Waiting times for COVID-19 test results have been described as "mind-boggling" by one Wagga resident as the state continues to grapple with an outbreak.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A Wagga woman, who wished to remain anonymous, has waited three days to hear the result of her coronavirus swab.
The 32-year-old went for a test on Monday afternoon as a precaution after experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms.
This was the second test she had after booking in when the symptoms first started showing.
"I had a negative result but thought I would get another one as a precaution since I had plans to go away the following weekend," she told The Daily Advertiser.
"A negative test is like a passport.
"I went through the Laverty drive-through clinic at Wagga Beach as I have used it before, and it was simple."
IN OTHER NEWS:
The woman thought her result would come through within two days, but only received the text clearing her from coronavirus late on Thursday afternoon.
Thankfully, the woman said, she can work from home, so she has not been stung by the loss of income, but it was still a frustrating situation.
"It has put me out so I can imagine what it would be like if I had a family or couldn't work from home," she said.
"We are 18 months into this. Laverty should have a better system by now.
"I get that they are working hard, and it is a big job, but it is mind-boggling that a colleague got tested the same day and received their results more than 30 hours ago."
The woman said long wait times become the norm it could see people put off getting tested, particularly in regional areas that do not have any recorded cases.
There were 85,815 tests reported to 8pm on Wednesday, a record number in NSW at any point in the pandemic. About 170,000 people have been tested in the past two days.
A Laverty spokesperson said the majority of COVID tests that were delayed have now been processed and results sent out to patients.
"However, there are still instances where we have not fully caught up and are we are going through these as quickly as we can," they said.
"We are also continuing to experience high volumes of tests, 15,000 to 20,000 plus per day during peak times, which is a substantial part of the state's overall testing numbers.
"Our dedicated frontline and laboratory staff continue to work around the clock and leverage other parts of our national network to provide critical testing to the communities of NSW, as we have done over the last 18 months."
The spokesperson said Laverty apologised for the inconvenience and frustration these delays have caused.
On Thursday morning, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said that the average for receiving COVID test results is 28 hours.
NSW Health's Jeremy McAnulty said they have been working with private and public laboratories to try and get results in as soon as possible.
"Positive results are fast-tracked, so we hear about positive results much more quickly," he told media.
"That's very important in terms of us being able to contact trace."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters