The Mitchell drive-through clinic was at capacity before 9am on Friday while the Garran walk-in clinic was approximately a one-and-a-half hour wait.
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The cars lining up outside the Kambah testing clinic for rapid antigen tests were being turned away as vehicles began to trail out onto the main road.
This was occurring before the centre opened at 10am, with recommendations to return later in the day for a test.
There are reports people are getting aggressive at the Kambah site with ACT Health requesting people "please treat our team with respect".
Only people who are present can take kits, according to ACT Health.
Rapid antigen tests were being distributed for the first time at Kambah testing clinic today from 10am to 4pm as 10,000 diagnostic kits arrived from the national stockpile.
The current shipment is expected to be completely exhausted by the end of Friday.
The tests are only available for people who have COVID-19 symptoms, are household contacts of a confirmed case, are at high or moderate risk of contracting COVID-19 or who have been instructed by ACT Health to get a test.
The use of rapid antigen tests at Kambah are only scheduled for today at this stage while ACT Health awaits further supply of test kits.
Canberrans are advised to only get tested if needed. This includes people with COVID-19 symptoms, or those who have been instructed by ACT Health to get a test.
The Nicholls, Kambah and Holt testing centres will remain closed for PCR tests until at least Monday due to "unavoidable supply issues", according to ACT Health.
The Mitchell drive-through and Garran walk-in clinics will remain open. Mitchell is open from 8am to 10pm, and the Garran testing clinic is open between 7.30am and 9pm.
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It also includes anyone at high or moderate risk of being exposed to the virus, such as household contacts or Canberrans who have spent a long time with someone who has tested positive.
Positive rapid antigen tests only need to be confirmed with a PCR test in some circumstances, ACT Health said.
This includes those over the age of 65 years, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged over 55 years, anyone 20 weeks or more pregnant; un- or partially-vaccinated people over the age of 16; and anyone identified by a health professional as significantly immunosuppressed.
The Canberra Times has asked ACT Health to outline which supplies are affected.
More to come.
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Olivia Ireland
Olivia is a reporter for the Canberra Times. She has covered federal politics and public sector, court and crime, local news, arts, education and business. Olivia started as an intern in August 2021 and began her career with the Times after completing her studies in November 2021.
Olivia is a reporter for the Canberra Times. She has covered federal politics and public sector, court and crime, local news, arts, education and business. Olivia started as an intern in August 2021 and began her career with the Times after completing her studies in November 2021.
