How rapid antigen testing will change Victoria’s battle against COVID-19

The state government yesterday announced the purchase of almost 2.2 million rapid antigen tests to provide another testing option as the state reopens.

The tests will initially be used in the health system, then in other high-risk settings including schools and corrections.

Professor of Epidemiology at the University of NSW, Marylouise McLaws, says they’re “the perfect test for … screening as many people as fast as possible”.

She says they’ll change the game in some industries.

“It should always be used for, for example, truck drivers … before the cross the border,” Professor McLaws told Neil Mitchell.

“It should happen for everybody working in some of the large grocery stores, anywhere where you can’t really keep your distance and it’s hard to keep a mask on all day.

“Certainly at schools, at universities.”

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