When COVID-19 restrictions were introduced in New South Wales to contain the infectious Delta variant, Newcastle barbershop owner Lily Benson thought Sydneysiders would keep away from her business.
"At first we were just trusting everybody's honesty in doing the right thing and being honest and telling us where they had been," Ms Benson said.
But her hopes that people would do the right thing were dashed when two courier drivers from Penrith in Sydney's west attended her premise for a haircut.
"They checked in, wore masks and answered all our questions, saying they hadn't been to a hotspot area," Ms Benson said.
But the drivers relaxed once they were in the barber chairs and, Ms Benson said, they let their guards down.
"And then they laughed it off and said that their job doesn't sleep and they can continue to do whatever they wanted."
Essential workers from Sydney, including courier drivers, are able to travel to regions including Newcastle.
But NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the men should not be mingling at cafes and other shops in regional towns.
"People are permitted to go to the regions where it is essential," she said.
"You can't go to pubs, clubs, hospitality [venues], anything else.
'A kick in the guts'
The 23-year-old small business owner described it as an eye-opening experience.
"We try and follow all the rules; nobody wants their business to be on a COVID hotspot list,' Ms Benson said.
Ms Benson now checks everyone's ID when they come to her business.
"No one has had a problem with it unless they know they've done the wrong thing," she said.
Calls for daily testing
Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws wants to see daily rapid testing for all essential workers who travel from Greater Sydney to regional areas like the Hunter.
"The greatest risk to the Hunter are those people who are allowed to leave but may not be tested frequently enough," she said.
Professor McLaws is particularly concerned about courier, truck and food delivery drivers.
Essential transport workers are allowed to leave Greater Sydney so long as they undergo a COVID-19 test every three days.
But Professor McLaws says people could become infected within the test dates and pass the disease onto regional communities without knowing.
"The risk factor is high," she said.
"I think we should be testing everybody who is an essential service provider, such as truck drivers, daily — before they become a problem to the Hunter Region."
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says the state government should set up testing hubs for transport workers, including couriers and ride-share drivers, to make it easier for them to get tested before their shift.
TWU NSW branch secretary Richard Olsen said some drivers were waiting overnight to get tested before they started work in the morning.
NSW Health has also been contacted for comment.
Proposal for freeway checkpoints
Matthew Wales from the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce in the Umina Beach area is also calling for tighter controls on unauthorised travel to and from Sydney.
He says checkpoints should be set up on the M1 freeway at the Hawkesbury River.
The Greater Sydney lockdown zone includes the northern end of the Central Coast and ends at Lake Macquarie, south of Newcastle.
Federal MP for Shortland Pat Conroy, whose electorate covers the eastern side of the lake, is concerned about the current rules that allow residents and essential workers to move in between the two communities.
"People have to cross that local government area border for work, for school," he said.
"Lots of my constituents around Lake Macquarie are concerned they'll soon be in lockdown following the Central Coast."
