Health authorities want to see drastic increase in Bathurst's COVID-19 testing numbers

Only one new case was confirmed for Bathurst on Wednesday, with the case connected to the cluster at the Bathurst Correctional Centre.

While that case was linked to the jail, health authorities confirmed that person was infectious in the community.

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Only 600 tests were conducted in Bathurst on Tuesday and Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) Chief Executive, Scott McLachlan, would like to see that number pushing 2000.

"We only saw 600 people come forward for testing in Bathurst on Tuesday and that's a really concerningly low number, knowing that the number of times and events of people infectious in the community," he said.

"I'd like to see numbers three times than this, so around 2000 tests a day.

"We know only a couple of weeks ago we were seeing about 3000 to 4000 tests a day. We need to get in front of this, especially in cities like Bathurst."

Of the new case in Bathurst, while that person was infectious in the community, Mr McLachlan confirmed that the case was only infectious for "a short period of time".

"The new case in Bathurst is connected to the jail and we know that they were infectious in the community for a short period of time," he said.

"That's some real concern, another warning for the community. Please, if you've got any signs of symptoms, however mild, please come and get tested. Don't come out of the home without getting tested."

The new case for Bathurst comes on a down when three new venues of concern were announced for the city.

People who visited Woolworths in the Armada Shopping Centre on Friday, August 27, from 4.05pm-4.25pm and Saturday, August 21, from 8.45am-9.25am, BP Bathurst on Stewart Street on Thursday, August 26, from 4pm-4.25pm and Zambrero on Thursday, August 26, from 6.30pm-6.45pm must get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Testing is available at three different places across the city; the drive-through clinic at Mount Panorama from 8am to 4pm daily, at Bathurst Hospital (in the heritage building) from 9am to 4pm daily and at the Bathurst Respiratory Clinic daily by appointment.

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