Coronavirus: Peter Dutton warns against dodgy COVID-19 testing kits

Peter Dutton has warned Australians against using imported home coronavirus testing kits that could pose a serious risk to public health.

A health worker handles a new rapid testing kit to combat the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. Dodgy DIY testing kits have been intercepted in Australia.

Peter Dutton has warned Australians against using imported “home” coronavirus testing kits that could pose a serious risk to public health.

On Sunday the home affairs minister revealed that a number of these kits have been intercepted by the Australian Border Force over the past few weeks, and said their usage could undermine the work of health professionals by providing false negatives.

“Inaccurate results could prevent people from seeking the medical help they need, or alternatively, discourage people who should be self-isolating from doing so,” Mr Dutton said in a statement, adding that the Therapeutic Goods Administration has not approved the test kids as medical devices.

“Our ABF officers at the border are on alert for any unauthorised or homemade COVID-19 products and they will continue working day and night to ensure these dangerous goods don’t make it into Australian households and communities,” Mr Dutton said.

The ABF intercepted 200 test kits that originated from China in Perth as air cargo via Singapore on March 16.

Similar detections have now been made in Perth (50 units) on March 23 and Melbourne (39 units) on March 27, both originating in Hong Kong.

Mr Dutton said the only approved tests for COVID-19 in Australia are laboratory based tests or tests that can be used by health professionals at the point of care such as in hospitals or clinics.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth is cautiously optimistic about the path of the coronavirus as the rate of cases slows, but warned of the risk of lifting restrictions, such as social distancing, too soon.

Latest government figures show there are 5548 COVID-19 cases across the country with 30 deaths.

The daily rate of cases has been gradually easing from as much as 30 per cent a couple of weeks ago to single figures in recent days.

Using an AFL metaphor, Dr Coatsworth said Australia was at the end of the first quarter in the grand final and a goal ahead.

“We know that if we work as a team and play as we are now, we can get the premiership, but we are a long way away from that being the case,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

“It is far too early to drop the ball and .... if we do stop these measures too early, then we have seen graphs in the media showing there could be a resurgence in cases so we have to be careful on those grounds.” There was good news for National Disability Insurance Scheme recipients who from Monday will be granted priority home deliver from supermarkets to ease the stress during the pandemic.

“Our priority during this period is doing what we can to support the immediate needs of NDIS participants, including through enabling priority home delivery of groceries and other basic essentials,” Government Services Minister Stuart Roberts said in a statement.

With AAP