Yesterday the Wellington SCL molecular lab completed a record day’s processing of test results, with 3760 COVID-19 swabs processed from people around the Greater Wellington region, 44% of the total tests processed in New Zealand. “Previously, the highest number of COVID-19 swabs processed by the lab in a day was 2800” says Rachel Haggerty, Director of Strategy, Planning and Performance for Hutt Valley and Capital & Coast District Health Boards. “Despite this significant increase, and thanks to the hard work of the staff at the lab, there has been no increase in testing turnaround times.”
“Testing will continue to be available throughout the weekend. Our two DHBs, along with our PHO partners, are ensuring that community testing centres (CTC) remain adequately resourced and staffed.”
“While demand for COVID-19 testing remains steady, there is capacity at all CTCs. This includes new pop-up sites operating at Te Papa, Wellington Regional Hospital, Hataitai Park, and Lower Hutt’s Riverbank car park.”
Locations and hours for our CTCs are available on the two DHBs’ websites: www.ccdhb.org.nz/our-services/covid-19-community-based-assessment-centres-cbacs and www.huttvalleydhb.org.nz/your-health-services/covid-19-community-based-assessment-centres-cbacs.
People are reminded to call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 or their GP for advice on testing and for referral to a booking centre to make an appointment.
Anyone seeking a test is strongly advised to make an appointment. People arriving without an appointment may experience longer wait times as our centres need to prioritise those who have appointments, or are known to have been to a location of interest, or who are symptomatic.
