Tamworth Goco reopens doors as COVID-19 lockdown loosens

Home health care provider GoCo will be opening its doors to the public from Tuesday June 9 for individual transactions.

But visitors will be asked to comply with COVID-19 rules to ensure the safety of staff and the community.

Executive Manager Bruce Mercer said that's because their clients and volunteers are among the most vulnerable group to the deadly coronavirus.

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The service plans to be "extra careful", he said.

"The key messages are no surprise - stay home if you are unwell, sanitise your hands and sign in upon entry into our offices and maintain social distance," he said.

GoCo social groups will remain on hold, with the organisation planning to revisit the decision once it has developed "alternative plans and protective measures".

The service has urged clients to book visits in advance to help them meet social distancing obligations.

The team has been busy readying office spaces for the Tuesday reopening.

'The continued health and wellbeing of our clients has been our main priority throughout the pandemic, meaning our essential services such as home care packages, transport, meals and shopping assistance continue on,' Mr Mercer said.

The service provides home care packages across the Tamworth and Gunnedah regions and to Narrabri, as well as Kootingal, Nundle and Barraba.

It was forced to stop its usual face-to-face meetings, close its offices and call off social group activities in April. Instead it made hundreds of phone calls to check up on client well-being.

GoCo continued to provide essential transport services including grocery shopping and medical appointments, care and housing support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Meals on Wheels in Barraba and Nundle and Home Care Package services across the North West.