Tamworth lockdown: testing rates plummet as local leaders Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson, mayor Col Murray and Superintendent Kylie Endemi urge the community to come forward

The next 24 hours will be critical to Tamworth's release from a snap lockdown as local COVID-19 testing numbers plummet.

A lack of tests is a major concern as a 72-hour return time means there's a very real possibility that positive COVID-19 cases could be yet undetected in the region.

Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) mayor Col Murray said testing numbers had "dropped off a cliff".

"We had fantastic numbers, but we have very real concerns that our testing numbers for a city of 50,000 people are just not acceptable," he said.

"They are way, way, way too low."

Anyone in the community who has not been tested for the virus, whether they are symptomatic or have been to an exposure site or not, can visit the drive-through clinics at Plain Street or the Australian Equine and Livestock Centre (AELEC).

Up to six hour wait times appear to have deterred community members from getting tested, but with the second clinic at AELEC most people are being seen within an hour.

Cr Murray said the council was now prepared to deal with a high volume of cars.

"We apologise profusely for the time it took on Monday, we just weren't quite prepared for the volume of numbers, but we are prepared now and we encourage people to get those tests," he said.

There were about 1500 tests recorded on Monday at the two clinics, which dropped to 900 on Tuesday and even fewer by midday on Wednesday.

At this rate, under four per cent of the local population has been tested for the virus since Monday at the two clinics.

With an incubation period of up to 14 days - testing data is the only decision-making tool state health officials have to determine whether or not to open Tamworth back up.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson also called for more pathologists to be put on in Sydney to shorten test turnaround times.

"We really encourage people to get tested, we want those numbers up, that will be the key to freedom, that will give us the data to rely on," he said.

"We need to continue to push hard, we don't want to fall into a false sense of security."

Sewage testing has been upped to twice weekly and updated results are due back on Wednesday.

The Gunnedah community has increasingly shown up to be tested, with just 62 on Monday that ramped up to around 500 on Tuesday.

A number of pharmacies across the Tamworth region will be able to offer AstraZeneca vaccines from next week, which is why the LGA will not open a mass vaccination hub, as Armidale will on Saturday.

Doctor surgeries have reported numerous available bookings for the AstraZeneca jab at Belmore, Smith Street, Peel Health Care, North West Health or the respiratory clinic on Goonoo Goonoo Road.

Mr Anderson asked the community to call their healthcare provider directly if they are interested in being vaccinated.

"They have available appointment times and you will get in very quickly," he said.

"We do not have a COVID case in Tamworth at this stage, our lockdown is precautionary and we want to stay that way."

On whether the community could expect the lockdown to be extended, Mr Anderson said it all comes down to data.

"I think we need to focus on what we have here in the Tamworth LGA, we'll let the crisis cabinet make those decisions at a statewide level," he said.

"We need to focus on what we have to do here, keep our community safe, look after each other and do our bit because each person counts.

"If we lead by example we will set the state example on how to manage a week lockdown in our community."

IF YOU'RE thinking of leaving home without a reasonable excuse, police urge the public to think again after officers slapped Tamworth residents with penalties on the first day of COVID-19 lockdown.

Oxley Police District commander Superintendent Kylie Endemi praised the majority of locals for doing the right thing and obeying public health orders, but said authorities would continue to come down hard on those who break the rules.

"In the last 24 hours we have issued four penalty notices for people being outside their homes without a reasonable excuse for doing so," she said.

"We've issued a smaller number of infringement notices for people who failed to wear a mask when they should have."

Superintendent Endemi said there were plenty of testing and vaccination options within the Tamworth city limits, and asked locals to stick to their area, despite the announcement of a mass vaccination hub in Armidale on Saturday.

"We will judge and investigate every case on its merits that we see, but I would certainly just reiterate that message that there is sufficient resources in Tamworth," she said.

She confirmed the local police and Crime Stoppers team was still taking a significant amount of calls from people in the community reporting potential breaches of the COVID-19 public health orders.

"We certainly will action and investigate any report of concern that we get," she said.

"For a community our size it's really pleasing to see it's a small number of people we have had to take action against."

There are only a handful of essential reasons to leave home for people who live or work in the Tamworth local government area after it was plunged into lockdown at 5pm on Monday.

Police are also maintaining high visibility operations on the region's highways and back roads to catch anyone trying to slip in or out of the area without an exemption.

No new cases have been confirmed in Tamworth since the COVID-19 scare last week.

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