But as bookings spaces for tests start to fill up as other parts of the country experience outbreaks, Director of Tamworth Respiratory Clinic Dr Jaffly Chen is preparing for the possibility of an oncoming surge.

Before the outbreaks in Melbourne and Sydney, the clinic would do around 70 to 80 tests a day.

Since then, they have been doing over 100.

"Even though we are doing over 100 tests a day, it is very efficient. A patient is typically only in the clinic for a few minutes," he explained.

"Within one to two days, you'll have a result."

Watch Dr Chen give The Leader a walk-through of Tamworth's testing hub in the video below:

Despite the numerous tests taken, the only positive result he has seen is the number of people being conscientious enough to get swabbed.

"Yes we have seen an increase in people without symptoms wanting to get tested but for all the right reasons - which is not a bad thing," he explained.

A lot of those are not sure if they should be tested or not, but he said the staff on the phone are trained to ask the right questions.

"Overall, it is always better to be on the cautious side, as over testing is better than under."

And there is another benefit to getting tested: that's how the clinic determines the potential caseload.

"That's how we know what the caseload is in the community, and when or where we need more resources," Dr Chen explained.

"The community would be doing us a favour by coming forward to get tested so that we know if we need to bring in more resources."

Personally, he doesn't think Tamworth or the wider community is at risk of an outbreak. Why? Because we are checked like we should.

But he pleads with the community to continue doing everything they can to help make all the hard work from front-line staff worth it.

"The best way to support us and other health care workers in general: stay at home, follow the protocols.

"While we don't have that problem here at the clinic, I think the best way to support us is to follow the rules and not let all that hard work go to waste."

Over it all and in the face of some of his own personal sacrifices the pandemic demanded, Dr Chen is proud to be helping Tamworth and surrounds through this time.

"It is an honour and a privilege to be able to be in this role supporting the frontlines and our local community," Dr Chen said.

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The clinic's hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm, and Saturday 8:30am to 12:30pm.

Call the clinic on (02) 6768 3288 if you are experiencing symptoms, recently visited a known hotspot or been in contact with someone who has.

NSW Health has directed all staff to be wearing masks if working within 1.5 metres of patients, and all visitors also need their own mask.