A new COVID testing clinic has been set up for emergency services and council staff in Lake Macquarie.
The new through testing clinic has opened at Lake Macquarie Council's Speers Point administration building for police, fire crews, paramedics, frontline council staff and direct family members.
The clinic will be operated by 4Cyte Pathology, 7.30am-3.30pm Monday-Friday, with samples couriered to labs in Sydney and results typically available within 24 hours.
Council's Manager Environmental Regulation and Compliance Derek Poulton said the decision after drive-through testing clinics across the region were inundated as a result of the recent surge in COVID-19.
"We wanted to make sure emergency services crews working so hard in these challenging times, as well as their families and household members, could get tested locally and without delay," Mr Poulton said.
"It was similarly important to ensure council workers providing essential services in our community can get tested readily."
Workers need to show council or emergency services credentials on arrival, or proof of their household connection.
