A DOCTOR, who had three Sydneysiders walk in to his Lavington vaccination clinic seeking a shot, has also had a Newcastle woman insisting she could travel to the Border for her COVID jab.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Niranjan Sarjapuram told of his experiences as police prepared to toughen their approach to NSW residents leaving coronavirus hotspots.
A media forum involving Murray River Police District's top officer and Albury MP Justin Clancy is to be held on Friday morning to outline changes.
Dr Sarjapuram had three men in tradies' gear enter his Sarkon clinic at Lavington Square on Wednesday just before 10am and produce driver's licences with Sydney addresses.
They were told they could not proceed and after arguing for a short time left and were reported to police.
"I'm not sure legally whether they've done the right or wrong thing but as a community member I think they've done the wrong thing," Dr Sarjapuram said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Another Sydney man sought a booking on Wednesday afternoon, claiming he was in construction and working a week on-week off in Albury and flying in.
Dr Sarjaparum told the man as he was coming from a COVID hotspot he would not be received at the clinic.
Those episodes followed the Newcastle woman phoning three times last Friday night, saying she was allowed to travel and wanted a vaccine the following day.
"I did tell her 'you're bringing a risk to the local community by doing this and you're taking away a dose that was meant to be for the local community'," Dr Sarjaparum said.
The woman was reported to police and Dr Sarjapuram said online booking processes had since altered to make it harder for those outside the Border.
Mr Clancy said the instances were a concern and "it only adds to the challenge when you have persons who are not doing the right thing".
He declined to comment when asked how it reflected on efforts to stop Sydneysiders entering the regions.
There is speculation of a NSW-wide lockdown, but Mr Clancy said "I don't have any visibility on that".
His government colleague, state Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Thursday such a measure was not likely.
"We'll progressively look at those areas that have problems, but at this stage I don't see any reason, on the advice I've had to date...why we would move further than where the problems are," Mr Hazzard said.
A swath of NSW's North West as well as Armidale, Dubbo, Tamworth, Newcastle and the Northern Rivers are regional areas under lockdown.
