5.45pm
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HEALTH workers have swabbed 1200 people during a marathon day of testing in Bendigo.
Their workload could swell again on Tuesday after Bendigo Health announced it will open with extended hours after many residents were turned away from testing sites across the city.
Drive-through testing at the showgrounds will run from 8.30am to 6pm and the walk-in clinic on McLaren Street from 10am to 6pm.
Bendigo Health is also reminding people they only need to be tested if they were at exposure sites on days and times listed by the Department of Health.
"You do not need to get tested if you were not personally at the exposure site," the group said in a draft Facebook post expected to be posted on Monday evening.
"Of course, anyone who is experiencing symptoms should also get tested."
3.41pm
BENDIGO Health has ruled out installing toilets at its showground testing site because of the risks posed by COVID-19 spreading in them.
Huge lines of people had no access to toilets on Monday during a surge in testing prompted by a slew of new tier two exposure sites in Bendigo.
Demand was so great that testers closed off lanes into two sites before 10.50am and told people to isolate at home overnight.
Some people have taken to social media to highlight the lack of toilets and warn others to be prepared for a lack of amenities.
A Bendigo Health spokesperson said there were no plans to introduce toilets on Tuesday.
"Evidence from the Shepparton outbreak showed us that four of the eight testing clinics had exposure sites linked to their toilet facilities," they said.
Any public toilets on site would need to be cleaned after every use, making them impractical.
The spokesperson urged people to bring their own food and water in case they had to wait hours for a test.
They asked people to be patient and kind to staff during the wait.
Health officials opened multiple test sites to deal with the expected surge in tests but were already warning of delays of up to four hours at one site on Monday morning.
Exposure sites including busy shops, increasing the number of people who needed to be tested.
"We encourage people who are getting a COVID test to register their details through COVID Test Tracker - an online State Government service," the Bendigo Health spokesperson said.
"Completing this form will help save time during your test. Once registered you will receive a unique registration number, which can be used for multiple tests during a 90-day period."
10.50am
BENDIGO Health has closed off the lines at its two coronavirus testing sites.
A hospital spokesperson said only people who are already in the waiting lines at the Bendigo Showgrounds and McLaren Street sites will be tested on Monday.
"We are looking at how we can increase testing capacity," the spokesperson said. "If you are impacted please isolate at home and try again tomorrow."
Earlier
HUNDREDS of Bendigo residents have turned out to get tested for COVID-19 after a number of exposure sites were listed in the region.
A long line of cars were already banked up at the Bendigo Showgrounds drive-through testing site on Monday morning. The makeshift testing site is open from 10am to 5pm.
The expected waiting time at the showgrounds is four to six hours due to the high demand for testing, Bendigo Health says.
Related news: Victoria records 567 coronavirus case since Sunday
Seven tier two exposure sites were identified, all for times and dates on September 16 and 17 in central Bendigo.
The sites included the Bendigo Marketplace and four premises within the complex - Donut King, Big W, EB Games and Zing Pop Culture - as well as JB Hi-Fi and Toppers Cafe in the CDB.
The full list of exposure sites can be found at coronavirus.vic.gov.au/case-alerts-public-exposure-sites/
The usual coronavirus testing site on Bendigo's McLaren Street will only be open for walk-ins on Monday.
Children under the age of five will need to go to the McLaren Street site for their COVID-19 test.
The expected waiting time for that site is at least two hours.
Bendigo Health is encouraging people to register their details through COVID Test Tracker at testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill
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