COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)

1300 Smiles Stadium COVID-19 drive-through community assessment clinic

The 1300 Smiles COVID-19 community assessment clinic is located in the Eastern carpark of the 1300 Smiles Stadium in Kirwan. We encourage the community to use this clinic as their first preference.

This testing-only clinic is open from 8.00AM – 6.00PM, seven days a week. No referral or appointment is necessary. For vaccinations, please see below.

Click here to download a full-resolution map.

Magnetic Island Health Service

Get tested for COVID-19 at the Magnetic Island Health Service. 

Testing at the Magnetic Island clinic can only be performed at 11AM. You must call ahead if you wish to be tested on (07) 4778 5107.

The general Magnetic Island clinic is open for patients Monday to Friday, 9AM - 4.30PM.

Who can be tested?

Anyone who presents to our testing clinics may request to be tested for COVID-19.

For further advice, contact your doctor or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

In line with the new COVID-19 vaccination guidelines, from Monday, 17 May, Townsville University Hospital’s vaccination hub will be giving both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

From the week beginning 7 June, the clinic will operate during the following hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8am to 7pm
Monday, Friday and Saturday: 8am to 3.30pm

Here's how it will work:

What vaccine will I receive?

[expand]

The Pfizer vaccine will only be given to people aged 50 years or under, except in a limited number of circumstances.

If you are aged 50 years or older, you will receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

People who have already received their first dose of either vaccine will receive the same type of vaccine for their second dose, regardless of the new guidelines around age.

[/expand]

How do I book my vaccine in?

[expand]

Register to be Vaccinated here (health.qld.gov.au)

You will receive an email that will allow you to book your appointment. Please remember to check all folders of your email if you haven't received it.

Much like at your favourite restaurant, bookings are ESSENTIAL. If you are having any difficulties please call on (07) 4433 7908 or email {"ct":"GP2AUPISBR7gjf6RjWHOqpALhfzstJlks+\/c9wsH4tI=","iv":"12e03f0a956c39f136ae481dbd73de44","s":"fce0146924916e67"}

From the week beginning 7 June, the clinic will operate during the following hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 8am to 7pm
Monday, Friday and Saturday: 8am to 3.30pm

[/expand]

Where is the Townsville University Hospital vaccination hub?

[expand]

Our Vaccination Hub is located at the Billabong Room on the Townsville University Hospital campus. Public car parking (with 1hr free parking) is available. There are also free buggies available for transport within Townsville University Hospital grounds. Information for the buggies can be found below the maps.

Click on the map below for Google Map directions.

Once you have parked in the public car park at the hospital, the vaccination clinic is easy to find. Please follow the cement path, past the bus stop and taxi line and past the Acute Mental Health Service. The Vaccination Hub will have blue COVID-19 signs out front.

Need a ride?
A courtesy buggy service is also available for patients, their families and hospital visitors. Courtesy buggies are available between 8am and 4pm each weekday. Buggies can be found at the main entrance of the hospital or you can call 4433 3174 to arrange pick-up. Please note: our buggies can get quite busy. If one is not immediately available, please call the number provided or wait a few minutes for one to arrive. Let the buggy driver know you wish to go to the Vaccination Hub.

[/expand]

What are the phases? How do I know which one I'm in?

[expand]

To see who can be vaccinated under Phase 1B and see how the rollout will work, click here.

[/expand]

I want to see all the Vaccination locations

[expand]

Easy! Queensland Health has launched a new Vaccination locations webpage.

This webpage is for people who are currently eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can book an appointment at a vaccination location in Queensland.  This new webpage contains links to the following:

• Register for COVID-19 vaccination
• Find a vaccination location
• How to prepare for your vaccination appointment
• More information
• Questions and Answers

[/expand]

I want more information on the vaccines

[expand]

That's great to hear. All vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety before they are approved for use in Australia. This includes careful analysis of clinical trial data, ingredients, chemistry, manufacturing and other factors.

For questions to all your answers, such as 'Were COVID-19 vaccines developed too quickly to be safe?' and 'How long will the COVID-19 vaccine last once I have had two doses?' you can visit the 'Is It True' website.

You can also watch the below myth-busting video from Dr Jeanette Young.

[/expand]

If you live in the Ingham, Charters Towers, Richmond or Hughenden and have symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or tiredness, you can be tested for COVID-19 at your local GP during their business hours or at your local hospital seven days a week.

If you live in the Burdekin, you can visit the Ayr Health Service or your local GP during business hours seven days a week.

Charters Towers residents can also book an appointment for a COVID-19 test at the Charters Towers Respiratory Clinic at Gold City Medical Centre by calling 4787 7203.

For further advice, contact your doctor, call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

For more information on COVID-19, visit: https://bit.ly/358ILnf

Hospital and health facilities

Visitors, staff or volunteers cannot enter a hospital if they fit any of the below criteria:

• Anyone who has been to any interstate areas of concern in the last 14 days will not be able to enter our hospital or health facilities, even if you have received a negative COVID-19 test. Exemptions may be granted for end of life visits.
• If you have been to an interstate exposure venue (such as a restaurant or shop), in the last 14 days you also cannot enter our facilities. You must follow the quarantine requirements in the Interstate Exposure Venues Direction. Exemptions may be granted for end of life visits.

There are currently no changes to the visiting hours at our hospital facilities if you are clear of meeting the above criteria. Visiting hours are 8am - 8pm, seven days a week. Some critical care areas, such as our intensive care units, may still have restrictions in place for the protection of patients. If you are concerned, you can call ahead at (07) 4433 1111 and ask to be put through to the ward you need.

Aged care residential facilities

Visitors, staff or volunteers cannot enter an aged care residential facility if they fit any of the below criteria:

• Anyone who has been to any interstate areas of concern in the last 14 days will not be able to enter our hospital or health facilities, even if you have received a negative COVID-19 test. Exemptions may be granted for end of life visits.
• If you have been to an interstate exposure venue (such as a restaurant or shop), in the last 14 days you also cannot enter our facilities. You must follow the quarantine requirements in the Interstate Exposure Venues Direction. Exemptions may be granted for end of life visits.

• are a close contact of someone with COVID-19, unless their quarantine period has ended

• From 30 May 2021, you must have had the 2021 flu vaccine if it is available to you, to enter an aged care facility. This includes children over six months of age.

Overview

Visitors, staff or volunteers at a residential aged care facility should not be anyone who:

• is unwell
• has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or asked to quarantine
• has returned from overseas in the last 14 days (excluding safe travel zone countries)
• has had contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• has visited a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter)
• has been tested for COVID-19 and is waiting for the result (except for tests due to surveillance testing obligations)
• has COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue
• from 30 May 2021, has not had the 2021 flu vaccine if it is available to them.

Outpatient appointments - Frequently Asked Questions

Townsville Hospital and Health Service has resumed outpatient services which had been previously postponed to allow our hospitals to respond to COVID-19.

Category three outpatient appointments have now recommenced across all of our outpatient clinics. General Practitioner referrals for category three patients are now being processed and added to our clinic waiting lists.

Patients who have planned care appointments will be contacted directly.

You can bring two support people to outpatient appointments across all Townsville Hospital and Health Service facilities.

If you are unwell, are unable to attend or are in self-isolation or quarantine due to COVID-19 it is important that you let us know and we will rebook you.

If your condition worsens during this period, seek advice from your GP.

Our facilities remain safe and we are prepared to offer the best care before, during and after your birth. Townsville University Hospital’s birthing and maternity services continue to offer comprehensive and safe access to care; we are just doing things a little differently.

We support all women to have a support person with them at all times when they are birthing. Our visiting hours to the Maternity unit reflect the current guidance from Queensland Health, and may change depending on the latest advice. 

New mums are discharged when it is clinically appropriate, that hasn’t changed.  As always, there is an option for discharge six hours after birth if clinically appropriate.

It is also important to note, just like our normal services, there are significant midwifery support mechanisms in place for new mothers’ post-discharge. This includes regular access to midwives and lactation consultant services in the first seven to 10 days through the Midwifery Care Program and up to six weeks for women who have a caseload midwife.

There is also support available through home visits by a child health nurse who monitors the growth of the baby and provides advice and support to new families.

Overwhelmingly, our mums have been grateful to us for taking these practical steps in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We want our mums to know that we are there for them during these trying times; now and into the future.

Online Childbirth and Parenting Education Sessions are now available.  

In addition to group face-to-face sessions the Childbirth Education Team are now running online sessions.

Online sessions available: Childbirth and Parenting; Breastfeeding; Relaxation and Massage; Physiotherapy Session; Refresher Course; Young Parents Program and Birth after Caesarean Information.

Women should continue to use the recommended referral process. If you have not completed a referral form, you can email {"ct":"VORRJvI31owEDn7+QSZPqHjTFqjIfAI9\/kcwAX0Z2fbcSFvA1g1H1gR3WW4oRDbg","iv":"e07a998de2b5fd81bb4378b89ad6d63b","s":"12ec7def31a81380"}. Include your name, date of birth, date baby is due, sessions of interest and a contact phone number. A member of the team will be in touch regarding your booking details.

If you have any questions about these services please call 4433 1450 Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm.

COVID-19 is a new, or novel, strain of virus in the coronavirus family that has not been previously identified. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

COVID-19 was discovered in 2019 when a higher than normal number of people in Wuhan, China, started to get pneumonia after having an illness similar to the flu. When doctors tested them, they found these people had a type of coronavirus they hadn’t seen before. There were already lots of types of coronavirus in the world, but this one was new.

For more information, call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and get tested. Call emergency services on 000 if you are very sick.

Queensland Health have an online COVID-19 symptoms quiz that may also help.

COVID-19 spreads between people, usually when a sick person coughs or sneezes.

These droplets can enter your body through the mucous membranes (wet parts) of your face – your eyes, nose and mouth – which provide a direct pathway to your throat and lungs. The good news is that it can’t get in through other parts of your body like your skin or your hair, but you might be surprised just how easily it can get to the mucous membranes of your face.

First of all, the droplets from someone’s cough or sneeze might fall directly into your eyes, nose or mouth if you’re close enough to the infected person, letting the virus enter your system straight away.

Or, the droplets might fall onto a surface where you then put your hands. If you don’t wash your hands, you could move the virus into your eyes, nose or mouth and become infected. The infected person might also get the droplets on their hands if they cough or sneeze into them, and then place them on a surface, where you pick them up.

Direct membrane-to-membrane contact can also spread the virus. This could happen by kissing. The virus can also be spread by sharing items that go in your mouth, eyes or nose, like cutlery, cups, straws, water bottles or cosmetics.

Can COVID-19 spread through the air?

So far, studies show that people are mainly catching COVID-19 through these droplets, rather than the virus hanging out in the air. This is good news, because it means if an infected person is in a room, breathes for a while, then leaves the room, the virus isn’t lurking in the air waiting for the next person to come in. If with further study we find out this information has changed, we’ll let you know.

Because it’s a new virus, everyone is at risk of catching COVID-19, because our immune systems don’t recognise it yet. This is why everyone around the world is trying so hard to make sure that people with the virus don’t pass it on to others.

This doesn’t mean that everyone is going to get COVID-19, but it does mean we all have a role to play in keeping ourselves and others well. The more everyone follows the advice to wash their hands often and properly, stay at home as much as possible, and stay home when they’re sick, the fewer people will catch this virus.

Who is most at risk of getting seriously unwell from COVID-19?

In countries like China, where there has been the most cases COVID-19, people who have become seriously unwell have been elderly (over 70-years-old) or have already had a health condition like a high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, or are immunocompromised.

We haven’t had many cases in Queensland yet, so it’s too early to tell exactly how this virus will affect Queenslanders. We expect that most people in Queensland who catch COVID-19 will experience a mild illness, like a cold, that lasts a few weeks.

Washing your hands often and properly means that you can prevent viruses from entering your body. That means washing your hands when you’ve been out and about and before you eat (and after you go to the toilet!).

Did you know there are six steps to washing your hands properly? Follow the below steps to make sure you’re washing your hands successfully.

Try to stay at least 1.5 metres away from people who are coughing or sneezing. Even if they don’t have COVID-19, they might have germs you don’t want anyway!

We are now asking all Queenslanders to follow social distancing practices:

• Stay home as much as possible.
• Keep 1.5 metres away from others as much as possible.
• Avoid shaking hands, kissing or hugging others.
• If you can, work from home.
• Avoid gatherings that aren’t essential.

You can find more information in our blog, How does COVID-19 spread and how can I stop myself from catching it.

As soon as an individual returns a positive result for COVID-19, just like with other contagious viruses such as measles, we undertake what is called contact tracing to prevent the infection spreading further through the community.

As part of this process, we speak to the patient to identify anyone who might have had close contact with them during their infectious window.

If there are people who are considered as close contacts, who are at a higher risk, our staff follow up with them directly.  If they begin showing symptoms, we assess them faster and take the right action.

If we can’t identify people who could have been in close contact with a confirmed case, we will issue a public health alert with specific dates, times and locations that the public should be aware of. Only people who match the exact criteria provided need to contact us.

Close contact

Close contacts are those who have had face-to-face contact with a confirmed case for a period more than 15 minutes, or those who have shared an enclosed space with a confirmed case for more than two hours.

We are not looking for people the person may have passed on the street or in a shop, as the risk in these situations is extremely low.

If you have been in close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 you need to self-quarantine for 14 days from your last contact with them. If you become unwell during that period, see a doctor immediately.

View current public contact tracing alerts.

People are asked to quarantine themselves before they get sick in order to stop or slow the spread of the virus. For example, you may be asked to self-quarantine in your home, hotel room or provided accommodation, and not leave for 14 days if you have just returned home from overseas.

If you are a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 you will be asked to self-isolate unless your symptoms require treatment in a hospital.

To sum it up: isolation is for people who are sick and have tested positive for coronavirus, and must self-isolate while recovering. Quarantine is when you are told by a doctor or the Government you must stay at home for 14 days.