The delays mean some people are missing vaccination and doctors’ appointments. Others are losing income from being unable to go to work while isolating and waiting for their result. And some people are so fed up with waiting that they’re going to a different clinic to get another test.
Larisha Taylor,from Croydon in Sydney’s inner-west,is still waiting for her result more than five days after taking a test at a Laverty Pathology drive-through clinic on Friday morning.
“It’s pretty crazy. I feel like I’ve exhausted all my options now. I’ve tried a few times to get hold of Laverty and it’s impossible. I’d say I’ve been on hold all up for seven hours ... it’ll get to a certain point and the call just disconnects,” Ms Taylor said.
“I’ve literally got no patience left at this point in time.”
As a costume-maker,she cannot work from home,meaning her decision to take a test has cost her four days of income so far. Ms Taylor had mild symptoms and got a test partly for her work colleagues’ peace of mind.
She feels the huge delays threaten to undermine confidence in the system because “there are people out there who can’t afford not to work[for so long]” .