FOLLOWING the mandatory requirement for essential freight workers to be tested for COVID-19 every seven days, Transport for NSW has introduced 24/7 assisted testing at its five "freight friendly" testing stations, including one on the Mid North Coast at Taree.
Previously, 24/7 testing was available at the Taree testing station but was not manned by staff the entire time. Truck drivers could access Telehealth and self-administer the test. Now, testing by pathology staff is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at the station.
Pacific National, Australia's largest private rail freight company, has publicly thanked the NSW Government for introducing the new measures.
"Taree is a key link in the national supply chain," Paul Scurrah, Pacific National managing director and CEO, said.
The testing station at the Taree South Service Centre made the news last week when a truck driver alerted the media that the testing station had run out of kits and was unable to conduct testing.
At the time, Michael DiRienzo, chief executive of Hunter New England Health District, offered kits from Manning Base Hospital to the testing station to enable it to continue testing until it received more supplies.
However, because the tests needed to be self-administered, the kits used by the hospital were unsuitable for the testing station, and Transport for NSW declined the offer.
Transport for NSW said that they were able to get supplies of testing kits to the Taree South Service Centre the day after the truck driver alerted the media he was unable to get tested.
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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.
