Do I Need To Get Tested?
Current Clinic Hours
I’ve Got COVID / Coronavirus
Self Isolating & Quarantine
Who Needs to Self Isolate?
All overseas travellers
PEOPLE WHO HAVE VISITED CERTAIN AREAS
At times, the NSW government will determine certain areas to be of high risk and will mandate an isolation period for people coming from, or travelling though those areas.
The most up to date list can be found at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/border-restrictions
Close Contact of a confirmed infection
SUSPECTED
CONFIRMED
Isolation and Quarantine
Please follow the guidelines listed by NSW Department of Health, regarding self isolation & quarantine
Fact sheets can be found at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/isolation-guidelines.aspx
Symptoms
COVID SYMPTOMS
- Fever over 38°C
- A history of fever, eg rigors
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Loss of sense of smell
- Change in sense of taste
EMERGENCY SYMPTOMS
- Significantly faster or more difficulty breathing
- Pain on breathing
- Confusion
- Skin feels unusually cold and sweaty, patchy colouring or excessively pale
SEVERE SYMPTOMS
- Persistent shortness of breath
- Chest pains
- Suddenly feeling cold with shivering and fever (rigors)
- Persistent sweating
- Persistent fever not getting better after treatment
- Persistent muscle pain
- Exhaustion
COVID Clinic
Bellingen Shire Covid-19 Testing Clinic is open
The COVID Clinic has been established by local doctors and nurses to provide a single point for the assessment and testing of anyone in Bellingen Shire (including Dorrigo, Thora, Urunga, Kalang, Raleigh etc) who thinks they may have a Coronavirus (COVID) infection.
No other medical problems will be dealt with at the COVID Clinic – you should see your usual GP for those.
Clinic Location
15-23 Watson St, Bellingen (the old Watson Street Hostel).
Clinic Hours
The Clinic is open 5 days a week (Mon-Fri) from 9:00am to 9:30am. Please phone Three Rivers Health on 02 6655 0663 to pre-register.
Who Can Attend The Clinic?
Any Bellingen Shire resident or visitor.
You will be tested for Coronavirus if:
– you have symptoms of a cold (cough, sore throat, congestion), unexplained aches and pains in muscles or joints, fevers, chills, loss of sense of smell; or
– you have been referred for testing by your GP or by the local Public Health Unit.
Testing is especially important for health care and aged care workers, school teachers, emergency services, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island people, and returned overseas travelers.
If you do not have symptoms, you don’t require testing.
Cost
Your visit to the Clinic is bulk-billed to Medicare. There are no out of pocket expenses, as long as you have a Medicare card.
What Will Happen At The Clinic?
You should drive to the Clinic and enter the driveway as signposted.
Please stay in your car (including children). Keep the air conditioner running if the weather is warm.
You will be met by a staff member who will record your details (please have your Medicare card with you).
You will then proceed along the driveway to be seen by a nurse and doctor.
Testing involves taking a swab from the back of your throat, and from the back of your nose. Some people may find this uncomfortable.
If you are tested, it is important that you then remain in home isolation until the result is back.
The results of your swab will be sent to your usual GP. Please phone your GP in three days for the results. Some results have taken up to 6 days to return.
Your visit will take about 10 minutes, longer if there are a lot of attendees.
If You Don’t Have a Car
You should still enter via the driveway on foot or bike. You will be shown to a separate seating area.
Vaccinations
These are challenging times for everyone in our community,
These are challenging times for everyone in our community, however if we focus on remaining connected, informed and safe as we go about living and working in our Shire, then we will continue to rise to the challenges the future may present us.
Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary.
There are currently two COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Australia, both of which are available for free to everyone living in Australia, which means that vaccination providers cannot charge you for the COVID-19 vaccine or for appointments to receive the vaccine.
NSW Health vaccination clinics and participating general practices across the state are open for COVID-19 vaccination bookings, so to check your eligibility and book an appointment at a location near you, simply use the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker on the Australian Government website.
However, if there are no bookings available at a location near you, please continue to visit NSW Health and the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker to stay up to date, as more vaccination appointments will soon become available as states and territories amend their eligibility based on their COVID-19 situation and vaccine supply and uptake.
Brought to you by the Clinical Action Group
The Clinical Action Group consists of representatives from the medical and health profession within the Shire – primary objectives are the operation of the Bellingen COVID-19 Clinic.
A collaborative effort by the private medical and health practitioners across the Bellingen Shire has resulted in the establishment of a dedicated COVID-19 testing clinic, despite no surety of funding for this clinic from the State Department of Health.