ACT Health turns Garran surge centre into COVID-19 patient clinic

The centre will open Monday, January 10 and operate from 7.30am to 10pm everyday. No appointments will be needed, and it will be accessed from the northern end of the surge centre with a separate entrance to the testing facility.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said it would stop Canberrans with COVID-19 from taking up resources in hospitals.

MORE COVID-19 NEWS:

"It will provide health care for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who have had a positive rapid antigen test, but need treatment for other non-life threatening injuries and or illnesses," she said.

"These may include cuts and abrasions, strains and sprains, bites and stings, infections and wounds. These are the kinds of things we've been seeing people turning up to the emergency department with who also have COVID-19.

"It will also provide patients who are COVID-19 positive with in-person support advice and interventions as they manage their symptoms."

The inner-north walk-in testing centre at Dickson will close at 10pm on Sunday, January 9 to redeploy staff.

Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: