The first drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Young opened on Monday, as the federal government calls for more widespread testing before it will ease lockdown restrictions.
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The facility, operated by Laverty Pathology and located at its downtown collection centre, will provide the residents and surrounding communities of Young with the safest method yet to test for coronavirus.
Anyone experiencing symptoms and in possession of a referral from their doctor will be able to use the drive-through clinic.
Negative test results can be relayed to patients via SMS.
"This is by far the easiest, safest and most convenient way for anyone to be tested for COVID-19," said Peter Kirkwood, Laverty's area manager in Young.
"The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison and Australia's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, have both spoken in the last week of the need for more widespread testing across Australia as a prerequisite for the easing of lockdown restrictions.
"It is our hope that by making a test for COVID-19 more widely available in Young, we'll all be able to return to normal sooner rather than later."
To start with, the Young drive-through clinic will be open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between the hours of 3pm and 4.30pm.
It will be located at Laverty's collection centre at 15 Boorowa Street, Young.
Residents wishing to use the service will need to arrive in a vehicle and have a referral from their GP, the patient's Medicare card and ID.
Patients must remain in their vehicles at all times while a nurse in full protective equipment will perform the test.
Patients may elect to have negative results sent to them via SMS.
Any patient with a positive result will be contacted directly by the GP referring them to the clinic.
The drive-through clinic in Young (located at 15 Boorowa Street, Young NSW 2594) is one of a network of facilities being rolled out across the country by Laverty Pathology and its sister pathology companies, including QML Pathology in Queensland and Dorevitch Pathology in Victoria.
Drive-throughs have already been set up in locations in Sydney and Brisbane, with additional clinics expected to open in the near future.
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