More than 5000 people tested for COVID in Bathurst in two-week period

There were 5270 tests conducted in Bathurst in the 14 days to January 2, with 2208 of those tests carried out since Christmas Day.

The testing rate in Bathurst is the lowest of the three major cities in the Central West, with 237 per 1000 people getting a test.

This is compared to 326 in Orange and 328 in Dubbo.

READ ALSO: Long testing queues prompt health district to prioritise certain tests

With it taking around 72 hours at the moment for tests to be processed, the results for some of those 2208 tests would have been made public in recent days.

The Western NSW Local Health District recorded 150 new cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday, down 70 from the previous day's new case total.

Four of those 150 cases were in Bathurst, which was much lower than the 16 new cases recorded in the previous 24 hours.

There were 13 people in hospital across the health district area, but only one of those cases is in the ICU.

In response to the high demand for testing, the WNSWLHD has had to implement a priority system in an effort to reduce the pressure on laboratories.

Priority for PCR testing at WNSWLHD facilities will be given to public hospital and multi-purpose inpatients, healthcare workers and other emerging priority groups, such as aged-care facilities.

People showing active symptoms for COVID-19 will also be treated as a priority.

Those identified as close contacts of a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be processed after those priority groups.

READ ALSO: So you got pinged as a COVID contact, what happens next?

Anyone who needs to be tested for travel has been urged to use another testing provider.

A spokesperson for the WNSWLHD said it is to soon too know if that measure is having the desired effect, but it is hoped that demand for testing will soon reduce.

"Given that the requirements for travel have changed over the new year period ... that demand [for testing] will diminish over time naturally," they said.

People who need a PCR test can access them a little bit more easily now that normal operating hours have resumed following the holidays.

Although it is expected that the demand for PCR tests will soon reduce, queues are still to be expected.

"Testing services in Bathurst are now resuming normal operating hours, however the assessment of risk should still be used to determine the need for PCR testings," the WNSWLHD spokesperson said.

"The drive through site at the former Clancy Motors is now open 8-4, seven days and the Ochre site (by appointment) is 8-5 weekdays."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: