Armidale COVID-19 week-on-week testing rate levels remain on par

Hunter New England Health (HNEH) figures up to Monday indicated testing numbers were either on par or below the previous week.

HNEH extended the hours of testing facilities following the announcement last Thursday that NSW Health had detected fragments of the COVID-19 virus at the sewage treatment plant in Armidale.

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At that time, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said a recently recovered case who was infected elsewhere was in the area.

MP Adam Marshall subsequently came out and said he was the recovered person referred to.

In a media release, Mr Marshall urged people to stay calm but vigilant.

The MP contracted the more infectious Delta variant of COVID-19 at a Nationals dinner in Sydney in June.

At the start of July, he was ordered to remain in isolation for a further five days on advice from NSW Health.

Two weeks ago, Mr Marshall received his first COVID-19 vaccination in Uralla.

This week, Mr Marshall said he thought the lack of higher testing rates reflected the 'calmness in the community' at the moment.

"People should be on alert but not alarmed, and if you have even the slightest symptoms, please get tested immediately," he said.

Last Thursday, Armidale Hospital testing clinic was extended by two hours to run between 12 noon and 4pm. On Friday, the testing clinics were opened to run between 9am and 3pm. The hospital also offered testing on Saturday and Sunday, between 9am and 3pm.

These extended testing hours (9am to 3pm) will remain in place until at least this Friday.

The Laverty Pathology drive-through clinic at Airside Business Park on Cameron Drive is also offering additional testing, Monday to Friday (8am to 5pm) and on Saturday and Sunday (8am to 2.30pm). Appointments for this service are not required.

Armidale's sewerage is tested weekly. This is an important tool that supports the detection, tracking, and changing rate of virus infection.

Hunter New England Health advised the results from this week's test would not be available until Thursday.

Last week was the first time COVID-19 particles were detected in sewage surveillance programs across the Armidale and Tamworth regions, which have been occurring weekly for almost a year.

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