Anyone with even mild flu-like symptoms in identified Sydney hotspots will now be able to get tested for COVID-19.
This means people with a sore throat, fever or cough can get tested, even if they haven’t been overseas or come into contact with a confirmed case.
Testing will now be expanded in the coronavirus hotspots of Blacktown, Cumberland, Westmead, the Inner West, Liverpool, Penrith, Randwick, Ryde, Waverley and Woollahra.
The Lake Macquarie and Manning regions north of Sydney will also have increased testing.
These areas were chosen because they had cases with no known link to other cases and heightened concerns about community spread, NSW Health acting director Dr Christine Selvey said.
“We’re asking that everyone in these areas if they have even very mild symptoms to present to their GP or one of the COVID clinics or even to a hospital and seek testing,” she said.
Cases with unknown sources of infection currently make up around 12% of COVID-19 cases in NSW.
Last week, NSW Health also increased testing in Broken Hill, Byron Bay, Port Macquarie, Dee Why, Lake Macquarie, Macquarie Park, Manly, Manning, Nowra, South Nowra and Ryde.
So far, the most tests per resident in Sydney have been done in the Eastern Suburbs and North Shore, with about 2,250 and 2,235 tests per 100,000 residents, respectively.
Meanwhile, in the Western Suburbs and South West, around 1,600 and 1,510 tests have been done per 100,000 residents, respectively.
There are currently over 2,800 COVID-19 cases in NSW.
If you think you may have coronavirus, either call your doctor (DON’T visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you’re struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
