Victoria's coronavirus help hotlines have crashed due to an influx of calls, as Australia's former federal medical association boss resorts to swabbing patients in a car park.
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The state's dedicated COVID-19 phone line and the Nurse-On-Call Hotline have crumbled under the pressure "experiencing system issues due to extraordinary call volumes".
"We thank the community for their patience as we work to increase the capacity of the hotlines - including putting on additional staff," Ambulance Victoria said on Tuesday.
While the phone lines have crashed, one Melbourne doctor has resorted to seeing patients in their cars.
Former Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal puts on a moon suit, mask and shoe covers before meeting patients outside his Altona North clinic.
After calling ahead, patients drive to the car park and remain in their vehicles before Dr Haikerwal comes out to take a swab while protected from transmitting the disease.
"They park outside the building and we go out one entrance that is okay to go out of to do the swabs, collect the swabs and they can go off and self-isolate until their result comes back," Dr Haikerwal told 3AW radio on Tuesday.
"We go to our flu area and clean up all of our dirty garb... We are clean, they are clean. And nobody is contaminating the waiting area of rest of the practice, so it is clean."
The makeshift car park clinic is the first of many expected to open in the coming weeks at car parks and open spaces, near medical practices across Melbourne.
The federal government has flagged funding the drive-through COVID-19 testing sites at up to 10 Victorian medical clinics, Australian Medical Association Victorian president Julian Rait told 3AW on Tuesday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt's office has been contacted for comment.
A teacher who tested positive for the virus has sent elite private school, Carey Baptist Grammar School, in Melbourne's east into shutdown.
The school closed to staff and students on Tuesday, initially over fears of symptoms consistent with COVID-19 before testing positive overnight.
The teacher was in direct contact with someone who has coronavirus, and the school is working with the health department to map the potential spread of infection.
Across Australia, more than 80 people have been confirmed as having the virus, with three confirmed deaths, one in WA and two in NSW.
Premier Daniel Andrews' security and emergency management cabinet committee will meet to discuss the state's coronavirus preparations on Tuesday.
A Melbourne Assessment Prison inmate is in isolation after being in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus, but no other prisons have been affected, Corrections Victoria said.
Victorians keen for information on the virus can visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.
Australian Associated Press
