Doctors push for coronavirus testing centres in north and south

The association's ACT president Antonio Di Dio said general practitioners in Canberra had been concerned about their testing capabilities and access to personal protective equipment.

He has asked Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith to open two dedicated testing centres - one in the north and the other in the south.

The government says it is considering the proposal, and has already trained up staff at Weston Creek walk-in centre to assess possible cases.

Dr Di Dio - who is a GP at a practice in Yarralumla - said he was mobalising a group of GPs to volunteer to conduct the testing. He said his practice only had 12 testing kits and had so far used four.

"If and when the large demand for testing arrives, it needs to be very smooth," he said.

"Any day now demand could become huge and we need facilities that are ready with the correct number of staff and testing facilities."

The ACT remains the only jurisdiction without a coronavirus case and the Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman has reiterated it is only a matter of time before it arrives in the territory.

She said the government had been tracking down people who had come in contact with a defence force member who tested positive for the virus and travelled to Canberra.

All ACT residents who attended a meeting in Russell with the infected person have been contacted and advised to stay at home in quarantine until March 13.

People who were seated near the person on planes to and from Canberra have also been advised to self quarantine.

"We are continuing to work with our NSW and Commonwealth counterparts in trying to identify everyone who was on those flights and at risk," she said.

Dr Coleman said event cancellations were not "off the cards" but not currently being considered. She said most people who become infected with the virus would only display mild symptoms.

"We do know there are groups of people, such as people who are over 70 and people who have underlying chronic conditions who are more at risk. That's what we really want to do moving forward, is to protect that group of people."

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Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said she was considering Dr Di Dio's proposal for centralised testing clinics. She said the government was putting in plans and processes should there be a spike of cases in the ACT.

"This may include specific respiratory clinics and obviously ramping up our treatment responses if we start to experience community transmission of COVID-19," she said.

"It's important that our health services and GPs at this time can continue their work of delivering other health services to our community, while also undertaking assessment and testing for those who require it."

People who have travelled overseas and have symptoms, or have come in contact with a confirmed case have been advised to call their GP and discuss symptoms.

Anyone waiting for results should self-isolate, Ms Stephen-Smith said. Anyone without a GP should call the national hotline on 1800 020 080 to get advice.