COVID-19 testing lines ease across Sydney's south-west

Coronavirus testing lines have eased across Sydney's south-west this morning after workers were left waiting for hours yesterday amid a new three-day testing rule.

The wait in lines in Fairfield have dropped from seven hours to just a few minutes, though more cars are starting to turn up as the morning goes on.

While there are multiple testing centres in the area, the new 24-hour centre at Endeavour Park was overrun after essential workers were told to get tested every three days.

READ MORE: Inside Sydney's coronavirus intensive care ward

A second 24-hour testing clinic is now open at Fairfield showground.

Today it's nearly empty, but other sites such as at the Fairfield Showground are busy, with people waiting for over an hour.

Workers who need to leave the area must be tested by Saturday under the new rule.

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The NSW Health rule also applies to people from Greater Sydney travelling more than 50km outside the area to work, though those people must only get a test once a week.

There will now be three clinics at the Endeavour sports ground, and Mounty's Club will become a 24-hour clinic from 10am today, with the full list of clinics on the NSW Health website.

Yesterday Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone said the government needs to "come to the party" and provide more resources to help accommodate new testing requirements.

"Not only are they worried about the virus and their families, but they need the resources to support them through this," Mr Carbone said.

"What I'm concerned about is these residents who have symptoms are not going to wait six hours in a line up for testing."

Long queues for the 24 hour COVID testing drive through clinic at Endeavour Sports Reserve, Fairfield West, Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian apologised for the inconvenience, saying those without symptoms can use different testing clinics.

"If you are an essential worker or someone who cannot work from home and must conduct particular work, living in the Fairfield local government area, you can get tested closer to your place of work," Ms Berejiklian said.

Meanwhile a pregnant woman who underwent surgery at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney's south-west has tested positive to COVID-19.

Liverpool Hospital in Liverpool, Sydney

Dozens of staff have now been forced into strict isolation, and the operating theatre has been deep cleaned with non-urgent surgery postponed for the day.

NSW Health confirmed the diagnosis in a statement.

"All close contacts are being tested for COVID-19 and isolating for 14 days," it said.

"Casual contacts are also being tested and will self isolate until a negative result is received."

READ MORE: New cases in locked-down Bondi Junction apartment block

Liverpool Hospital in Liverpool, Sydney

Yesterday, Sydney's lockdown was extended by two weeks until at least July 30.

Among yesterday's 97 new cases, 24 had been infectious in the community.

The cluster which started in Bondi and has spread across the city, most notably to the south west, stands at 864 cases.

Today's new case numbers are due to be announced at 11am, with fresh cases in Victoria linked to the outbreak sparking restrictions including masks to be reintroduced.



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