Goulburn's Capital Pathology starts COVID-19 testing at Marulan checking station

Capital Pathology opened the 24-hour clinic on the southbound side at 7am Monday and had already tested 47 drivers by noon, regional general manager Mark Cummins said.

It is located at the northern end of the site and comprises two caravans and a tent. Staff are on duty across three shifts.

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Mr Cummins suggested the move as a way of making the COVID testing process easier for transport drivers.

The National Road Transport Association had also called for additional 24-hour COVID testing stations along key regional routes.

NatRoad CEO Warren Clark said these were essential to avoid supermarket stock shortages.

More have since opened to help drivers meet the national seven-day requirement for driver testing.

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Capital Pathology recently opened another one at Yass Truckstop. Staff were testing up to 200 people daily last week, Mr Cummins said.

Under new regulations introduced on August 28, transport workers must have received at least one vaccine to continue providing the service.

Meantime, testing in Goulburn itself has not picked up markedly since a positive sewage detection late last week. The result was publicised on Saturday afternoon.

A Southern NSW Local Health District spokeswoman said 92 people turned out to Goulburn Base Hospital's clinic on Sunday to be tested. This made a total 415 for the week.

"The community has been absolutely fantastic coming forward and we want to see it continue," she said.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council tests the sewage twice weekly as part of a statewide program.

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At other sites, Capital Pathology tested 433 people for COVID-19 from August 23 to 28. A total 73 presented on Friday and 65 in the four hours to noon Saturday.

"I believe numbers will pick up especially as there are positive sewage traces out there," Mr Cummins said.

"This could be from the three previous positive cases or there could be active ones. Who knows?"

COVID fragments can stay in the sewage system for up to four weeks after shedding.

Mr Cummins said contrary to some beliefs, COVID vaccinations did not show up in faeces.

Laverty Pathology could not be reached for its latest data on testing numbers at its Seiffert Oval drive-through clinic.

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The SNSWLHD spokeswoman thanked the private providers.

"It is taking a lot of pressure off the public facilities so we are grateful," she said.

NSW Health data on vaccination rates is contained in the interactive map below. It may take a moment to load.

In related news, vaccination rates in the 2580 postcode have climbed about 10 per cent in two weeks. The postcode takes in Goulburn, Taralga, Tarago, Windellama and more.

NSW Health data reveals 50 to 59 per cent of the eligible 24 860 people have had their first COVID vaccination, while 30 to 39pc were fully vaccinated.

This compared with 40 to 49pc and 20 to 29pc respectively on August 17.

Between 6000 and 6999 vaccines had been administered to those aged 50 to 59 and 15,000 to 15,999 to those aged over fifty.

The data comes as Goulburn MP Wendy Tuckerman calls for a dedicated vaccination hub for the city.

The Health District has instead announced a walk-in vaccination clinic on September 5, 6 and 7 in the former RTA building in Bourke Street, opposite the Bourke Street Health Service, from 9am to 4pm each day.

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