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$1,000 fines for not registering positive rapid COVID result

Dominic Perrottet speaks at press conference, hand wearing glove holds rapid antigen test.
Dominic Perrottet has announced fines for people who don't register positive rapid test results. (Sources: Getty)

New South Wales residents who receive positive results on rapid antigen tests will need to register their results or face $1,000 fines, Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced.

The Premier announced the penalties on Wednesday morning as NSW recorded 21 COVID-19 deaths and 34,759 new cases overnight.

“We made a decision as a government that the registration of that test is mandatory and you will need to register your positive rapid antigen test from 1 January,” Perrottet said.

Results can be registered through the Service NSW app, which is also used to check in to venues.

The app can also be used to register dependants’ test results.

To register results, people need to enter the Service NSW app, navigate to ‘COVID-19 resources’ and then select ‘Register a positive test result’.

People who don’t have the app can call Service NSW on 13 77 88, or register results through the Service NSW website.

Those who test positive on a PCR test don’t need to report results.

“This health order has been signed off this morning and, in terms of enforcement, if someone fails to register a positive rapid antigen test, there will be a $1,000 fine,” Perrottet said.

However, fines will not be levied until 19 January, with positive cases to have one week’s grace to register results.

“It will only take a couple of minutes. [There will be] simple questions in terms of registering details, if you are registering a positive test for yourself or for somebody else, those details need to be provided,” Perrottet said.

Minister for Digital Government Victor Dominello said registration was key in supporting positive cases to access healthcare services.

“Once we [are] connected … we can then connect you to healthcare services as well, and that is the key feature of what we're doing here in NSW,” Dominello said.

NSW Health will use the questionnaire attached to the registration to categorise people into high- and low-risk groups.

High-risk groups will be contacted by NSW Health within 48 hours, while low-risk groups will be provided with advice on how to manage COVID at home.

Victoria and Queensland already have similar schemes in place.

People in Victoria can register a positive rapid test result by calling 1800 675 398, or by filling in this online form.

Queenslanders can also report positive test results online or by calling 134 268.

However, neither of those states currently levies fines against people who fail to report positive rapid test results.

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