Tamworth COVID-19: dramatic drop in testing rates concerning health authorities as school holidays end

Hunter New England Health (HNEH) physician Dr David Durrheim said just 356 locals showed up for a COVID swab at Tamworth clinics last week.

"The 300 number is very low," he said.

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"We think that's at least half of the target we should be seeing at this time of year.

"Testing numbers have gone down and that's when you miss cases and when one gets surprises."

The rate had dropped dramatically from a 'peak' in late August, when more than 1100 Tamworth residents were being tested for COVID-19 per week.

The Tamworth region has been free of new confirmed coronavirus cases for close to six months, but Dr Durrheim warned a recent surge in community transmission cases in NSW proved the virus is still hanging around.

"When we're not mixing, we know the Tamworth community has been COVID free for many months now, but the school holidays may well have brought family, friends, visitors into Tamworth and the New England area," he said.

"We do believe Tamworth has been virus free up until the school holidays, but now we know people have been moving around ... the possibility of the virus being reintroduced is higher."

Dr Durrheim said kids and adults showing even the mildest of cold or flu symptoms should immediately seek out a test at one of the city's clinics, before heading back to school or work.

Sewage surveillance in Tamworth was scheduled to wrap up weeks ago, but HNEH confirmed wastewater continues to be tested on a weekly basis.

In more than eight weeks of testing, no COVID-19 viral particles had been detected.

Dr Durrheim said the research project had been helpful, but the weekly results mean it's still essential to get a swab straight away if symptoms arise.

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