Fears covid is going undetected. Testing rates fall by 60% across the Hunter

HNE Health has seen a massive drop in testing rates right across the Hunter as we enter the 3rd week of lockdown.

Testing numbers peaked around 16,000 tests per day at the beginning of the outbreak. Unfortunately slow results from labs have reduced the hours some testing sites, operating and the public has lost confidence that quick results will be delivered to avoid unnecessary spent in isolation. In the past week testing numbers have dropped to around 7,500 tests per day.

Testing is the only way we can know if the outbreak is under control, at this stage the number of news cases has dropped from 12 per day to around 5 new cases per day, which sounds good but there a fears cases are going undetected in younger people who may not display symptoms.

HNE Health is urging anyone with symptoms to go get tested, if more people are getting tested, it gives health officials more confidence that restrictions across the Hunter could be relaxed.