If you have a friend, neighbour or family member in need of a Covid test you will have heard first hand of the long queues in Moruya for PCB testing. You might have also heard of the closure of the queues around mid morning for the day having reached the capacity to have tests taken and then dispatched via courier for analysis at 3pm sharp. Those in the testing clinics and directing the snaking queues are our local heroes. They are working under extreme pressure, barely able to take breaks and doing their best to remain calm and collected. Across NSW there are currently 746 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 63 people in intensive care, 24 of whom require ventilation. There were 97,201 COVID-19 tests reported to 8pm last night, compared with the previous day’s total of 157,758. NSW Health are saying: "To reduce the strain on our services and better protect the NSW community, prioritisation will be given to people getting a PCR test (nose and throat swab) who:
• Have COVID-19 symptoms or a positive rapid antigen test • Are a household contact with a confirmed COVID-19 positive case • Have been in a venue where there has been high transmission such as a club • Have been in a setting with vulnerable people, such as an aged care facility, which is experiencing a current outbreak
If you receive a case alert in the Service NSW app, you should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms but only go and get a PCR test if symptoms develop."
Source Above: Given the long queues, people being turned away, labs under the pump and the Christmas and New Year festivities bringing us all closer together it is inevitable that the rapidly spreading Omicron is taking a foothold.
Aware of the long delays or turned away due to the daily quota being met our locals and visitors are doing all they can to find Rapid Antigen Testing kits. Social media lights up when a new delivery is made and no doubt the stock is sold out in minutes once the supplier is identified. Woolies, Coles, Silly Willies, a chemist here, another there.....
Orders are flowing fast for online purchases of the kits. But in the meantime the queues continue and the anxiety builds as the numbers of local infections climbs daily.
Labor Candidate for Bega, Dr Michael Holland said of the situation "I endorse Ryan Park, the Shadow Minister for Health, who is calling for increased access to free Rapid Antigen Tests across New South Wales.
"I’m calling on the Government to specifically prioritise regional communities like ours for Rapid Antigen Tests. Particularly as people hit our beautiful coastal towns for a break, and our population triples, people need access to RAT tests.
"We don’t want a situation where people are feeling unwell but can’t access a quick test simply because there aren’t any. It will inundate the testing infrastructure up the coast.
"In the same way, any increase in infections in our region will strain our primary health services and any increase in hospitalisation will strain our already under-resourced local hospitals.
"The NSW Government has continued to fail to provide clear and logical advice on when to be tested, what test to use and what to do following your result.
"The NSW Government needs to inform the community of the advice of medical experts.
"My advice is get immunised, get a booster when you can, get tested if you have symptoms and isolate according to your symptoms and results.
"For this Holiday Season, celebrate at home with your family where possible, use a mask and QR code when shopping or entering a restaurant and enjoy outdoor activity.
