COVID-19 testing ramps up in Moree after visit from positive traveller en route to Queensland
/The Mayor of the Moree Shire has urged her community to "stay calm" and get tested after a potentially infectious visitor spent a number of days in the northern New South Wales town.
Key points:
- The Mayor of Moree says locals need to stick together – but stay apart – after a person with COVID-19 visited the town
- Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall says people should not have any fear about travelling to the town
- A pop-up testing clinic is operating at the Gateway
Health authorities said a 44-year-old woman tested positive to COVID-19 in Queensland after leaving Melbourne during lockdown on June 1 and was possibly infectious while she travelled through regional NSW.
NSW Health said the woman – who is now under investigation by police to determine whether she breached Victorian health directives – stopped at Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo, Goondiwindi, Coonabarabran and Moree en route to the Sunshine Coast.
"I'm appealing to people not to panic just stay calm, let the processes and policies kick in and we'll be right," Mayor Katrina Humphries said.
"Get tested, don't go anywhere until you have to, unless you have to."
'Stay calm and stay polite'
A pop-up testing clinic will start operating at the Gateway today while COVID-19 testing will continue at Moree Hospital and Moree Respiratory Clinic.
"I have no doubt that our community will step right up for this because they've been really sensible and very responsible the whole way through," Cr Humphries said.
"Stay calm and stay polite.
"These people are here to help us there's going to be some big queues and long waits and people just have to suck it up and that's how we're going to deal with it.
"Look upon it as having a picnic in the car while you're queued up waiting to have your test and then go home and stay there until you get your results.
"This has happened in other communities and they haven't had any positive [tests] so I'm hoping that happens in ours."
Extra resources are being organised to support an expected rush of residents lining up for the vaccine.
'Cook them soup'
Cr Humphries expressed frustration that the virus may have been brought into her community but said locals needed to support each other.
"If any of our people have contracted COVID then we've got to look after them — they're not to be alienated," she said.
"Cook them soup, leave it on the doorstep — that sort of thing.
"Our community will do that because this isn't anyone's fault in the Moree Plains.
"We're not that thrilled that someone has brought it from outside to our community — we're not real happy about that at all."
Cr Humphries said it had been a "bitter blow" to "popular" businesses, but she has "extreme faith".
"We'll just have a bit of a shut down for a few days, stay clam and look after each other, basically, which is what we do anyway.
"We were due to have a very big council meeting, citizenship ceremonies — all that's been put on hold."
'Perfectly safe'
The Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, urged locals not panic.
"It's not like if you live in Moree you are absolutely at risk," he said.
"If you weren't anywhere near those locations at those times, you are not required to present for testing — but of course I'm sure a lot of people will do that anyway … that's a very good thing.
"The more people tested the more certainty we have."
With the Queen's Birthday Long Weekend ahead, Mr Marshall said visitors should not fear Moree.
"You can travel to Moree, it is perfectly safe," he said.
"If you need to go to Moree or want to go to Moree, please go and spend all your money."
'We will get through this'
Cr Humphries has supported her community through drought, fires and floods and said while being "shocked and saddened" by the news, she knows the community will support each other.
"Moree, we will get through this," Cr Humphries posted to Facebook.
"[We] will have a few anxious days and be inconvenienced — however, if we do get any positive results back we need to be mindful and caring of our community.
"Virtual hugs to you all and remain the stoic and amazing community you always have been."