Healthy North Coast is working with the Australian and NSW governments to help connect health care providers to rapid antigen tests (RATs).
The swift spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has left RATs in short supply across the country.
Healthy North Coast is supporting vulnerable and priority populations to obtain the tests. At this stage, this has been limited to residential aged care facilities and Aboriginal medical services. However, it will be expanded to other priority service providers as RAT supplies increase in coming weeks.
The Australian Government last week committed to making available up to 10 free rapid antigen tests over three months to people holding the following cards:
- Pension Concession Card
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card
- Health Care Card
- Low Income Health Card.
The free tests will be available through pharmacies in the coming weeks. They are also being made available to staff working in residential aged care facilities.
The NSW Government has begun distributing the first batch of a planned 100 million RATs to NSW essential public workers and vulnerable communities.