A Rapid Antigen Test collection site opens in Mount Gambier today, finally giving Limestone Coast residents identified as COVID close contacts access to the free tests.
The collection facility will be based at Vansittart Park, Commercial Street West.
Another RAT collection site will open in Naracoorte at the town’s showgrounds on Saturday.
The RAT collection sites will provide two free RATs for people who are considered close contacts and will allow an increase in the number of tests taken to get a clearer picture of how many COVID positive people are in the community.
Those who do not have immediate access to a RAT test and are a close contact or have symptoms are advised to use one of the more than 80 PCR testing sites throughout the state.
Premier Steven Marshall said South Australia had received 456,000 RATs on Monday, with another 256,000 delivered every day until 26 Jan.
A shipment of 3.6 million units is then expected in early February ensuring the rollouts of RATs through the collection sites would continue to make the close contact process easier for many South Australians.
“Providing easy access to Rapid Antigen Tests for South Australians who are close contacts is another plank in our strong plan in response to the Omicron variant,” Premier Marshall said.
“These three new metro sites, which complement the South Parklands supersite and our numerous regional sites, will help keep South Australians safe and our economy strong.
“The Omicron variant was a game changer but South Australia’s strong plan is mitigating the health and economic threat while also navigating our State’s inevitable opening up and protecting local jobs during this challenging period.”
The opening of the Mount Gambier site came after local Labor MLC Clare Scriven called on the government to urgently establish RAT distribution centres in regional SA.
“Regional residents have been subject to some of the longest testing wait times in recent weeks,” she said.
“Regional residents must not be discriminated against on the basis of their postcode.”
