The Riverland's only state-run COVID-19 testing centre will only open for four hours a day this week as a precaution for hot weather, despite temperatures remaining at or below the average for February.
The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) announced on social media on Monday that "due to expected high temperatures" the PCR testing site at the Riverland General Hospital in Berri would close at 12pm, rather than the usual 4:30pm time, for a period of seven days.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, temperatures have not exceeded 31 degrees Celsius since Tuesday night, and no decision has been made to extend operating hours at the site.
The site at Berri is the only dedicated PCR testing site in the Riverland after the closure of Yamba a month ago.
The only other available locations for testing are a handful of GP clinics which offer limited appointments.
Low availability of the 'Rolls Royce'
On Sunday, Premier Steven Marshall said people with COVID symptoms are now being encouraged to get a PCR test rather than a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) as they are the "Rolls Royce" of testing and are now more readily available.
But with the availability of PCR testing in the Riverland being reduced, Labor said the reduction in hours at Berri points to a lack of preparation by the government.
"Obviously if there's extreme examples in which you need to protect staff then that's understandable," said shadow health minister Chris Picton.
"But for a very lengthy reduction in hours, where the weather for the Riverland is quite mild compared to what it can get to, it really does speak to whether there's been enough preparations put in place.
"You have to wonder why there's been so much bragging from Steven Marshall about the availability of PCR testing, but when you look at the Riverland they seem to have been left out.
"It looks like a more Adelaide-centric decision."
The RMCLHN said the decision to amend opening hours for a whole week, rather than change the hours day by day, "was made to provide members of the community seeking testing adequate time to plan and prepare for their test".
"We regularly assess conditions and demand at our COVID-19 testing sites and hours are modified as required to ensure the safety and wellbeing of staff onsite and those seeking testing," it said in a statement.
When the decision was made on Monday, hotter weather was forecast by BOM, and on Tuesday temperatures reached 35 degrees.
But since then, the highest temperature recorded has been 31 degrees, and the maximum for Thursday and Friday are 30 and 31 degrees respectively — lower than the mean maximum temperature of Berri in February of 32.1 degrees.
Member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone, said considerations must be made for the staff offering testing at the site, which is located outside in the hospital's car park.
"I think we also need to remember if the weather forecast has been downgraded to around 32 degrees, think about the staff that are in full PPE garments on the ground," Mr Whetstone said.
