Major delays on the Hume Freeway due to the closed Victorian border prompted concerns for truck driver fatigue and pregnant mums.
As cars and trucks extended bumper-to-bumper from the Bandiana Link to the Riverina Highway overpass, Albury Wodonga Health issued advice on its social media.
"If you are pregnant and feel it is an emergency situation, don't risk getting in the car and trying to cross the border, please dial '000'."
Ron Finemore Transport managing director Mark Parry said some drivers were waiting for six hours.
"It's not just the delays, every driver has a log book to manage and it creates stress and anxiety ... as well as flow-on issues to their working hours and our ability to keep the fleet operating," he said.
"This has come at one of the worst possible weeks of the year.
"We have a 40 per cent increase on the amount of loads we are doing, at a time where drivers could lose anything from an hour to six hours."
Mr Parry said operators and customers had contacted Victoria Police, suggesting two lanes be created like in the NSW closure to separate cars and trucks as much as possible.
"They're seeking to try and get the issues resolved," he said.
"The issue will always be the time it takes to do that, and you'd like to think that timing and planing happened at the start."
Albury MP Justin Clancy was also contacted by freight operators concerned for driver fatigue.
"It remains volatile [the NSW outbreak], but let's hope it continues to come under control and hopefully the Victorian government will be able to respond accordingly," he said.
Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner regional operations Rick Nugent said they were working to streamline checks.
Pandemic response director Sally Squire said critical health workers were able to reach their destinations "with minimal impact to service" on Monday.
"As this is our second border closure, we already had the appropriate networks in place to help mitigate issues arising from the implementation of border checkpoints," she said.
"We are asking patients to be aware of the travel delays, and to give themselves adequate time to attend appointments.
"Our services are still in full operation, and encourage the community to make their health a priority and not cancel any bookings, or avoid seeking support if needed.
"Should you be concerned about travel, or physically attending an appointment, Albury Wodonga Health offers Telehealth appointments."
Ms Squire the advise to pregnant women was issued because AWH "could not guarantee that mothers would be able to bypass the long queues to cross into Victoria".
"As such, yesterday our Maternity Ward contacted all expectant mothers, booked to give birth in the coming weeks, to ensure they were armed with up-to-date information on services and how to best manage travel.
"In an emergency situation, we are asking individuals to call '000' in the first instance.
"For non-emergencies, and for general enquiries, please call the Albury Wodonga Health Maternity Unit on 02 6051 7250."
