COVID-19 TESTING: THE CHANGES
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National cabinet has agreed on several changes to COVID-19 testing requirements after meeting on Wednesday, as rapid tests remain in short supply and PCR testing sites face huge demand.
* 10 free rapid tests will be provided for free to more than six million Australians who are concession card holders. The tests will be available through pharmacies within the next two weeks.
* People who return a positive COVID result from a rapid antigen test will no longer need to have their infection confirmed with a PCR test.
* Testing sites will also begin transitioning to rapid tests to ease the pressure on pathology labs.
* Meanwhile, rapid antigen tests have now been included under price gouging laws, meaning retailers caught hiking up prices by more than 20 per cent face penalties of up to $66,000 and up to five years in jail.
* Purchasing limits on the tests will also be introduced to limit hoarding and panic buying, with customers limited to one pack of either two or five at a time.
Australian Associated Press
