By Laura Michell
A coronavirus testing site has opened at Pacific Epping shopping centre.
The site is one of six mobile testing sites that opened across Melbourne this morning.
Testing is also being carried out at Watergardens Town Centre, Bunnings West Footscray, Pacific Werribee, Westfield Fountain Gate and Bayside Shopping Centre.
The six mobile testing sites are in addition to four testing centres that opened at Chadstone, Doncaster, Highpoint and Northland shopping centres yesterday.
The testing sites will be manned by doctors, nurses and pathology collection staff.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos encouraged people with even the mildest symptoms to get tested.
She said symptoms that should prompt people to get tested include fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of sense of smell or a runny nose.
The state government said additional testing sites will open in regional and suburban locations in the coming days.
People will need to bring their Medicare card, or if they don’t have one, at least one form of identification.
“This massive testing blitz will give us the best information about how this virus is spreading in the community – and I encourage anyone with even the mildest of symptoms to help us out and go get themselves tested,” Ms Mikakos said.
“These new mobile testing sites are located at shopping centres around Melbourne to make it as easy as possible for people to get tested – and there will be more coming online across the state.”
For more information on testing and where to get tested, visit: dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
