Wilcannia residents encouraged to come forward for COVID-19 Surveillance Testing
The Far West Local Health District is encouraging everyone in Wilcannia to come forward for testing whether they have COVID-19 symptoms or not. To encourage more people to get tested, the Far West LHD is implementing surveillance testing in Wilcannia on Friday 15 October 2021.
Surveillance testing is the same as normal COVID-19 testing but means you do not need to self-isolate while you await test results, provided you have no symptoms, are not a close or casual contact of a confirmed case and everyone at home is well. Anyone with symptoms must still isolate until they receive a negative result.
Far West LHD's Chief Executive Umit Agis said despite their being no known active cases in Wilcannia, surveillance testing strategy is an attempt to encourage the community to come out and get tested, knowing that they don't need to self-isolate if they have no symptoms.
'The Wilcannia community is to be congratulated in the way they have joined forces with community organisations in bringing the pandemic under control,' he said.
'However, with the lifting of stay-at-home orders on 11 October and inter-regional travel resuming, there is unfortunately the potential for more cases to arise in Wilcannia in the future. Testing is one of our primary weapons in keeping the COVID-19 virus under control and keeping the Wilcannia community safe.'
There are currently no known positive COVID-19 cases in Wilcannia.
COVID-19 testing in Wilcannia is available at:
Wilcannia Swimming Pool, 6-8 Reid Street,10am to 2pm, seven days a week.
The new surveillance testing measures only apply to Wilcannia and Broken Hill. They do not apply to other areas in Far West LHD. Residents in other areas will still need to get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms and isolate until they receive a negative test result. Symptoms of COVID-19 include cold or flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath.
Find your nearest testing clinic here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19/stay-safe/testing/clinics