HEALTH services in Bathurst are carefully relaxing their COVID-19 screening and safety measures months after the city's last active case concluded.
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The Bathurst Local Government Area (LGA), like much of regional NSW, saw very few cases during the pandemic, with only nine cases recorded since March.
The last active cases concluded on April 23 and, despite a health alert in October, there have been no more cases diagnosed.
NSW has gone almost three weeks without any cases of community transmission, a clear indication that Australia has got the virus under control.
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The NSW Government has eased a number of restrictions recently, and now health facilities in Bathurst are relaxing some of their own protocols.
In July, the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) informed communities that masks were mandatory at health facilities.
This mandate has now been relaxed.
"With the transition to a green alert, most staff do not need to wear a surgical mask when within 1.5 metres of a patient," a WNSWLHD spokesperson said.
"Mask wearing is still required for staff working in emergency departments and for all staff when attending to patients who have an acute respiratory infection.
"Patients presenting to the emergency department should continue to be encouraged to wear masks. Most other patients are not required to wear masks. The use of PPE for any suspected, probable or confirmed case of COVID-19, remains unchanged."
Temperature testing remains part of the wellness screening at facilities like Bathurst Hospital, and if anyone has a temperature equal to or higher than 37.5 degrees Celsius, they are directed to the nearest COVID-19 testing clinic.
Around 1600 people have been tested in Bathurst this month, compared to 2402 in October.
Ochre Health has also relaxed some of its protocols.
A spokesperson said temperature testing and screening was being done at the door at the height of the pandemic, but this has since been relaxed.
Patients are still be screened when they visit Ochre, but this is done at reception either when the appointment is made or when a patient arrives for their appointment.
Temperature testing is only carried out if answers to the screening questions about where they have travelled or symptoms suggest that the person could be at risk of having COVID-19.
A mask mandate was also lifted for staff and patients about four weeks ago, but people are still encouraged to wear them as a precaution.
