The supply of coveted rapid antigen tests appears to have improved dramatically in just the past week as retailers scramble to satisfy seemingly insatiable demand.RATs are still in demand as students prepare to go back to school and more people return to workThe latest crowd-sourced data compiled by Finder shows around 60 per cent of stores have stock, almost triple the level of a week ago.
Although RATs have a lower accuracy than PCR COVID-19 tests, they have been recommended by state and federal health authorities as a preferable alternative to PCR tests to alleviate pressure on testing centres and laboratories. Dr Chris Moy says COVID-19 restrictions and booster shots have helped to reduce the spread of the Omicron variant.
"It does vary a bit. [For] places, as I understand, that have sort of less restriction, the peak is going to be a bit later."
Based on what? Can't access PCRs or RATs in adequate numbers. Still trying to hire kiddies as of yesterday and thinking of using parents in classrooms as schools open. Sounds like more hopium.
This is the second time recently that I've seen the ABC assert in headlines that the pandemic was peaking with the only evidence provided being statements from politicians known for their lies. Do better.
What a weird fking flex !!!
Yeah it’ll be like hand sanitiser and masks, price rorting now, 3 weeks they’ll be $2 each or 3 for $5 in 7-11 etc.
ABC news, can't you do better?
But have we passed our Omicron peak with potentially thousands of unreported cases? ThisIsNotJournalism
Not sure it has really peaked just yet. Sounds like a ploy to get every one out there again, kill off a few more oldies and those with significant health issues.
It may peak, but there will be further waves as people go back into offices and kids go back to school, so the RATs will always be needed.
No, it will just mean we can use them appropriately, as other countries have been doing.
We might have passed the peak of the incautious, but there are many people in self-lockdown & barely go out, or waiting for 3rd shot to venture out. Booster at 3mths isn’t as effective as at 4,5 or 6, so less protection than “comparable”countries. Stats not giving full picture
There will be no glut. It’s easy to churn through RATs. Your isolation starts from your positive test, so if you only tests every few days you will likely be in iso longer than necessary. People coming out of iso still need neg RATS for work, venue entry will test every day
Who writes this stuff?
Click bait. The final sentence says the real story. Coming into winter THEY WILL BE NEEDED.
You need to deal in facts. Medical people do not seem to think this is a peak. It is wrong to mislead. Please declare your sources and evidence.
Past it's peak? Where is your evidence? There will also be other variants. I'd rather they still arrive thanks.
What a stupid article. COVID will be with us forever, and so will the need for RATs.
Yes, almost certainly we will be awash with RATs long after the moment of greatest need has passed. An enduring symbol of the abject failure to plan, prioritise and execute protection measures for the community.
Yessss, we want a glut!
We’ll just watch and see how this tweet ages. ABC running a propaganda line today.
What bloody peak?
Having RATs available is the only path out of this pandemic. Covid is dangerous, just because the Omicron peak may have been reached the Chronic phase has just begun. Efficient RAT testing will allow for management of future variants. The will be no glut.
I have reported this tweet for misinformation so please provide proof or remove tweet
Boris Johnson yesterday: 'As Britain passes its COVID-19 Omicron peak.' What's going on at our ?
We haven't passed our peak Has this been confirmed? Or are you just going by Catherine Bennett? Stop the misinformation 😡
You can not have too many
Not with winter on the way and the possibility of a new variant
How about the truth for a change instead of opinion
Hang on! It may be useful for the next Variant? The virus won’t simply disappear! That’s a fairy story!
No there will not be a glut. Winter will come and it will be nuts with COVID again!!
Two years after the pandemic, there can never be a glut of anything. Tests, vaccines, hospital beds, financial support for the public. Have we learnt nothing? What about the next wave of variant?
its more spin. There are 2 virus strains of concern. Delta and Omicron. You can catch both. I did. Omicron a month after my Phizer booster. The thing the government is trying to do is drive the recorded numbers down.
Seriously? What a take! If you believe the peak has been reached, there is a bridge you can buy! No accurate numbers - even hospital numbers are probably fudged. Give me strength!
Why does this article read like an infomercial?
it will happen but after this wave...scomo is missing the boat again
How do you know in it 'was' peak? It sounds pretty vague to me. 'The next couple of weeks....or so....it does vary.... depends...'
How do you know it 'was' the peak?
Hi , I think the intern has access to your Twitter account.
I’ll go out on a limb here, and say; ‘Errrrrmmmmmm... yep.’
Peak? Are we just going to ignore reinfection?
Gee, why should we be prepared and organised for a pandemic that’s had multiple waves?!?!
It has already RAT'S supermarket shelves but not in Brisbane .
Bit of a strange question to be posing right at this point of time.
Media needs to cover how other countries have scaled up PCR testing. The process in Australia where you have to queue up in a testing station with other sick people during office hours and then wait days for a result is far behind much of the world, including a lot of 3rd world
Pcrs have a lower accuracy a month after infection when you aren't contagious
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