“So we need to do something and rapid antigen tests are part of the solution. They can mean that people can be tested at home and get a reliable result – almost as reliable as PCR. The PCR is very helpful if you are positive, you have to go into isolation and what’s more, you can get social and medical care better by being known to the system.”
Professor Booy noted that rapid tests had been free in the UK for the past nine months and can be posted to people’s homes.
“We could have planned well ahead. I think it is really important that anyone who is having problems with paying their bills, that they shouldn’t have to then have to pay $15, $20, $50 for rapid antigen tests. It should be widely available. And it should be free,” he said.
National cabinet is meeting on Wednesday, where Prime Minister Scott Morrison is expected to offer additional rapid antigen kits to states, to be given out for free from testing hubs.
NSW records 35,054 cases and eight deaths as calls grow for free rapid tests
Source: Philippines Alive
