Coronavirus: Rapid tests on way to remote indigenous communities

Rapid-testing machines that detect COVID-19 in 45 minutes are being sent to 83 indigenous communities.

Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: AAP

Rapid-testing machines that detect COVID-19 in 45 minutes are being sent to 83 indigenous communities where remote health clinics are currently waiting up to 10 days to find out whether an Aboriginal resident has coronavirus.

There are no known cases of COVID-19 in indigenous communities but health authorities are on high alert for a breakout, particularly in Western Australia, where 11 health workers in the far north Kimberley region tested positive. After a doctor in the Kimberley town of Halls Creek saw Aboriginal patients while he was potentially infectious, those ­patients have been deemed not to be close contacts.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced the Australian government was investing $3.3m to establish the rapid coronavirus testing program for remote and rural ­Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The commonwealth is choosing the sites in most need and most at risk with help from state and territory governments and health services, and aims to have 83 ­machines in place by mid-May.

The test, called the Xpert SARS-CoV-2 test, uses rapid ­technology to detect COVID-19 infections by using a nasal swab polymerase chain reaction test in the early phases of the illness.

“It’s vital we do all we can to protect our rural and remote ­Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islander communities,” Mr Hunt said.

“This world-first testing response means that we can continue to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to fighting this virus.

“If an outbreak is detected, local health services can move quickly to protect the community and activate established evacuation procedures.”

Indigenous Australians Minister Ken Wyatt said indigenous people were more vulnerable if they contracted coronavirus.

“There are higher rates of chronic conditions and other health issues in these communities and it can be hard to access healthcare,” Mr Wyatt said

“This means that an outbreak of COVID-19 in an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community has the potential to be very serious.

“This testing program will help protect indigenous Australians against the virus.”

The program is an initiative of the Kirby Institute, in partnership with Flinders University.