PM reveals new criteria for coronavirus testing - so should you get tested?
Australia is ramping up coronavirus testing with all states and territories inviting people with symptoms to now come forward.
The prime minister and all state and territory leaders discussed a “pandemic intelligence plan” at Friday’s National Cabinet meeting.
Increasing testing was one of three musts Scott Morrison outlined last week if Australia is to begin relaxing its COVID-19 restrictions.
Live blog: Latest news and updates about the crisis in Australia
Australia’s chief medical officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, said the aim is to test as many as 50,000 people a day.
“National Cabinet was informed today that every single jurisdiction - every state and territory - has now broadened their testing criteria from today,” he said at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Friday.
“So that anybody with acute respiratory symptoms - cough, sore throat, runny nose, cold symptoms, flu-like symptoms - can get tested. This will significantly expand the population of people tested.”
Previously testing was only available to those in hotspot areas, those who had been overseas or who had interacted with a confirmed case, or been referred by a GP.
NSW aiming for 8000 tests each day
Some states like South Australia had already expanded their testing but for NSW, the state with the most Covid-19 cases, Premier Gladys Berejiklian drastically widened the testing criteria on Friday.
On Thursday, NSW performed 7,200 tests, with Ms Berejiklian now aiming for 8,000 daily.
To put that target into perspective, that amount of tests would be more than each of the ACT, the NT and Tasmania have performed since the outbreak began.
Ms Berejkilian said anyone across the state, regardless of postcode, would now be able to get a test if they are showing any type of symptom or fear they may have contracted coronavirus.
“We really want to boost our testing because as we consider lifting restrictions, we have to have more tests. We have to have more people come forward and we really want that to happen,” she told reporters on Friday.
“If you have a symptom, if you are worried you have the COVID-19, if you have been in contact with anyone and you are concerned you have the disease, please come forward and get tested.”
Professor Murphy revealed “some really exciting work in the supply line of test kits” has been done and was optimistic about this allowing more Australians to be tested for COVID-19.
“I think we are much more confident that we have diversified the supply line of testing. We feel that we will be able to secure enough tests to meet whatever surveillance plan we put in place,” he said.
Ms Berejiklian said in previous weeks testing had dropped off on weekends, but stressed the state’s testing capacity would not differ on Saturday and Sunday.
“We don't want to see the dips over the weekends that we have seen in the past few weeks,” she said.
“We want to make sure we have at least 8,000 or so tests a day, we are really ramping it up. We have the capacity now do that so please come forward and get tested.”
Her announcement comes as NSW confirmed a further seven cases across the state.
There has so far been 2,982 cases confirmed in the state.
There are 892 active cases in the state, with 15 in ICU requiring ventilators.
There has been 190,506 tests performed in the state.
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