7NEWS Australia published this video item, entitled “The first day of free RAT tests for Australian concession card holders | 7NEWS” – below is their description.
The ‘rat race’ was back on across Sydney this morning with free rapid antigen tests now available for millions of concession card holders.
Pharmacies across the city, stocked and ready to go as new COVID infections dipped to their lowest level in weeks.
The COVID numbers are trending in the right direction – enough for NSW health officials to cautiously declare it looks as though we’ve at least plateaued. Having said that, today’s data actually increased on yesterday, both hospital and ICU numbers were up, albeit only marginally.
COVID infection numbers have dropped significantly, down from 20,000 to 15,000 – but that number really is unreliable with testing numbers at their lowest in 2 months.
Today is the first day of free RAT tests for concession card holders. 7NEWS visited two pharmacies today, and both were reporting problems. One chemist told us that he simply couldn’t source any supply at all. The other telling us that the online system for checking and recording concession card holders simply wasn’t operating.
He ended up just taking customers at their word and giving them out for free.
Many pharmacies are saying that their supply is being gobbled up by the NSW and federal governments, particularly as the school roll-out ramps up. 5 million tests have been delivered to schools so far, with another one million by the end of today, ready for all students and staff to get 2 tests per week for the first 4 weeks of term.
Parents should shortly get information from their schools as to when and where to pick those up. Health officials are also warning that the return to school will inevitably mean another spike in cases, but today they were declaring the peak had passed.
More Details: 7news.link/3tSUwws
7NEWS Australia YouTube Channel
Got a comment? Leave your thoughts in the comments section, below. Please note comments are moderated before publication.