GPs are being urged to “test, test, test” following the broadening of the testing criteria — but the guidance is still focused on patients with symptoms related to COVID-19. 

The Department of Health’s latest webinar for GPs focused on the increase in testing across the county, with 77 GP respiratory clinics now operating, including the first run by an Aboriginal community controlled health service, which opened in Queensland last week.

Host Professor Michael Kidd was joined by fellow Deputy Medical Officer Dr Jenny Firman and Dr James Ayres, a GP from Canberra, who discussed his own experiences leading and working in a respiratory clinic.

Dr Firman stressed the need to test as many patients as possible but she stopped short of calling for testing of asymptomatic patients.