Mass testing clinics should be reopened and GP referrals for PCR tests should be removed as Queensland faces its third wave of COVID-19, health experts say.
"I think that there are people who have negative RATs, who have COVID symptoms, who may be eligible for the antivirals, who definitely need to access a PCR test," Dr Boulton said."I think we need to do anything to facilitate people getting a PCR test at the moment who may be eligible for the antivirals, and if that means opening testing centres so that people can access those test, then yes, absolutely.
Infectious disease expert Paul Griffin said access to PCRs was a "huge issue at the moment" and was not just limited to cost or the logistics of getting a referral and a test. "Also, access to antivirals is linked to medically supervised tests, so it's much better that people have access to a reputable test to be able to access those."
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