Rapid antigen test Gold Coast: Where to get RAT tests after National Cabinet backflips on cost

Rapid antigen tests will be made free to concession card holders after a significant backflip by the Morrison Government.

RAPID antigen tests will be made free to concession card holders after a significant backflip by the Morrison Government.

National Cabinet agreed on Wednesday afternoon, to drop the fee for the tests, which are free in most western countries.

People will be able to collect 10 tests over three months, while there will be the same ID checks as Sudafed.

It is understood Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk played a key role in securing the removal of the fee for concession holders.

National Cabinet also decided to remove the requirement for a PCR test to confirm the results of a positive rapid antigen test.

“If you are a close contact and had a rapid antigen test and it is positive, you do not need to get a PCR test to confirm that,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

It comes after days of refusal by Mr Morrison to slash the cost of the tests, after arguing the measure would undercut retailers.

Mr Morrison took a plan to national cabinet to give direct cash payments to low-income earners to buy up to five rapid antigen tests but this was rejected by the premiers and chief ministers.

Free rapid antigen tests as cases spike to 6781

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced 6781 Covid-19 cases for Queensland as testing queues blow out and NSW and Victoria record huge numbers.

The Premier said Queensland’s 18 million rapid antigen tests will be made free for those in need, prior to this afternoon’s national cabinet meeting.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced another record day of Covid-19 diagnoses. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“We need to make it very, very easy to our most vulnerable people at this time, she said.

“Now we’re seeing an impost that’s likely to go on our low income earners, our pensioners ... we need to allow our most vulnerable to get those RAT (sic) tests as soon as they become available.”

“I have really put my foot down to the department.”

But Ms Palaszczuk said all the tests will not come at once and the state could not have expected the rapid rate of which Omicron spread throughout the state.

“I don’t think anyone knew the impact Omicron was going to have on the Queensland population,” she said.

“We knew that it would go around Queensland ... I campaigned for everyone to get vaccinated ... we always knew there were going to be cases, but I don’t think we expected them to be escalating as quickly (as they are).”

Ms Palaszczuk targeted the Gold Coast specifically regarding mask mandates, and said despite the number of businesses closed, definitions of close contacts and testing had narrowed.

“We want to keep businesses operating as much as we can,” she said.

Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said the state has 32,705 active cases.

“Importantly, despite this significant number of cases, there are just 10 patients in intensive care – of two – the same two we mentioned yesterday, are on ventilators,” he said.

“There are more patients in hospital receiving care for Covid, there are to 265 people in hospital.”

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said only people who have been close contacts, or have had a positive rapid antigen test should be queuing for PCR tests. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

“Our aim is to treat as many patients as possible at home, there are 17,031 patients receiving care at home.”

Dr Gerrard echoed Heath Minister Yvette D’Ath’s words yesterday, saying only people who have been close contacts; those who have been living with someone with Covid-19, someone who has had a positive rapid antigen test, or a close contact on day six, should be queuing for PCR tests.

NSW has broken its daily record for Covid-19 cases again, with 35,054 infections reported on Wednesday as well as eight deaths.

In a sign that the virus is running rampant, almost one in three people who were tested in NSW tested positive to Covid-19.

The positivity rate is currently 32.21 per cent.

Meanwhile, Victoria has broken its own daily record with 17,636 new cases reported on Wednesday.

The Victorian government is considering introducing additional restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.