Covid testing sites are so stretched residents are PASSING OUT from the heat in huge queues after being forced to wait up to six hours - with some giving up and going home
Massive queues at Gold Coast COVID-19 testing sites have left elderly locals fainting after waiting for more than six hours in extreme heat.
Residents waiting in line at the Robina Hospital coronavirus clinic were subject to searing heat with temperatures peaking at 31C in the coastal city on Tuesday.
Currumbin local Virginia Boniface spent more than seven hours waiting for a COVID test after coming into contact with Sydneysiders in the wake of the Northern Beaches outbreak.
She told Gold Coast Bulletin while staff were helpful, the testing site needed improvements to look after patients in long and hot waiting lines.
Residents are fainting and sunburnt in huge queues at Gold Coast COVID clinics. Pictured: Gold Coast University Hospital testing queue on Monday morning
'None of us knew it would be that long. There was a few who fainted, older people,' Ms Boniface said.
The adverse conditions forced Ms Boniface to stock up on sunscreen and fluids from a nearby store, along with collecting an umbrella from her car.
Robina Hospital is not the only Gold Coast testing site that has experienced issues, with some attendees at the Albert Waterways Community Centre at Broadbeach being turned away by security.
Others simply gave up and left after waiting in line for more than six hours.
A Bundall resident who attended the Albert Ways Community Centre site said locals are on edge after traces of COVID-19 were found in sewage on the Gold Coast.
'The security guard at the end of the line was telling people they could only take 150 people and people were being turned away,' the woman said.
Locals say testing sites need improvements to look after patients in long queues. Pictured: medical staff at the Bondi Beach coronavirus test centre
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said even those with mild symptoms should be tested for coronavirus to keep track of the disease in Queensland.
The discovery of COVID traces in sewage has authorities nervous that the disease is prevalent in the community.
A Queensland Health spokesperson said that while clinics are experiencing high demand, staff are working to make the testing sites run as smoothly as possible.
'Staff are monitoring those in the line to ensure anyone who is sick, elderly or vulnerable are not waiting long, and staff are communicating with people to let them know approximate wait times,' the spokesperson said.
'No one is turned away from being tested.'
Authorities have urged Gold Coast residents with minor symptoms to be tested as the discovery of COVID in sewage has authorities nervous the disease is active in the area