BATHURST has passed the first day of its COVID-19 testing blitz with flying colours, with not a single positive result from more than 500 tests on Thursday.
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NSW Health issued a health alert for the Bathurst region after traces of coronavirus were found in raw sewage on Wednesday, just days after the Bathurst 1000 on Mount Panorama.
Health authorities asked anyone who had been to the Bathurst 1000, along with any locals who had experienced even mild flu-like symptoms to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they received a negative results.
The Bathurst community responded magnificently, with more than 500 people fronting for tests on Thursday at either the temporary drive-through clinic set-up in the Cooke Hockey Complex car park, the respiratory clinic at Bathurst Health Service or respiratory clinic at Ochre Health on the grounds of Charles Sturt University.
And they all received the best possible news on Friday, with every test coming back negative.
It was a good news story repeated right across the state, with NSW recording no new cases of locally-acquired COVID-19 for the 24 hours to Friday morning.
Western NSW Public Health Unit director Priscilla Stanley said there had been a total of 509 COVID-19 tests on Thursday.
"The Bathurst community have responded incredibly well, and I really want to thank people for forward for testing," Ms Stanley said on Friday.
"We're continuing to appeal to the community to come forward for testing right away if anyone has even the mildest of symptoms like a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, fever or other symptoms that could be COVID-19.
ALSO MAKING NEWS:
"As at 2pm today, around 100 more people have been through our testing services, and more will have gone to the respiratory clinic.
"There are currently no people in our district who have been identified as having COVID-19 however this is a timely reminder for people with any symptoms, even mild symptoms, to isolate and arrange to be tested, and to ensure they practice physical distancing and hand hygiene measures."
The drive-through testing service at the Bathurst Hockey Centre car park on Lions Drive, Kelso will be open again on Saturday from 10am-2pm.
Other services offering testing include the Bathurst Respiratory Clinic which is open from 12.30pm-4.30pm on weekdays, and a pop-up clinic at Bathurst Histopath Pathology on Hereford Street, Bathurst which is open 8am-5pm, seven days a week.
Health authorities stress that COVID-19 is still likely circulating and urge the community to remain vigilant.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19:
- If you are unwell, get tested and isolate right away - don't delay.
- Wash your hands regularly. Take hand sanitiser with you when you go out.
- Keep your distance. Leave 1.5 metres between yourself and others.
- Wear a mask when using public transport, rideshares and taxis, and in shops, places of worship and other places where you can't physically distance. When taking taxis or rideshares, commuters should also sit in the back.
There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 testing clinics or contact your GP.
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