Free tests in four clinics

NATIONAL Pandemic Response Controller David Manning says four clinics in Port Moresby are doing swabbing and Covid-19 testing for free.
They are the Badili, Tokarara, Morata and Gordon clinics.
Manning, who is also the Police Commissioner, said the four were part of the nine clinics selected to participate in the antigen rapid diagnosis test validation in the city.
He urged city residents to go for a test if they have symptoms of the Covid-19, which included coughing, fever, headache, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, loss of taste or smell and muscle aches.
“By going for a test, you will know your status, which will help you get the help you need and stop you from spreading the virus to others, including your loved ones,’’ Manning said.
He said the public would be informed when the other five clinics began swabbing too.
“Other sites providing routine swabbing for symptomatic clients are the Pari clinic in Moresby South and the Port Moresby General Hospital,” Manning said.
“The public are encouraged to use any of these services.”
Manning said the antigen test was easy and results would be available within 20 to 30 minutes.
GeneXpert testing is then performed on those with positive samples to confirm if they have the Covid-19.
The turnaround time is about an hour, which is convenient for isolation and contact tracing.
He also confirmed that the Rita Flynn facility was no longer swabbing, but only tested positive samples it received from the urban clinics, using GeneXpert.
All negative samples from the antigen tests are sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory for confirmation.
Manning said he was happy to learn that more people were going for the Covid-19 tests.
He thanked health workers conducting the swabbing, testing and providing counselling to people.
Manning said the Covid-19 was just another respiratory illness and people should not be afraid of undergoing tests.
“At the beginning of our response, there was a lot of fear surrounding the Covid-19, so we did not see many people coming for tests,” he said.