Sydney, December 29, : .The massive increase in cases during Australia’s holiday season is causing a surge in the number of Covid-19 test facilities.On Wednesday, NSW saw a record 11,201 cases and three deaths.Hospital admissions rose to 625 on Wednesday, which is 68 less than Tuesday’s, according to Xinhua news agency.
People are often waiting up to six hours for their PCR test results, and sometimes for several days.
In the past 24 hours there were 157,758 test results, an increase of 93,581 tests the day before.
PCR is also in high demand because many Australians are traveling interstate over Christmas and New Year.There are a variety of border controls to control the disease.
Leaders from NSW have in the recent days strongly urged Queensland to relax its PCR testing entry requirements.
On Tuesday, Brad Hazzard, the NSW Health Minister said Queensland’s border policies had further stressed his state’s already struggling health facilities.
Many of those lining up in seemingly endless lines were not sick but required to be tested negative to travel north.
Hazzard stated to reporters that between now and January 1, 100,000-150,000 more tests could be conducted for those who wish to vacation in Queensland.
This chaotic scenario led to an overwhelmed pathology laboratory in Sydney incorrectly notifying approximately 1,400 people that their tests had been negative earlier in the week.
The laboratory released a statement Tuesday afternoon stating that 486 were now Covid-19 positive.
On Wednesday, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declared that pre-arrival PCR testing would be eliminated.
To satisfy the border requirements, travellers from interstate hotspots to Queensland can now use a negative rapid antibody test (RAT).
The RAT is becoming a more affordable and quicker alternative to PCR.These at-home tests may eventually decrease the queues at NSW testing centres.
On Tuesday, the NSW government declared that 20 million RAT kit orders had been placed.These kits will be delivered next month to NSW and offered to the public for free.
On Wednesday, Dominic Perrottet, Premier of NSW, stated that such pragmatic measures will ultimately “lead our nation out the pandemic”.
Perrottet urged everyone not to join overstretched PCR lines.
He said, “If you’re not sick and you haven’t been recommended to get a PCR test,” he advised.
ksk/
#Covid #overwhelmed #surge #Covid-19
