the Bendigo Advertiser visited the Marketplace about midday on Monday, there was no sign of the COVID-19 pop up testing clinic at the site it had occupied.
The anonymous witness said he had no symptoms, but had decided to get tested to do his bit.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson said the Marketplace Clinic was initially set up on a day by day basis.
The spokesperson said Bendigo Health now believed the community was best served in a hospital setting.
They said Bendigo Health was grateful to the Bendigo Marketplace who performed a community service by assisting in getting the testing blitz underway.
"We have been overwhelmed by the community's proactive response, testing more than 520 people over the three days the clinic was in operation," the spokesperson said.
The state government announced last Monday that it would test 100,000 people within two weeks, including those without symptoms.
A number of pop up testing clinics have been set up at shopping centres around Victoria. Most of these are in centre carparks, rather than inside the facility.
The anonymous witness said he was unsure he would bother to get tested now, as he was reluctant to be near sick, coughing people at a regular clinic.
"[The manager] said if you want to get tested you can go to the emergency centre," he said.
"I said the idea was to get healthy people to get tested, who don't have any symptoms. I don't want to go to the emergency clinic."
Testing is still available at the Bendigo Health COVID-19 Screening Clinic on Stewart Street. The clinic is open daily from 10am-5.30pm, with no appointment necessary.
Testing is also available at the Bendigo Respiratory Clinic in Spring Gully. This is for people with symptoms and booking is required.
Bendigo Marketplace management and facility owners ISTP property declined to comment.
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