Armidale's doctors have already started drills in advance of a potential Coronavirus global pandemic.
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As the virus spreads around the world, local health authorities have started preparations in the New England to stop and treat the disease.
A spokesperson for Hunter New England Local Health District said over 3000 people have been tested for Coronavirus across NSW including in our region.
"Hunter New England Local Health District is reviewing and revising its pandemic plan in response to COVID-19," they said.
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"As part of this, there is enhanced triaging in our emergency departments with broad screening of all presenting patients.
"EDs are also undertaking random drills to ensure staff readiness."
The health district considers a pandemic including local transmission to be "quite possible". As flu season approaches, they have started hiring additional casual nursing staff to cover winter.
Coronavirus, also called COVID-19, spread from Hubei province in China in January.
Almost 90,000 people have been infected worldwide. Most patients have only mild symptoms, but the virus has killed over 3000 people globally so far, including an Australian.
But while the Hunter New England Local Health District continues to strengthen their response to the Coronavirus threat they also called on the public to help stem its spread.
"The best way to protect your community is to practice good hand hygiene, cover your sneezes and coughs and stay home from work or study if you feel unwell.
"The business community has an important role to play, including getting their business continuity plans on foot and examining things like flexible working practices for staff."
Every hospital in the New England health district is equipped to treat a person with the virus.
But many smaller towns rely on temporary locum doctors to cover weekend shifts.
The spokesperson for the local health service said they had contingency plans in place if the situation arose again.
"Staff in our smaller facilities also have 24/7 support, via Telehealth, from senior medical officers in our larger, networked hospitals for specialised advice and intervention," they said.
