A truck driver has contacted the ABC claiming he was turned away from the COVID testing station at the Taree South Service Centre, the public broadcaster reported yesterday, Tuesday, July 20.
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The truckie said he was told by a security guard at the service centre they had run out of testing kits and had been waiting for more since Saturday.
The Taree-based testing station is one of five "freight friendly" testing centres in NSW run by Transport for NSW.
"Extreme demand for testing equipment more widely has also disrupted supply from the test kit manufacturers in some areas.
Transport for NSW is working urgently to ensure the five testing sites are stocked to service the increased demand and will keep industry updated.
- Transport for NSW
"Transport for NSW is working urgently to ensure the five testing sites are stocked to service the increased demand and will keep industry updated.
"Freight workers are advised to follow the advice on the VMS boards at each site.
"Freight drivers are able to use any COVID-19 testing centres to fulfil the requirements for mandatory testing with a number of centres now operating over extended hours.
"To find the closest test site, visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics."
Hunter New England Health District chief executive Michael DiRienzo said he would speak with Manning Base Hospital staff to see if they could help out the testing centre.
"We don't provide that service there, but I'm going to talk to management here about whether we can help them out, Mr DiRienzo said.
"We'll go and send them some so they can keep testing.
"Being a testing site, we should have kits.
"We'll have a look at how many we have and we'll go help them out.
"What we've got to do now is increase the capacity.
"Every time there is a potential exposure or there is some anxiety out there in the community, we want people to get tested.
"So what we should do now is assist our partners there in Transport (for NSW) to get some testing kits."
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
