Orange Hospital is encouraging anyone with coronavirus symptoms to be tested

COVID-19 testing is being significantly increased across the state, and the Western NSW Local Health District encourages anyone with coronavirus symptoms such as fever, tiredness, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath to be tested.

However, with the exception of workers in high-risk clinical settings, asymptomatic people will not be tested at the hospital's clinic, which is open from 10am-6pm Monday to Friday.

The clinic will not operate on weekends and all patients must go to the emergency department for screening.

Orange Health Service general manager Catherine Nowlan said the statewide pandemic response remains in place at the hospital, including the restrictions on visitor numbers, and visitors must be older than school age.

"Screening and temperature testing for all people coming into health services is in place," she said.

Ms Nolan said NSW Health is taking a measured approach towards elective surgery with a staged recommencement of some elective surgery being guided by the National Cabinet and by local clinicians in Orange.

"Our primary goal is to safely care for patients requiring urgent and semi-urgent surgery as well as ensuring we maintain hospital capacity, personal protective equipment and staff safety," she said.

"As always, patients will be clinically assessed and prioritised, as well as being risk assessed for admission during this period. We will be directly communicating with patients as we gradually expand our elective surgery."

She said the NSW government has also committed $800 million extra funding to help boost Intensive Care Unit capacity and purchase additional services and medical equipment, including PPE.

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