There is increasing frustration across the western plains as increasing numbers of small town residents wait in extended isolation pending covid test results.

Delays well past the 72 hours are now a common experience while those tested in centres like Dubbo are more likely to see their results in around 24 hours.

Equally irritating is the almost complete lack of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) available in local communities especially following the Prime Minister's announcement of the nation's increased reliance on RATs for self-monitoring and management of covid isolation. 

Most local PCR testing facilities will not re-open until Tuesday, further compounding the backlog and making it difficult to get a measure of the true scale of infections in smaller communities. 

There were 152 new cases recorded up to 8pm last night (31 January) in the Western Local Health District (LHD) with 32 of these in western plains towns including a new cluster in Walgett. 

There were 13 new positive cases in Walgett shire, with one of those registered at a Lighting Ridge address. 

Warrumbungle Shire recorded 6 new cases (3 in Coonabarabran), Nyngan and Cobar saw 3 new cases, Bourke and Brewarrina 2 cases, and Coonamble, Gilgandra and Lachlan shires 1 case each. 

There are now four cases in hospital in the Western LHD with none in intensive care. 

“While our hospitalisation rate is still fairly low, it’s reasonable to expect that more people needing care either in hospital or at home will follow increasing case numbers,” said WNSWLHD Acting Chief Executive, Mark Spittal. 

“COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, is a serious illness. It can make even relatively healthy people sick for an extended period, and vulnerable people – older people and those with existing health conditions – are really at risk.  

“We also don’t want our hospital beds taken up with COVID patients when other people need them. We don’t want to have to divert lots of resources into supporting people at home while they’re sick or in isolation. We don’t want our frontline health staff taken out of action because they’re sick or are close contacts." 

Health authorities are urging people to remain patient and treat health staff with respect. 

Mr Spittal also asks that we use common sense when socialising in order to reduce the risk of further transmission.