A significant spike in people showing up for a coronavirus swab has been recorded in Tamworth, as locals and travellers alike heed the advice of authorities and get tested.
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Tamworth Laverty Pathology area manager Stacy Barnett said the local drive-through COVID-19 clinic at Plain Street went from testing less than 30 people per day to more than 170 on Monday alone.
The spike continued, with about 100 people screened on Tuesday, 80 on Wednesday and 30 by mid-morning on Thursday.
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"We would normally have two collectors on, and at the beginning of this week we had five or six on," Ms Barnett said.
She said the wait time peaked at an hour-and-a-half on Monday, and at times there were more than 30 cars queued up.
Ms Barnett said a large amount of people passing through weren't local.
"There has been a lot of travellers ... coming from greater Sydney," she said.
Tests are also being taken at Tamworth Respiratory Clinic, and Tamworth hospital can screen people on Christmas Day when other clinics are closed.
Click this link for a free list of where you can get a test in Tamworth.
Tamworth local government area has not recorded a new case of confirmed COVID-19 in more than nine months.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald.
