As case numbers surge and residents across New South Wales struggle to navigate the era of “personal responsibility”, the state government has reintroduced a number of restrictions across the state.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has backflipped on his previous stance on restrictions, and reinstated previous controls such as nightclub closures, and the banning of singing and dancing at hospitality venues.
The ban will not include weddings, performers and other functions or dance classes.
While major events are set to continue, they will be reviewed on a case- by- case basis, and those deemed high risk will need to adjust their COVID- safe plans to proceed.
Additionally, category 3 non- urgent elective surgeries will be suspended until February under the new changes.
The NSW government has also declared booster shots to be included in mandatory vaccination and that from mid next week, positive RAT tests are to be reported through service NSW to NSW Health.
Health authorities have also recommended that people reduce mingling and household visits, hold outdoor gatherings where possible and to sit down while at venues.
The restrictions comes as New South Wales recorded 38,625 new infections and 11 deaths. 1738 residents across the state were hospitalised with 134 submitted into intensive care.
The Hunter New England region had a total of 3,424 new COVID-19 cases, with 89 receiving care in hospitals and nine are in ICU.
Two Hunter residents passed away overnight from the virus.
RAT’s to ease pressure on PCR testing laboratories
With rising wait times for PCR testing and delayed results nationwide, the federal government and health authorities have encouraged residents to take advantage of Rapid Antigen Tests, available at retail stores nationwide.
NSW Health has reminded locals to only get a PCR test if completely necessary, advising that “testing capacity in NSW is currently under enormous pressure and the only people getting a PCR (nose and throat swab) should be those who have COVID-19 symptoms; live in a household with a confirmed COVID-19-positive case; or have otherwise been advised by NSW Health to get tested.”
Health authorities revealed RAT’s would also be available for free at testing centres, alongside PCR tests, to ease pressure on labs.
The free tests have been restricted to close contacts, symptomatic residents, health care workers and aged care workers.
Delays associated with PCR testing labs have been attributed to higher numbers of cases produced by the Omicron variant, said Prime Minster Scott Morrison.
The PM claimed that while Omicron is “75 per cent less severe” than Delta, it “has the disadvantage of having very high levels of transmission, which gives a big volume problem.”
“This is a strain that is less severe but more contagious,” he said.
A National Cabinet meeting on Wednesday agreed that residents who now test positive to a RAT test are no longer required to have a PCR test to prove they are positive.
Now, residents who test positive to a RAT test are subject to isolating guidelines reserved previously for PCR tests exclusively.
Public health orders for both positive RAT’s and PCR tests will soon dictate that residents must isolate for a full 7 days, before needing to secure a negative reading on day 7 to be released from isolation.
Medical experts have warned residents that long testing queues and result delays for PCR tests would continue for several more weeks, as pathology labs struggle with increased demand.
Demand outstrips supply
Residents across the region have expressed frustration with the shortage of home-testing kits, worsened by a rise in COVID case numbers and the subsequent change in testing requirements.
State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery vented her frustrations on social media, after constituents reportedly experienced complete inability to access RAT’s.
“Every day I am getting emails, messages and voicemails from people who need a RAT test (sic) kit to leave isolation, but can’t get them.”
“Then there are those who just simply cannot afford the cost, which has skyrocketed recently… some places have been taking packs apart and repackaging them for as much at $40 per test,” the MP said.
Ms Hornery renewed calls for universal free access to Rapid Antigen Tests, claiming that “the Government needs to stop pandering to their donors and instead look after the residents of NSW.”
After an emergency national cabinet meeting on Wednesday, PM Scott Morrison announced that RAT products would be made more accessible by placing a ban on price gouging, with businesses caught in the practice facing fines of up to $66,000, and up to five years in jail.
Federal government rejects calls for universal free access to RAT’s
While the Federal Government has rejected possibility of universal free access to RAT’s, Scott Morrison announced on Wednesday that low-income earners, welfare recipients and pensioners will be offered 10 free RATs over a three-month period, which will be available from pharmacies within the next fortnight.
To access the kits, eligible residents must present a Commonwealth seniors health card, a healthcare card, a low income card, a pension concession card, DVA Gold card or a DVA white card, as well as personal identification to participating stores.
Software developers prove unlikely hero for residents
As the Omicron variant surges across the country and rising wait times for PCR testing and delayed results frustrate residents nationwide, online resources have emerged to help residents secure increasingly elusive rapid antigen tests, as well as to gauge testing site information.
While many residents are adopting an “every man for themselves” mentality in order to get a PCR test or to secure a RAT, domestic software developers are streamlining the processes to make data more accessible for the masses.
Among them is Adamstown man Jack Vallis, who developed website Covid Test Times.
The site, which collates data on queue and testing timeframes at individual sites, relies on crowdsourcing its information by requesting users share information on their experiences to help others in the community.
Meanwhile, an online initiative to track in- store RAT stocks and availability has offered additional convenience for locals, who are becoming increasingly frustrated with arbitrary store outputs.
The Find a Rat website tracks RAT availability nationwide, and also relies on user feedback to operate.
Maia O’Connor