Tamworth COVID-19 update: city prepares for Sunday's walk-up vaccination hub, as delay in sewage testing results leaves community waiting

NSW Health's ongoing sewage surveillance program in the region undertakes tests twice a week on Monday and Wednesday, and results ordinarily take two days to report.

Tamworth Regional Council was expecting the results of Monday's test to come through on Wednesday.

Mayor Col Murray said he understands NSW Health is under "quite a lot of stress in their testing regime".

"This morning we were hoping to bring some news about last Monday's sewage test result, but unfortunately we haven't had any advice from NSW Health as yet. So that's still an unanswered question for us," he said.

Cr Murray said the sewage tests are "quite complex" and don't always provide a definitive answer.

"It's not just a simple yes or no test. It actually involves quite a lot of work and quite a bit of time for each individual sewage test," he said.

The council has approached NSW Health to request additional testing of the city's sewage tributaries in order to get a better handle on where the COVID-19 fragments are coming from.

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But Cr Murray said NSW Health have indicated that is not an option.

"It's quite a sophisticated and unusual test, and there's not many that have the capacity to do that," he added.

"Unfortunately, we just have to rely on the Monday and Wednesday tests and hopefully our results in two days will jam up a little. The moment we understand, we will certainly let the community know through the media."

Tamworth council sent another test from the city's wastewater to Sydney on Wednesday, with a result hoped to come on Friday.

PREPARATIONS are ramping up for Tamworth Sports Dome to host a Super Sunday Drop-in Vaccination Hub this Sunday, September 12, from 9am to 3pm.

On Wednesday, representatives from the local health community, the University of Newcastle and the University of New England were part of a push for the community to take advantage of the new and "easier opportunity" to get vaccinated.

Tamworth GP and director of University of Newcastle's Department of Rural Health, Dr Jenny May, said as a general practitioner she was "very concerned" to see groups of people in the community with low vaccination rates.

"If we have a group in the community who have a lower vaccination rate, then the concern is that when COVID does come to town - and I believe it will come to town - that it will affect that particular group," she said.

"So we really need to concentrate on making sure that everybody has the opportunity to be vaccinated, that everybody has the appropriate information... and to ensure that they understand it is not if COVID is coming to our community - it's when."

No appointment is needed on the day, with locals urged to simply roll up to the Sports Dome on Jack Smyth Drive in Hillvue, and walk-in directly from the carpark to the multi-sports area.

The clinics will be taking place on courts four, five and six.

Free buses will also be provided on the day, transporting residents from Coledale and Oxley Vale, thanks to Tamworth Buslines and Hannafords Coaches.

University of New England Vice-Chancellor Brigid Heywood said there are many small regional towns where the opportunity to get vaccinated isn't readily available.

"We believe it's part of our role as a regional university, to join in collaboration with the NSW Police Force, the St John Ambulance and the many members of the nursing and medical community who are joining as part of a community event to make mass vaccination hubs available in small towns," she said.

"This is about creating more opportunity, making it easier, so that members of our community will be supported to go through the vaccination process."

Ms Heywood said UNE has contributed to approximately 20 per cent of first dose vaccinations in the New England region.

Locals are asked to bring a Medicare card on the day, if you have one, and wear a mask at all times.

There will be will be 1000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine available on the day.

Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible.

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