GPs in towns or suburban areas that are identified as hotspots for community transmission of COVID-19 are now being encouraged to test anybody with symptoms.

The most recent national testing guidelines, introduced in late March, extended criteria beyond recent arrivals and close contacts of confirmed cases, to include people in high-risk jobs such as healthcare, plus anybody with symptoms in areas with community transmission.

However, at the time, no geographic hotspots were named and the Federal Government said it was up to states and territories to identify them.

But Monday, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer announced testing would be opened up across Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Cairns.