Three home COVID-19 tests have been approved for use in Australia and will be available at pharmacies from November.
If you’re sick of having a (wonderful, hardworking, frontline) stranger stick a swab up your schnoz to find out if you’re COVID-19 positive, then you’ll relish this announcement.
The rapid home test is only a few weeks away and has an accuracy of around 97 percent. Hitting shelves on November 1, the Therapeutic Goods Administration has given the Chinese-made tests the tick of approval as we transition from lockdowns to the reality of living with COVID in the community.
One of the rapid antigen tests will require a nasal swab, but this time you’re in control of the stick. The two other tests will be a lot more comfortable than a brain-tickling swab, relying on saliva to detect the virus.
The instructions on all tests note that if a positive result is returned, confirmation must be sought via a laboratory PCR test.
Receiving COVID results in 15 minutes will be a game-changer in managing the virus as restrictions are relaxed. The ease of use is likely to improve testing rates, meaning more positive cases will be caught sooner, reducing the likelihood of the virus spreading further.
The tests will be available for purchase at pharmacies.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is the single most effective way to reduce severe illness and death from infection. Get reliable and up-to-date information about the safety of the vaccines in our #COVID19 vaccine weekly safety report.
Read more: https://t.co/octfuphLeK pic.twitter.com/U39mSSzruU— TGA Australia (@TGAgovau) October 14, 2021
Health Minister Greg Hunt said last month that the home testing scheme would enable people to go about their daily life safely while Australia reopens.
“This is an important additional protection for Australians,” Mr. Hunt said.
“Home testing will support Australians and support the national (reopening) plan.”
Australia has fully vaccinated 65.4 percent of its eligible population aged 16 and over, while more than 83.6 percent have received their first jab.
NSW Health administered 20,877 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Across NSW, 91.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 77.8 per cent are fully vaccinated to 11.59pm on Wednesday 13 October 2021.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 15, 2021
