Experts reckon everyone in Sydney will eventually be tested for COVID-19, and likely re-tested in future, as NSW pledges to expand testing for those with even mild symptoms.
Currently, only those at high-risk or those living in coronavirus hotspots can be tested.
“There is an inevitability with any virus, particularly a novel virus,” Greg Granger, director of operations at St Vincent’s pathology service SydPath, told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“It can get away from us at any time.
“Everyone in Sydney will eventually be tested and re-tested and probably re-tested again.”
Later on Wednesday, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant will meet with private pathology labs to coordinate a ramp-up of COVID-19 testing across the state.
Chant explained testing will be opened up for all Sydneysiders after it is confirmed local labs have the capacity for it.
“If we have enough testing kits and swabs and collection points, we will be announcing testing is open to anyone with symptoms who wants a COVID test,” she said.
Until now, testing had been focused on so-called coronavirus hotspots around Sydney where there had been an increased risk of community transmission, particularly around the Eastern Suburbs.
In Bondi, which is part of the local government area with the highest amount of confirmed cases in the state, a pop-up, drive-thru clinic was opened earlier in the month.
There have been almost 3,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in NSW, however the daily rate of new infections has fallen dramatically.
