THOUSANDS of hours have been dedicated by volunteers to supporting COVID-19 screening points across the state, from Wagga to Sydney and everywhere in between.
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St John Ambulance NSW has partnered with NSW Health to provide medical and logistical support at temperature and symptom screening points at airports, train stations and quarantine hotels.
One of the key screening points is at Wagga Airport, where volunteers are putting themselves at the front line to ensure the spread of COVID-19 from areas like Melbourne and other hotspots is contained.
Nicholas Castles has spent the last three weeks manning the airport's screening point, and said it was a necessary process amid these difficult times.
"We're screening any incoming passengers from Melbourne Airport and make sure they aren't flagging any issues with their temperatures, their departure destination and general COVID-19 symptoms," he said.
"Once they have been cleared, they can then go into the airport, but if they raise any flags with any of the screening tests, they must isolate."
Mr Castles said they have precautions in place for their own safety, including gloves, safety goggles and face masks.
"People have been pretty cooperative so far, they are all quite understanding of why we have to do this and we just need to be very open about exactly what's expected," he said.
Over the three weeks, Mr Castles said they had screened 28 people at Wagga Airport, with only one needing to isolate.
"They already planned to [isolate] anyway, as they came from a hotspot," he said.
In other news:
Statewide, more than 483 members have provided upwards of 8,900 hours of support at 52 sites including drive through clinics in Western Sydney and quarantine hotels in Sydney CBD.
In regional communities, members are also screening temperatures of train passengers on the Victorian border in Albury, focusing on passengers boarding trains bound for NSW.
St John Ambulance NSW CEO, Sarah Lance, said the organisation is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the community.
"Our volunteers have always stepped forward when they're needed most and this situation is no different," she said.
"The clinical skills, professionalism and compassion that St John volunteers have shown throughout COVID-19 has been remarkable."
St John is currently positioned at:
- 12 Sydney quarantine hotels
- South Western screening clinics including Prestons and Cabramatta
- Sydney screening clinics at Homebush, Roselands, Summer Hill and Rozelle
- Albury Railway Station
- Albury Airport
- Wagga Airport