IF you're like me and you're tired of the COVID-19 lockdown, there is definitely something you can do to ensure we all get out of this quickly - go and have a test.
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So on Tuesday, I drove down to Morshead Park after Ballarat Health Services and the City of Ballarat worked together to open up the new testing site.
Unlike the current sites at Lucas and Sebastopol, you don't need a booking and you don't have to be showing any ill-effects, or even a sniffle, to get tested.
It is a truly simple - slightly uncomfortable, yes - but an easy chance to find out whether you are a carrier of the virus, which has infected more than three million people across the world.
The entire process takes less than 10 minutes once you've handed your form in, dependent on how many people are in the queue.
Myself, I was tested at 11am. I walked into the clubrooms to be met with a sign telling me to wash my hands, then you fill out a simple form which has been laid out on tables and hand it to a staff member - kind of like getting your name ticked off on election day.
I was one of only five or so people at the time waiting to be tested. As I waited, more people came in, but only in dribs and drabs. Most were retired, however a few workers, including some fellow Ballarat journalists still working hard to update the population daily on what's happening around town, and construction workers were also being tested.
After a staff member collated my data, I was asked to stand near the front window, which had markings 1.5 metres apart.
Barely two minutes later I was called into a different area and the process began.
Firstly a nurse took my temperature (I was 36.4, well and truly in the normal range) and then I was told what will happen next as I was led to the testing bench.
The first test involves a cotton tip pushed down your throat. You are asked to open your mouth as wide as you can, stick your tongue out and take a deep breath all at once.
I was told this test does cause some people to gag, fortunately I didn't have this reaction, but it is all over in a matter of seconds and I didn't feel a thing.
The second test is less comfortable and certainly brought a tear to one eye.
It involves the same cotton tip being place about 4cm into your nose as the nurse tries to get as much fluid as they can.
It is hard to explain the feeling of this test; it resembles an uncomfortable tickle or itch. It's definitely not funny, but not as bad as hitting your funny bone either.
That test requires the swab to be placed in each nostril for about 2-3 seconds. The first test in my left nostril brought a tear, but by the test in my right nostril, I knew what to expect.
The key is not to move, although I know I at least winced at both, but did not need a second test fortunately.
Couple Terry and Diane Stacey said this would provide a great peace of mind.
"We live out at Lucas and we went out to the hub out there but you have to have a booking, so when we heard about this we thought we'd come out," they said.
"We think everyone should be tested, it doesn't matter what age. We live in Lucas and there are tradies all around, we don't want to see anyone catch this."
For everyone's sake, download the COVID-Safe App if you have a smartphone and go and get tested.
The more we know, the more that are tested, the quicker we can get back to normal.
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