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The virus was surging in many countries overseas making it more likely to arrive at New Zealand s borders.
Chief executive of the Rural General Practice Network, Grant Davidson, said small town doctors were already feeling the pressure - especially after a tough year.
They were worried about the load on their small practices as people headed to baches, he said. There s a just a general anxiety amongst already burnt out GPs in those areas, he said.
Covid-19 modeller from Te Pūnaha Matatini, Shaun Hendy, said people s lack of access to their regular doctor was a worry because it could make them more reluctant to get a test.