Page 40 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 8 February 2022
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domestic travellers to several jurisdictions to receive a negative PCR test result prior to travelling.
This increase in demand placed significant pressure on testing sites and testing capability in most jurisdictions, with waiting times in some jurisdictions extending to more than eight hours. As case numbers and testing demand increased, the turnaround time for results also increased in outbreak jurisdictions. The pressure was no different in the ACT, although the effects felt elsewhere were not quite as extreme locally, thanks to the rapid work of ACT Health, Canberra Health Services and our private pathology partners, which included extending opening hours and relocating the Nicholls testing centre back to the Gold Creek School.
On 22 December 6,738 tests were conducted in a 24-hour period—the highest number of tests conducted since the beginning of the Delta outbreak in August. Over the Christmas period Canberra Health Services, ACT Pathology and Capital Pathology worked tirelessly to meet demand. While we acknowledge the significant frustration experienced in the community, this was a herculean effort and I thank all staff involved for their ongoing commitment over the holiday period.
Following the Christmas-new year period, furloughed workforce and reagent supply chain constraints impacted PCR testing across Australia and further contributed to pressure on testing capability in the ACT. This resulted in the temporary closure of Capital Pathology testing clinics while additional reagent supply was secured. On 20 January PCR testing supplies returned to near normal levels and the ACT’s testing centres were reopened. I am pleased to advise members that turnaround times for PCR are now well within a 24-hour period and, as a result, ACT Health is encouraging Canberrans to present for a PCR test if they experience any cold or flu-like symptoms, are a household contact or identify that they have had a high or moderate risk exposure.
Another key focus for the government since my last update has been the supply and provision of rapid antigen tests. ACT Health received an initial supply of 58,000 rapid antigen tests in early January that were prioritised to household contacts, people who were symptomatic and those who were at high or moderate risk of contracting COVID-19.
The Kambah COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic began distributing RATs to Canberrans on 14 January, and this quickly expanded to the Mitchell and Garran test centres to meet testing demand while PCR testing was disrupted. From 14 to 24 January the centres distributed nearly 50,000 RATs, and they continue to do so on an as-needed basis through Mitchell and Garran.
An online registration form was published on the ACT government COVID-19 website on 12 January to enable ACT residents to register their positive RAT result. This registration provides ACT Health with a better understanding of transmission in the community and the ability for confirmed cases to receive support. ACT Health now reports daily case numbers from positive PCR and RAT results.
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