RATs will be distributed to essential workers and vulnerable communities from today – here’s who’s eligible and how to get one.
It’s easier to get your hands on a croissant at Lune after 2pm than it is to find a rapid antigen test in Melbourne right now. With the first delivery of 3 million RATs arriving from the government’s recent order of 44 million, pressure on the testing system is expected to ease gradually over the coming weeks.
From today, Victorians in certain industries and vulnerable settings will be eligible for free RATs. Healthcare, aged care, disability and emergency service workers are all covered, as are Victorians with pre-existing medical conditions.
On top of this, part of the shipment has been sent to 60 grassroots and community organisations to distribute to multicultural groups throughout the state.
Eligible Victorians are able to pick up a free RAT from a PCR testing site. Most have a separate line for PCR testing and RAT pickups, so you shouldn’t have to wait in a long car queue. It's also expected that rapid tests will be delivered to eligible workplaces
The rest of the 44 million-test shipment is expected to arrive gradually over the coming weeks, and it’s expected that eligibility criteria will widen as supply increases.
Getting your hands on a RAT at a pharmacy could still be tricky for a little while, following news that the Federal Government has been intercepting retail orders to bolster their own stocks. Whether these end up being distributed for free or as part of a scheme remains to be seen.
If you have managed to source a RAT and test positive, you’re required to record your result through the Service Victoria app.
More information can be found at the Victorian government’s media release.
Photography: Unsplash
