Dubbo and Moree fuming after being exposed to Covid by Victorian travellers

Regional communities are furious after a Melbourne woman and her husband drove through their towns before both testing positive to Covid-19.

NSW regional communities are furious after a woman with Covid-19 breached the Melbourne lockdown and passed through their towns on the way to Queensland.

The infected woman and her husband drove inland on the way to the Sunshine Coast.

She entered NSW on June 1 and started showing virus symptoms on June 3.

The couple crossed into Queensland at Goondiwindi on June 5 and the woman tested for positive for Covid-19 the same day.

The woman’s husband initially tested negative, was checked into hospital as a precaution but also tested positive on Thursday.

NSW Health identified 11 times the woman could have infected people in Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo and Moree.

Forbes Shire Deputy Mayor Chris Roylance said the community was furious.

“We’ve been Covid free since the start of the pandemic. People here aren’t happy. The fact that someone came from Victoria, while they were in a lockdown, and turned up in a local area is reckless,” he said.

“I’ve had people ringing me telling me about how unhappy they are with the whole situation. We’ve been Covid-free and now we’re at risk because of something completely out of our control.

“It is very sad, it puts so many people out and causes fear in the community.”

There have been huge amounts of Covid-19 tests in Melbourne as the state battles another outbreak. Picture: Ian Currie

The latest alert comes after a Melbourne traveller went camping on NSW’s south coast last month while potentially infectious.

It is understood the couple who travelled through the state only came forward for testing because her husband needed a negative Covid test for work.

Dubbo Mayor Stephen Lawrence tried to look at the positive side of the recent scare.

“People are shocked we’ve been largely spared of the Covid impact directly. We had a few cases from cruise ship passengers at the start of the pandemic but that settled,” he said.

“The community is shocked. People are surprised that the virus is still with us in a way.

“This can act as a bit of wake up call in a way that it is a good reminder that we are not immune to it. People need to get checked if they have symptoms.”

Pop-up clinics have been created at Gillenbah, Forbes and Dubbo.

Despite the scare, the amount of toilet paper has not been depleted from panic buying.

“No mate, I am well stocked,” Cr Lawrence said.

“I haven’t walked the aisles of the shops in the last day or so but I am sure there is still plenty of toilet paper on the shelves.”

Queensland police have confirmed they will investigate why the woman left lockdown and travelled interstate.

Moree Cafe Omega is one of the exposure sites.

Meanwhile, there are three COVD-19 testing clinics up and running in Moree at:

■ Moree Hospital testing clinic - open 8am to 6pm, 10 to 14 June (no bookings required).

■ Laverty Pathology pop-up drive through clinic located at the Gateway in Moree - open 9am to 3pm, June 10 to 11 (no bookings required)

■ Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service - open 8.30am to 4.30pm, June 10 (phone [phone]).

A NSW Health spokesperson said Moree District Hospital and Laverty Moree have supplies and are not turning people away.

Moree Amaroo Tavern is another exposure site.

“We would like to thank everyone in the community who has come out for testing,” the spokesperson said.

“We have seen a tremendous response from the Moree community, turning out for testing in high numbers today. NSW Health is prioritising people who have been at the exposure venues to ensure timely testing for these members of the community.”

COVID-19 testing clinics are also available at nearby towns, including Narrabri, Armidale and Gunnedah Hospitals.