![\"\"](\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/geelongtimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2022\/01\/Pool-in-article-8.png\")
The Department of Health and ACL did not respond to questions about when the region\u2019s testing sites would reopen, nor why conflicting information about whether the sites are open was listed on each of their websites as well as public signage.<\/p>\n
The Department of Health\u2019s website at coronavirus.vic.gov.au\/where-get-tested-covid-19 last week listed ACL\u2019s Belmont site as open, but according to ACL\u2019s most recent statement and its website, each of the above testing sites remain \u201ctemporarily closed\u201d.<\/p>\n
Contrary to its public messaging, including an electronic road sign near its Torquay centre last week saying it would reopen on January 25, ACL reopened Torquay for testing
\nlast Sunday.<\/p>\n
A lack of PCR testing is further compounded by Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) being largely unattainable, stockists selling out shortly after receiving a shipment, and other stockists inflating costs.<\/p>\n
The shortage has prompted the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to warn it will refer instances of RAT price gouging to the Australian Federal Police.<\/p>\n
The Victorian government announced receipt of three million RATs over the weekend from its recent bulk order of 44 million, and will this week begin distributing to essential workforces such as health, emergency, disability and aged care services.<\/p>\n
The Victorian government says more than 400,000 RATs were distributed at more than 60 Victorian PCR testing centres last week.<\/p>\n
According to Premier Daniel Andrews \u201cVictorians will soon be able to reliably obtain a free RAT\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs more tests progressively arrive, we\u2019ll continue to roll them out to those who need them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AS GEELONG, Bellarine and the Surf Coast experience their highest COVID-19 case numbers, some of the region\u2019s largest PCR testing sites at Belmont, Newton and Torquay have been closed for up to a week. The only Surf Coast Shire test sites between January 10-15 were Aireys Inlet Medical Centre and Great Ocean Road Health\u2019s Lorne […]<\/p>\n