The testing line stretched through the hospital grounds and out onto Shoalhaven Street.

At one stage more than 100 people waited patiently on the footpath for their tests.

Hospital staff moved between the waiting throng, handing out paperwork, information and masks.

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The rush on testing came after NSW Health was advised by the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services that a confirmed case of COVID-19 from Melbourne was in Jervis Bay, Hyams Beach, Vincentia and Goulburn while potentially infectious on May 23-24.

The general feeling among those waiting to be tested at Shoalhaven Hospital was "we just have to do it".

One gentleman, who wished to remain anonymous, but had been shopping at the Coles Vincentia during the allotted times, had traveled into Nowra with his wife to get tested.

"I'm pleased with the health department's response," he said.

"Things happen so quickly and they are doing all they can.

"We [the man and his wife] have been waiting about half an hour to get tested.

"The staff are doing the best they can.

"They are getting through us as quickly as they can.

"It is definitely busy."

The man was in Coles on May 23 between noon and 1pm.

"I saw the alert come up on my Facebook thread and thought 'yep I was there then'," he said.

"So here we are.

"I'm trying not to worry and keep a cool head and all - but there is always a concern.

"The reality is it has happened and we just have to do everything we can to keep the community safe - if that means getting tested so be it.

"No one is to blame here, it's just the reality, especially as we know how contagious it is.

"We just have to remember to take our precautions - maybe we have slackened off a bit - we just need to stay vigilant.

"It's not worth taking the risk with people's lives."

Those being tested are being told to go home and isolate until they get their test results which could take up to 72 hours.

What a difference a day can make - South Coast Register journalist Grace Crivellaro, after feeling unwell went for a COVID test on Tuesday morning - and was the only person at the Shoalhaven Hospital testing clinic.

"I attended the Shoalhaven Hospital clinic at 10.30am, got tested straight away and received my results at 6.22pm the same day," she said.

"The nurses said they had still been testing a fair few people daily with the busiest days being Monday.

"They also said testing had picked up a little since the colder weather had hit."

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