Port Stephens residents showing flu-like or respiratory symptoms such as fever, sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste are being urged to get tested for COVID-19.
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Hunter New England Health is operating a three lane drive-through clinic at Tomaree Sports Complex. It is open 8am-4pm seven days.
The drive through clinic is by appointment only. HNEH advises that children under the age of 5 should be tested at Tomaree Community Hospital.
To make an appointment for HNEH's drive through clinic phone (02) 4964 7497 between 8am to 4pm.
The clinic is located in the carpark of Tomaree No. 1 match field. However, access to the clinic is via the main entrance to the sports complex, off Nelson Bay Road.
HNEH's testing clinic at Tomaree Community Hospital is open from 8am to 4pm, seven days a week by appointment only. To book an appointment, phone (02) 4964 7497 between 8am and 4pm.
When arriving for your appointment, you can find this clinic to the left of the hospital's main entrance.
The free, bulk-billed testing clinic has a 24-hour result turnaround.
Since news of the first Port Stephens case was officially reported on July 21, HNEH has deployed extra testing staff at Tomaree Community Hospital and established the drive through clinic to cope with the influx of residents seeking COVID-19 testing.
As of July 30 there were seven people in what HNEH is calling the Port Stephens "family cluster" of confirmed cases.
"At the HNEH-run Tomaree hospital clinic there were between 250-450 people tested throughout the weekdays, and between 30 to 50 people on Saturday and Sunday [July 25-26]," a HNEH spokesperson told the Examiner on Tuesday.
"The drive through clinic at Tomaree saw approximately 480 people tested on Friday [July 24], 340 on Saturday [July 25], and almost 150 on Sunday [July 26]."
The Laverty Pathology's COVID-19 testing clinic at Tomaree Community Hospital continues to be available from 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Patients must contact their GP for a pathology referral prior to attending this clinic, which is located to the right of the hospital's main entrance.
Testing can also be sought at Raymond Terrace Respiratory Clinic by appointment. To book, phone (02) 4983 0900 or click here.
"Patients are only eligible to book into our clinic if they are experiencing respiratory symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms you must: self isolate until you are able to get tested, remain isolating until you receive a negative result and are no longer experiencing symptoms," the clinic said.
COVID-19 testing is also available at Maitland Hospital's walk-in clinic which operates seven days a week between 9am and 4pm. Testing can also be sought at Newcastle's John Hunter and Calvary Mater hospitals.
Additionally, there is a drive through clinic operating at the University of Newcastle. It is open 8am-4pm, seven days a week. Bookings are required and can be done by phoning (02) 4964 7497. Children under the age of 5 will not be tested at this clinic.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
