As one of 100 private practice respiratory clinics funded by the federal government, the clinic - which is taking bookings from today - will ease pressure on the public system.

The Murray Primary Health Network approached CMG partner David Tillett and his team five weeks ago.

"Because we've got the capacity, we were happy to sign on," he said.

"We can bring patients in - isolated from the rest of the practice - assess them for respiratory symptoms and do swabbing if need be.

"General practice always has a lot of patients with respiratory illness, particularly at this time of the year, but it's been a little bit quieter than normal, as people haven't been mingling as much.

"But we're still seeing a lot of respiratory patients.

"We were doing a lot of swabbing already [for COVID-19] - we did 16 swabs on Monday."

Operations at the clinic changed to increase safety during the pandemic, but the clinic takes it a step further.

People will drive up to a triage area, park in spaces dedicated to the respiratory clinic, and then be guided by staff to the clinic - which has been set-up in the building usually occupied by Flex Out Physiotherapy.

"Flex Out are obviously less busier than they were, and when we suggested if they didn't want to use the building we would be very happy to take the lease off them for the time being, that suited them - they're still operating from their Albury premises," Dr Tillett said.

"There are obviously other practices around that are doing swabbing as well, and if people want to go to their own GPs that's entirely appropriate, but there are some clinics that aren't doing swabbing or aren't set up like this.

"People working in the clinic will be in full protective equipment.

"It's safer for our staff and for the patient - there's no mingling between patients or sitting in the same waiting room.

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"Those respiratory patients we would normally see in general practice, we're taking them out and putting them in a specific clinic."

Anyone in the community who has mild or moderate symptoms - not just Central Medical Group patients - can access the clinic, by booking in via the CMG website.

The practice has received federal funding to establish the clinic and will also be reimbursed for test costs.

People who are seriously unwell should seek hospital treatment or, in a medical emergency, call triple-0.

Central Medical Group's respiratory clinic complements the free Albury Wodonga Health clinic, which has now tested 2228 people and can be contacted on (02) 6058 4444.

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