The end of 2020 saw a small resurgence of COVID-19 cases in NSW, which has sparked renewed diligence from MIA residents.
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The number of swab tests being conducted by the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) in Griffith had fallen to the single digits in early December, but the latest outbreaks have resulted in over 30 people getting tested each day since Christmas, including 122 on Boxing Day.
Your Health Griffith's respiratory clinic also conducted 506 tests from Christmas Day to January 7, which office manager Carlie Aitken described as a "definite increase" from pre-Christmas levels.
In Leeton, the MLHD conducted only 23 tests from December 19 to the end of the year, but the first week of January alone saw 42 tests.
Despite all the tests, there has only been one recent case of COVID-19 in the MIA, a passenger of a flight from Sydney to Griffith who was diagnosed on December 24.
He is currently self-isolating, and doesn't appear to have infected anyone else he came into contact with.
MLHD Chief Executive Jill Ludford urged anyone who suffers any symptom to get tested, in order to protect their community
"The most important thing we all need to be doing is testing, testing, testing," she said. "That is how we can all keep our community safe."
"If somebody does come into contact with a COVID-19 infected person, without knowing it, as soon as they get even the mildest symptom they should get tested and then get into isolation. That's how we prevent mass scale community transmission."
"We won't turn anybody away, everybody who comes forward will be tested."
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The MLHD testing clinic in Griffith is located at 50-52 Yambil Street and the Leeton clinic is on Myall Street.
To arrange a test call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline (8am-6pm) on 1800 831 099.
Bookings for a test at Your Health Griffith can be made online.