Testing numbers at some Hunter COVID-19 clinics almost tripled overnight on Wednesday after a confirmed new case was announced in Port Stephens on Tuesday.
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Maitland Hospital tested 348 people for the virus on Wednesday, after testing 146 people the day before, 119 on Monday and 60 on Sunday.
John Hunter Hospital's numbers also rose to 326 tests on Wednesday - up from 128, 213 and 179 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday respectively.
At the drive through clinic at the University of Newcastle, more than 500 people were tested on Wednesday alone. The total followed 289 tests on Sunday, 439 on Monday and 414 on Tuesday.
The spike comes after Tuesday's confirmation that a Port Stephens man in his 60s had tested positive for coronavirus and several Hunter venues were visited by positive cases.
Hunter New England Health public health physician Dr David Durrheim said the surge in testing had been very much welcomed.
"We really are thrilled," he said. "We were concerned that we've had visitors from hotspots in Sydney, but that has really prompted people to get tested."
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However, the downside of the increased demand has been longer waiting times for patients.
One person told The Herald when they called through to book into the University of Newcastle's drive through clinic, they were stuck on an engaged signal for 20 minutes before finally getting through.
They were then told they were 78th in the phone queue.
Long lines of people have also been observed at the Calvary Mater and John Hunter hospitals.
Dr Durrheim said staffing had been increased to deal with the spike in testing.
"But because of that demand, we really do ask the community to be patient," he said.
He said clinics were only looking to test people in the community who were experiencing symptoms, as there is currently no widespread community transmission of the virus.
"There's no need for any sort of panic at this stage," he said. "We're not testing asymptomatic people at the moment.
"With the current cases, we are aware of the source which is a very important thing. We want to keep it that way."
Dr Durrheim said the ongoing health messages of hand washing, social distancing and not taking coughs and colds into the community were particularly important to prevent community transmission.
"Those measures have become much more pointed," he said. "We know the virus has visited us. What we don't want to see is a situation like in Victoria.
"We want to starve the virus of any chance of taking off.
"The normal cold virus is also around, so if you have cold symptoms, get tested to rule out COVID-19. You must wait in isolation until you receive your results."
Drive through the way to go
Hunter New England Health is urging people who want to be tested for COVID-19 to utilise the district's drive through clinics as demand for testing surges in the region.
Drive through testing is currently available at the University of Newcastle, Belmont Hospital and at a new pop-up clinic at Tomaree Sports Complex, where Hunter New England Health says hours will be extended to meet demand.
Elsewhere in the region, Cessnock and Singleton Hospitals are also currently hosting a drive through testing service.
Hunter New England Health public health controller Dr David Durrheim said the drive through clinics had "fantastic capacity" for testing and were a safer option than walk-in services.
"You receive a specific time to be there," Dr Durrheim said.
"You don't even have to get out of your car and it means you don't have to sit and wait in a full emergency department."
The new Tomaree Sports Complex facility is a three lane drive through clinic. It will operate 8am-4pm seven days, however hours will be extended as required to meet demand.
Bookings are required for all drive through clinics. For the University and Tomaree clinics, call 4964 7497 between 8am-4pm. Bookings at Belmont can be made on 4923 2211.
Anyone who is experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath, or is suffering from symptoms such as loss of sense of smell or taste, is urged to get tested.
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Sage Swinton
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
Sage Swinton is a news reporter who was born and bred in the Hunter. She has been with the Newcastle Herald since June 2020, and covers Newcastle council as well as other general news.
