Experts are calling on the government to make rapid antigen tests freely available, particularly for vulnerable communities who may be priced out of purchasing them.
Desperate not to let Omicron dampen end-of-year festivities, Australians are queueing for hours to get tested for COVID-19 and rushing out to purchase rapid antigen tests .
In desperate situations, staff at Utopia Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health will travel to patients' homes to administer COVID-19 tests.“I can tell you that unless they speak English, they won’t get them, they don’t know what they look like and won’t know what to ask for. Rapid antigen tests need to be fully funded by the government “because they are a really important public health mission”, Professor McLaws told SBS News.
Despite the Therapeutic Goods Administration approving their use, RATs are currently banned in Western Australia and South Australia - something Professor McLaws believes needs to be overturned.“Nothing is perfect. What you do is you add [these measures] together to try to reduce obvious risks. And these tests are good for that,” she said.
“Singapore has been providing free [COVID-19 home testing] kits and this is exactly what we need to do in Australia because the government has let the cat out of the bag now by not requiring people to wear masks when the numbers started ticking.”Catherine Bennett, chair of epidemiology at Melbourne's Deakin University, said subsidising rapid antigen tests could help remove pressure from test sites that are currently overwhelmed.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Big problem with home Covid testsA surge in case numbers of Covid-19 has caused a sell out of rapid antigen tests, in the lead up to Christmas when people will arguably need them the most.
Read more »
The reason rapid antigen tests are sold out across Sydney - and why it's not all bad newsThe Pharmacy Guild of Australia says there will be enough rapid antigen tests to get Sydneysiders through the festive season as the at-home kits are stripped off the shelves across the city just days out from Christmas.
Read more »
Demand for testing expected to surge ahead of ChristmasThe nursing union has called for people to be patient with testing staff and accept that wait times will be longer with demand expected to increase in the lead up to Christmas. COvid19 vaccine omicron SimoneFoxKoob
Read more »
Victorian testing sites reach breaking point in lead up to ChristmasVictoria’s COVID-19 testing sites have reached breaking point with people turned away due to the massive demand in the lead-up to the holiday period.
Read more »
The Australian COVID-19 test 'game-changer' that doesn't hurt your noseYOUR SAY: Should rapid antigen tests be subsidised by Medicare? With COVID19 cases surging around the country, there's been increased calls for the Government to make rapid antigen tests freely available ahead of the festive season. MORE: 9News
Read more »