Regional South Australians can now access COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) from several pick up points across the state after an announcement by Premier Steven Marshall late last week.
The update comes as a relief for thousands of South Australians unable to get their hands on the tests which have become notoriously difficult to access in community pharmacies and supermarkets.
The news that South Australians now have wider accessibility to RATs follows last Thursday's launch of a supersite in Adelaide's Southern Parklands.
The supersite reportedly handled high volumes smoothly, as some close contacts only had to wait 15 minutes to receive their complimentary testing kits despite more than 10,000 bookings.
The announcement comes after changes were made to South Australia's rules for Covid-19 close contacts who can now test themselves at home instead of queue up for lateral flow tests.
Traditional Covid-19 tests have become much-maligned in the state recently as a result of residents who are potentially infected with the virus being made to line up for hours in queues at testing sites.
Exact locations for testing sites will be published in the coming days as the government executes its plan to establish as many pick-up sites as it can across South Australia.
New pick-up sites are likely to be announced in the next fortnight.
Mt Gambier, Pt Augusta, Charles Sturt, Berri/Barmera and Murray Bridge have joined additional sites in Metro Adelaide listed as the eight LGA's with pick-up sites for Rapid Antigen Tests.
Premier Marshall said it was critical for the government to establish ways in which all South Australians can access Rapid Antigen testing kits as the Omicron wave rips through the state.
"Providing greater and easier access to RATs is an important step as we enter the next stage of our response.”
“Offering two free RATs for people who are considered close contacts, will allow us to increase the number of tests taken so we can get a clearer picture of how many COVID positive people are in the community.”
“I ask all South Australians to work with us as we make this pivot in our testing regime, it’s a big change so it will take some time to get used to.”
“If you don’t have immediate access to a RAT test and you are a close contact, or of course have symptoms, please continue to use the over 80 PCR testing sites we have across the state."
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