Rapid antigen tests out
by Maryann Jenkins
With no Medicare subsidy , no government ‘ roll-out ’ or information to accompany the 1 November release of rapid antigen self-testing kits , Macquarie MP Susan Templeman decided to do it herself .
Ms Templeman hosted an online Q & A session with a panel of experts who explained what self-testing technology , which has been used overseas “ for some time ”, can do for our businesses and its use in the community .
Sixty people participated in the session presented by Dr Ian Norton of Respond Global , a specialist emergency physician and former head of the WHO ’ s Emergency
Medical Team ( EMT ) Initiative in Geneva ; as well as three experts from Mulgrave-based Innovation Scientific , which is one of the few Australian manufacturers of COVID rapid antigen testing .
“ I ’ ve spoken to many local business owners who are concerned about policing vaccination records , and the pressure that their staff will face ,” Ms Templeman told the Independent .
“ Rapid antigen testing is a tool that could help us get back to some sort of normality ; it ’ s an extra tool the world has in its kit to protect others as we open up . Unfortunately , in Australia , small businesses haven ’ t been given much of an opportunity to use that tool .”
Ms Templeman said being vaccinated doesn ’ t stop you from catching or spreading COVID , so the kit checks to see if you are
An online forum explained COVID rapid antigen self-testing kits . Host , Susan Templeman , is pictured with Dr Ian Norton , Abhay Pawar , Dr Jesse Li and Dr Alok Narayan .
carrying a heavy viral load , which means you ’ re more likely to be contagious .
“ These tests don ’ t replace vaccination or wearing masks and washing hands , but they ’ re easy to use to see if you have COVID , and they should be made available either free or subsidised ,” she added , before referring to Canada and Germany , where businesses , community groups and residential aged care have been issued them free of charge .
“ I can see enormous opportunities within Australia to make use of this technology , and I will be pursuing this from a policy perspective .”
If you missed the session , there ’ s details at www . tga . gov . au / covid-19-rapidantigen-self-tests .
Commemorate wherever you are
REMEMBRANCE DAY 11 NOVEMBER
|
This Remembrance Day , RSL NSW is asking everyone to “ Remember to Remember ”.
Wherever you are at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month , you ’ re asked to commit to pausing for just one minute to remember those who gave their lives in service to their
|
country , those who returned home injured or ill , and those who bravely serve our country today .
Official Remembrance Day services are being held by RSL sub-Branches , but will be scaled down events due to the pandemic .
Richmond RSL sub-Branch and
|
Windsor and District RSL sub-Branch urge residents to get ready for Remembrance Day by downloading a free kitbag of resources .
It contains all you need to know about commemorating in the community or at home by conducting your own service of remembrance . You
|
can find it at rslnsw . org . au . The NSW service will be held at the Cenotaph , Martin Place , at 10.30am . You can watch this live online by visiting nsw . gov . au .
The national service at the Australian War Memorial will be broadcast live on ABC TV .
|
4 ISSUE 138 // NOVEMBER 2021 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT