The wait at EPIC drive-through and the Weston walk-in clinic was one hour while the wait at Brindabella Business Park was about two hours on Saturday afternoon.

Health authorities said close contacts who had been identified by ACT Health should be prioritised for testing.

An extra lane was opened at EPIC on Saturday which meant a swab could be taken every 30 seconds.

There were more than 4500 potential close contacts identified as the ACT reported one new COVID-19 case on Saturday.

Health systems have been tested by the increased demand, with ACT Health redeploying staff, seeking help from the private sector and calling in the Department of Defence for clinical support.

On Friday, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr encouraged anyone who wasn't a close contact to hold off getting tested and return when demand decreased.

"Please, if you do not have symptoms and you are not an identified close contact, you do not need to be tested today," he said.

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"Please stay at home, there will be an opportunity to be tested in the days ahead, but the priority right now is to test those people who ACT Health have contacted."

There are now seven active cases in the ACT.

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