Medical staff and community praised for Moree COVID-19 testing rates

All up, 1300 people have been tested with no positive results.

The numbers through the expanded hospital and drive through clinics in Moree is a credit to both the community and the medical staff, HNE LHD Chief Executive Mr Michael DiRienzo said.

It comes after residents were told to hold-off on attending the pop-up Covid testing site on Thursday, due to the high number of vehicles at the Moree Gateway.

However Mr Di Lorenzo assured the community that Moree District Hospital and Laverty Moree have swabbing supplies and are not turning people away.

"I want to sincerely thank the Moree community for quickly getting behind our call to get tested," he said.

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"Once informed about the venues in Moree, our staff moved quickly to expand operating hours at the Moree Hospital testing clinic and Laverty Pathology established a pop-up drive through clinic in town.

"We have also seen terrific support from local private providers so the community can be tested as quickly and easily as possible."

The Moree Hospital testing clinic together with the Laverty clinic carried out more than 900 tests by closing time last night.

The hospital clinic will operate from 8am to 6pm today, and these hours will continue until at least Monday evening.

The Laverty Pathology drive through clinic, located at the Gateway Puma service station in Moree, will also operate from 9am to 3pm today.

The Pius X Aboriginal Medical Service is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

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"I want to also assure the community that Moree District Hospital and Laverty Moree have swabbing supplies and are not turning people away," Mr DiRienzo added.

"We are prioritising people who have been at the exposure venues to ensure timely testing for these members of the community.

"High rates of testing are so important because this will help us to detect any cases in the community as early as possible. Please remain vigilant for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested for even the mildest of symptoms."

Symptoms can include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

"We please ask people not to dismiss their symptoms as a just a cold, we want them to get tested to confirm it's not COVID-19," he said.

Anyone who has visited the locations listed in NSW Health advice is urged to get tested immediately and follow the instructions related to the locations.

For the latest information click here.

To find local testing clinic locations and opening hours, visit the NSW Government website.

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