Community Based Testing Centres in Dunedin and Invercargill are resuming operations today, ensuring convenient access to COVID-19 testing.

The drive-through testing centres supplement swabbing capacity in general practices. The centres at Parry Street West in Dunedin and WellSouth offices at 40 Clyde Street in Invercargill will re-open today (Wednesday, 19ths August), operating from 1pm to 4pm, weekdays, and 10am to 1pm, Saturday and Sunday.

The Community Based Testing Centres will provide support as long as required but for at least the next two weeks. These are not drop-in clinics, and people should call 0800 VIRUS19 to be referred.

WellSouth chief executive Andrew Swanson Dobbs said general practices would continue to provide the vast majority of COVID testing in the region but CBTCs were another option for swabbing, ensuring it was convenient to get tested for as many people as possible.

“People should continue to contact their GP first, or our 0800 VIRUS 19 call centre. Symptomatic people will be referred for testing,” he said.

Southern District Health Board Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Jack said said the extra support would increase testing numbers and help keep Southern communities safe.

“It’s cold and flu season, so it’s really helpful that the CBTCs provide another option for testing at a time when we’re strongly encouraging people with symptoms to get tested. We appreciate that primary care is working together to make COVID-19 testing available and accessible.”

WellSouth staff are also providing pop-up testing clinics for workers at South Port in Bluff and Port Otago in Port Chalmers today.

Getting COVID-19 Testing in the South:

Dunedin Community Based Testing Centre

Parry Street West

1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday

10am to 1pm, Weekends

Invercargill Community Based Testing Centre

WellSouth offices

40 Clyde Street, Invercargill

1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday

10am to 1pm, Weekends 

0800 VIRUS 19 Call Centre

(0800 847 8719)

8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday

9am to 1.30pm, Weekends

Who should get tested for COVID-19?

• Anyone with symptoms
• Anyone identified by public health as a contact or for another reason and asked to be tested.
• High Index of suspicion – anyone who has had contact with a confirmed or probable case.
• Border staff or workers from Managed Isolation Facilities