The announcement detailing the ramping-up of drive-through testing clinics in Inverell has been welcomed by mayor Paul Harmon.
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He said having the option there for people who feel they should get testing was a positive for the community, brushing off concerns of people traveling from surrounding areas converging on the Sapphire City.
"Any expansion of testing sites for those people who believe they need to get tested is good for community," he said.
"If people feel they are required to be tested, those clinics are now there for them if they want to purse that great opportunity."
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Announced on Friday by MP Adam Marshall, he said he was continuing to fight for residents in Glen Innes to get their own drive-through testing clinic, saying it was unacceptable for those residents to travel to Inverell - or Armidale - if they couldn't secure a spot at their hospital.
Cr Harmon holds no concerns that people flocking to town would pose a risk to locals, saying there was such a thoroughfare of people from both across the state and interstate as it was, it would make no difference to the town's safety.
"I think the fact there is so many people moving around now, that people are popping up at testing clinics if they feel they need to no matter what," he said.
He did however say there was concern from having so many mixed messages coming from the different levels of government, especially around the decision to open the AstraZeneca vaccine to all ages.
Cr Harmon urged residents to take their cases on an individual basis, have a chat with their GP, and use common sense.
"I think the issue is, there is so many mixed message coming out of both levels of government around that, but people really need to consider making decisions and choices that could be lifechanging.
"That's something they need to be discussing with GPs and doing their own research."
He swerved away from getting into the politics of the vaccine roll-out, saying he didn't think it was his role to decide if it'd been successful or not.
The Laverty Pathology clinic is operating from the Inverell Hospital Community Health carpark from 8am to 2.30pm, Monday to Friday.
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