A SURGE in demand for Warners Bay's new drive-through coronavirus testing clinic left police grappling with a major traffic snarl on Monday morning.
Shortly after 10am Lake Macquarie police advised there were significant traffic issues due to an influx of drivers at the Hillsborough Road site.
"The site will not be accepting new drive-through customers for at least the next hour to allow for traffic to flow through in and around the area," police said in a statement.
The site reopened shortly before noon as traffic began to flow freely.
"The drive-through testing clinic is now accepting vehicles again, however please be mindful that the facility can only accept approximately 20 vehicles at any one time," Lake Macquarie police said.
"If the facility is full, please leave and return later. Police will continue to monitor and manage traffic around the area."
The clinic, which requires no appointment or referral, opened last Thursday.
Another clinic opened today at Laverty Pathology in Adamstown off Brunker Road.
It has attracted steady traffic since 8am, with more than a dozen cars waiting in the car park but none spilling into the surrounding streets by mid-morning.
The strong demand and associated traffic woes follow a Sydney construction worker in his 20s visiting three venues around the region.
Wallsend Diggers, the Lambton Park Hotel and Hotel Jesmond were all closed for deep cleaning after health authorities began notifying the venues on Sunday.
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