Yamba residents turn out at drive-through Covid-19 clinic
Yamba residents were out before opening time to get their test. They say it will provide peace of mind for themselves and the whole area.
Grafton
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It may be described as a sleepy coastal town in glossy travel magazines, but Yamba residents wasted no time getting out of bed to get tested at a newly set up drive-through clinic today.
It was established following news yesterday that Covid-19 fragments had been found in testing of Yamba’s sewage.
The testing clinic, stationed at the Raymond Laurie Sports Centre off Angourie Road, was due to open at 9am, but there was a steady stream of cars greeting the three technicians as they donned their protective gear.
By opening time, approximately 12 cars at a time waited in line in the sports centre car park, first giving information to one worker, before two cars at a time were tested and sent on their way in around 15-20 minutes.
While there weren’t many willing to publicly out themselves in the line-up, the general consensus was that being proactive was the only way the town would get through the current lockdown.
Brad and Gemma Pritchard were among the early-birds, and said they’d hoped to beat what they envisioned would be a crowd of people waiting for tests.
“I think it’s great to see, and I think we’ve all got to get out and get it down,” Mr Pritchard said.
“We need to take away the possibility of the government saying we have something when we might not.
“If we do get out and get tested, and there’s nothing here then they have to reopen us (from the statewide lockdown), so I think we should all get out and support it.”
Mr Pritchard said the test wasn’t his first one, and praised the staff on hand for their skills and polite manner.
Crowds around other testing clinics in the valley have been gathering since news of positive Covid-19 cases in the Byron area emerged last week.
Acting CEO for the Northern NSW Local Health District said anyone who was even slightly unwell is urged to come forward for testing immediately, then isolate until they receive a negative result.
“We are also strongly encouraging people who may live on properties which are not connected to the town sewage supply systems, to please be alert for any symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested immediately,” she said.
Getting tested not only helps our public health teams respond quickly, it also means that if you do become more severely ill, we can provide necessary medical care and treatment.
To find your nearest testing clinic, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.
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