To support a return to normal operations and events at Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC), the COVID-19 drive through testing clinic at EPIC will be closed at the end of this week.
To continue to support free COVID testing for Canberrans, a new site in Mitchell will open from Saturday 18 December 2021. This site will join the Garran, Kambah and Nicholls testing centres in the ACT Government’s network of clinics.
The new Mitchell drive through testing clinic will be located at 2 Tooth Street Mitchell (with access from Dacre Street) and operate from 8am to 10pm, seven days a week. This mirrors the arrangements currently in place for the EPIC clinic.
The EPIC clinic will close permanently at 10pm on Friday 17 December 2021.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said this change had been made to enable EPIC to facilitate bookings made for events at the venue.
“The EPIC clinic has been the backbone of our testing network since it first began operating in March 2020 and has performed nearly 250,000 tests,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“However, as we look forward to a COVID-normal summer thanks to our world-leading vaccination rates, it’s time for EPIC to return to hosting events. This is another important step for Canberra’s economic recovery as events help to stimulate our economy and assist with social benefits for the community.
“I’d like to thank all the staff at EPIC for the key role they have played in keeping our community safe during the pandemic, including the Canberra Health Services testing and support staff and the team from Venues ACT for being so supportive and flexible since the clinic was first opened.”
By opening Mitchell and adding to the network of existing centres at Nicholls, Garran and Kambah, the ACT Government is ensuring Canberrans will continue to have free and convenient access to testing into 2022.
“While the Mitchell site is smaller than EPIC, it is just one in a network of testing clinics available across the ACT. We will ensure there is ample capacity across our testing clinics over the holiday period so that anyone who needs to get tested can do so in a timely manner,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“Over the holiday period, it’s still really important for Canberrans to get tested if they experience the mildest of symptoms, or are identified as a close or casual contact. COVID-19 isn’t taking a holiday.”
Over the Christmas holiday period, the following ACT Government clinics will be operating:
- Mitchell COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Centre – 8am-10pm, seven days a week (including public holidays)
- Garran COVID-19 Testing Centre – 7am-9pm, seven days a week (including public holidays)
- Kambah COVID-19 Drive Through Testing Centre – 8am-4pm, seven days a week (8am-12pm on public holidays)
The Nicholls COVID-19 Testing Centre will be closed from 25 December 2021 to 3 January 2022.
